Just when you thought the music industry couldn't get any worse

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

Sony and BMG are merging.

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- European Union antitrust regulators said Tuesday they approved the merger of Sony and Bertelsmann AG's music units because there was insufficient evidence the deal would harm consumers, but warned they would keep a close watch on any further consolidation in the industry.

The European Commission approved the 50-50 joint venture between Sony Music and BMG late Monday without conditions. The deal is expected to win U.S. antitrust clearance within days, reducing the number of music "majors" from five to four.

The two giants control about 60 percent of the music market, with Universal in the top spot in Europe and Sony BMG pulling ahead in the United States.

(...)

The Financial Times reported last week that the two companies plan to cut about 2,000 jobs, or a quarter of their combined work force, to achieve a hoped-for US$300 million in annual savings.

[GOPisEvil]

1. More mediocrity! Yay!

:eyes:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Kick

:kick:

[kitkatrose]

3. Oh, great.

More shit on the radio. :eyes:

[info being]

4. Until artists find a way to reach the audience without these corps...

nothing will change. We all have to do our part to break the cycle. Open Source music, via the Creative Commons license is the answer. But we need to keep building distribution and promotion mechanisms to help good music reach an audience...an audience that isn't pursecuted.