Germany's competition regulator Bundeskartellamt has cleared the merger of Bertelsmann's music division BMG with Great Mountain Partners-backed music company Concord. The authority ruled that despite being of a significant scale, the merged company will face competition from even larger companies. In its assessment the authority said it took particular account of "the growing importance of the catalogue business, which is expanding especially due to the new digital distribution channels associat...

The Hellenic Music Companies Association (HERMES), the trade association representing Greece's independent music companies, has joined European independent music companies' organisation IMPALA as its newest association member. Through the IMPALA membership, HERMES aims "to support networking, professional development, education, and closer engagement with European institutions and music industry developments" as well as giving independent music companies in Greece "a stronger collective voice na...

Warner Music Group is acquiring Sureel AI, an AI attribution startup that has developed a technology to create "AI DNA" for every work. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Following the completion of the deal, Sureel will continue to operate as a standalone platform serving the broader music and AI ecosystem. Warner Music Group will provide resources, scale, and strategic support. "The acquisition advances WMG’s mission to ensure that artists, songwriters, and rightsholders benefit whe...