European Commission – Competition (Mergers)

Commission Approves UMG’s Acquisition of Downtown, Subject to Conditions

The European Commission has cleared Universal Music Group’s purchase of Downtown Music Holdings, but only after the companies agreed to fully divest Downtown’s royalty‑accounting platform Curve. The conditional approval removes UMG’s ability to access Curve’s data on rival labels, which the Commission deemed commercially sensitive. The regulator found that the combined market shares of UMG and Downtown remain moderate and that competition in recorded music, artist‑and‑label services, and publishing is not substantially harmed. An independent trustee will oversee the divestiture to ensure compliance.