Warner Music Group wants EMI. Private equity firms want EMI. EMI wants Warner Music Group. Private equity firms already have ownership in WMG. Offers have been made and rejected. Everybody is looking for signs that European regulators will block or allow an acquisition. Any transaction will have a huge impact on the composition of the music industry, artists and employees.

Since yesterday there have been some new developments:

• Today the New York Post reported Warner Music Group has resumed merger talks with EMI. Though WMG's Edgar Bronfman said just days ago that talks were off until European Union regulators shows their hand, those within WMG are predicting a smooth regulatory road. "From our perspective, we're not sure the regulatory issues are a show-stopper," a source told the Post. The article points out that even if private equity takes EMI, WMG could still go after EMI's recorded music business. (Read article at New York Post).

• The head of investment at Insight Investment, which owns six percent of EMI's shares, told The Times the an acceptable price is 400 pence per share, or about £3.2 billion ($6.26 million). WMG's rejected bid earlier this year was 320 pence per share. "This is an exciting business, because of the potential for consolidation if the regulators allow it to happen." (Read article at Times Online)

• Regulations will soon shed some light on whether or not they would allow an EMI/Warner Music Group merger. Yesterday, EU officials launched an antitrust probe and announced a decision on a Universal Music Group purchase of BMG Publishing would be handed down by April 27, 2007. An approval would combine the numbers three and four music publishing companies. Impala, the coalition of independent record labels, opposes the merger and believes it would be harmful. An EU ruling, expected this summer, on the annulled Sony BMG merger would offer a better indication of regulatory hurdles EMI and WMG could face. (Read AP article)

[music jobs] Director of Content at Dada Entertainment; New York, NY.