Big 5 Recording Companies Regroup

The world’s five largest recording companies are taking different approaches to dealing with their changing business models. “Five companies — Universal Music Group, EMI Group PLC, BMG, Sony and Warner — sell more than 80 percent of the industry’s music. Universal is the largest, capturing about 26 percent of the market so far this year, according to Nielsen SoundScan, which tracks music sales. BMG and Sony are second and fourth, respectively; a merger would make them No. 1, with more than 30 percent of the market. Warner sits in third place, with about 15 percent, and EMI trails all, at about 11 percent.”