Finance
Exclusive-Universal Music set to win EU nod for Downtown buy, sources say
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 20, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Quick Summary
Universal Music is poised to receive EU approval for its $775M acquisition of Downtown Music, having offered concessions to address competition concerns.
Universal Music Poised for EU Approval of Downtown Acquisition
EU Antitrust Approval Process
By Foo Yun Chee
Details of the Acquisition
BRUSSELS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Universal Music Group is set to secure EU antitrust approval for its $775 million bid for Downtown Music after regulators signalled acceptance of its offer to sell the latter's royalty services platform, people with direct knowledge of the matter said.
Regulatory Concerns Addressed
Universal last month offered to divest Downtown's royalty services platform Curve to address the European Commission's competition concerns.
Impact on Independent Labels
The EU antitrust watchdog has not demanded further concessions, the people said.
The Commission, which is scheduled to decide on the deal by February 27, and Universal declined to comment.
The acquisition, via Universal unit Virgin Music Group and announced in December 2024, has drawn criticism and pushback from a wide swathe of independent labels, worried about the boost to Universal's market power and want the deal to be blocked.
Downtown owns a major music publisher and a number of other businesses that help musicians collect royalties.
The Commission last year warned that Universal may have the ability and incentive to gain access to commercially sensitive data that is stored and processed by Downtown following the acquisition.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Louise Heavens)
Key Takeaways
- •Universal Music is acquiring Downtown Music for $775 million.
- •The EU is set to grant conditional antitrust approval.
- •Universal offered to divest Downtown's royalty services platform.
- •No further concessions are required by the EU watchdog.
- •The acquisition addresses competition concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions about Exclusive-Universal Music set to win EU nod for Downtown buy, sources say
1What is an acquisition?
An acquisition is a corporate action in which one company purchases most or all of another company's shares to gain control. This often involves financial negotiations and regulatory approvals.
2What is the European Commission?
The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the EU's day-to-day operations.
3What is antitrust approval?
Antitrust approval refers to the legal permission granted by regulatory authorities to proceed with a merger or acquisition, ensuring that it does not create unfair competition in the market.
4What is corporate finance?
Corporate finance involves managing a company's financial activities, including capital raising, investment decisions, and financial risk management to maximize shareholder value.
5What is a royalty services platform?
A royalty services platform manages the collection and distribution of royalties owed to artists, authors, and other rights holders based on usage of their intellectual property.
