The European Union has approved the merger of Sony Music and Bertelsmann AG’s BMG unit in a deal that gives the four “majors” control of about 80% of the world music market, Bertelsmann said last night.

The European Union has approved the merger of Sony Music and Bertelsmann AG’s BMG unit in a deal that gives the four “majors” control of about 80% of the world music market, Bertelsmann said tonight.

The European Union’s competition chief has approved a merger between Sony Music and BMG after deciding it did not have enough evidence of potential harm to consumers to block the deal, sources familiar with the case said tonight.