Beatles to Coldplay music company EMI Group tonight said it had launched a strategic review into the future of the business and will consider a sale or potential stock market listing.

Queen are set to quit EMI after 40 years with the label.

GUY HANDS, the private equity owner of EMI, plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs at the ailing British music company, in a plan to rebuild the group that has sparked fury from some of its biggest acts.