European Union regulators have given the go-ahead for Universal Music to buy BMG Music Publishing - creating the world's biggest music publisher.

The deal has been on the cards for some time but The European Commission, which oversees competition policy, had raised concerns about a potential monopoly.

It was worried Universal would control the rights to more than half of all chart music in some states.

However, the company has agreed to sell off some rights it already owns. These mostly consist of rights to sell US and British music in continental Europe.

The deal, which will see all operations handled under the Universal title, can now move forward.