The purchase of BMG Music Publishing by Vivendi has been approved by European regulators, reports The New York Times.

The finality of this deal will make Vivendi's Universal Music Group the largest record company in the world as well as the largest music publisher.
Independent record labels are still protesting the deal, saying it could lead to reduced competition and collusion among the larger record companies.

To ease regulator fears about the concentration of power, Vivendi will sell publishing catalogs from some of its smaller labels.