The American Association Of Independent Music (A2IM) has released a statement reiterating its stance against the UMG-EMI merger, as A2IM President Rich Bengloff has spoken out against Universal's proposed concessions to European regulators.

Bengloff wrote, "A2IM members read with interest Friday’s news reports about the submission of Universal’s proposed concession package, in regards to the proposed acquisition of EMI’s recorded music business, that was sent to the European Commission. If the news reports are correct, almost all of the proposed divestitures and behavioral remedies are focused entirely overseas – creating a major problem for U.S. consumers, artists, labels and the technology companies they work with."

He added that A2IM has previously stated that "the increased concentration of copyright ownership, historically, has always hurt the Independent label community in terms of achieving economic parity and market access."

Bengloff continued, "With no divestitures or operating remedies proposed for the U.S. – the world’s largest music market and home to the vast majority of the technology companies who work with the music community – the negative impact on music consumers and emerging technology companies is clear. Such market concentration will diminish healthy competition, providing one dominant market leader damaging clout in terms of both consumer pricing and the means with which music is made available. The effect on both promotional access and monetization for independent music labels and artists is equally clear. Approval of such an acquisition with no U.S. remedies will further constrain our resources (with higher potential distribution fees and less money available to create diverse music for consumers both very probable). We continue to join our European Impala Independent music label colleagues in their concern over this acquisition and reiterate A2IM’s opposition to this transaction and, given Universal’s penchance to monopolize the marketplace, we call on the FTC to take the required steps to insure that this transaction is blocked so that it does not move forward."

Meanwhile, the New York Post reports that UMG is in talks to hire Allen & Co. and Goldman Sachs to help the label divest approximately $245 million worth of assets, as part of its EU concessions. Sources tell the Post that a wide variety of parties are interested in buying up pieces of EMI, with everyone from private equity firms to labels such as Big Machine and Glassnote kicking the tires.