Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in the music industry refers to strategic business transactions where companies combine operations or one entity acquires another. This subcategory encompasses deals involving record labels, music publishers, streaming platforms, and catalog acquisitions. The music industry is characterized by significant consolidation, with major players like Universal, Sony, and Warner expanding through M&A activities¹. Recent trends include acquisitions of independent labels, legacy music catalogs, and emerging market companies².