The "BIG FOUR" major corporations of the music industry has now become the "BIG THREE": Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group.

UK-Based, EMI Music Group WAS the fourth corporation, but over the last few years, however, EMI was in a LAVA POOL of debt. Reports indicate that EMI lost over £1.75 billion (about $2.8 Billion) in 2009.

Citigroup purchased EMI earlier this year, which more than cut EMI's debt in half. To whittle down the debt even further, EMI Music Group, LTD. was just sold to Universal and the Publishing division of the company was sold to Sony.

Could this be "Score one for independent music" or should we be upset? Some of these corporations distribute independent labels' output in some regions. Physical discs from the Armada music group are distributed in the Benelux region by SONY for example.

Your thoughts?