Merger Rumors Dismissed:

Bertelsmann and EMI Group dismissed a report saying the planned merger between the third-largest music company and the German media group’s music division will soon be dropped. “Discussions with Bertelsmann continue,” said Amanda Conroy, a spokeswoman for EMI, in a statement that was echoed by Bertelsmann spokesman Oliver Fahlbusch. The Hitsdailydouble Internet site had reported that the proposed combination would be abandoned, citing unidentified people close to the matter. The report comes a week after Bertelsmann Chief Executive Thomas Middelhoff told French daily Le Monde that the German company is willing to make concessions to win regulatory approval for the transaction.