Back to merger stories, and the Office Of Fair Trading have given the all-OK-thank-you-very-much (I'm using a technical term there, obviously) to the proposed merger between recording royalties outfit Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL to friends and enemies alike) and smaller royalty bodies PAMRA and AURA to create PPAMRAURAL, presumably. The proposals will now have to be ratified by the memberships of each of the three societies - PPL will seek approval at their upcoming AGM while the other two are expected to call EGMs of their memberships in the next few days.
PPL top guy Fran Nevrkla told reporters: "I am absolutely delighted about this development. British performers deserve a better quality of service and the new structure will make it possible for us jointly to deliver just that. Plus we'll get to have a lovely new logo".
AUTA chairman Stephen King added: "This unprecedented collaboration between performers and PPL is the first step in a revolution which will cut administration costs and drastically improve collection of overseas income for all UK performers, and I am proud of the part we at AURA have played in making this happen. And I really cannot wait to see this lovely new logo".