Pitchfork

Shrewd matchmaker/third largest music company in the world EMI Group has set up two of its own for a long-term relationship/merger, according to several reports today. Capitol Records (which EMI acquired back in 1955) will join forces with Virgin Records (which EMI purchased in 1992) in the U.S. under the snazzy new name the Capitol Music Group.

The likeness of former Virgin Records America chief executive Jason Flom will now grace Capitol Music Group underlings' dartboards, while former Capitol Records honcho Andy Slater is likely perusing monster.com as we type this. The CMG will, it should be noted, continue to release records under both the Virgin and Capitol tags.

This means Capitol favorites like Coldplay, LCD Soundsystem, the Decemberists, and Lily Allen will get to party at last with those Virgin kids from the other side of the tracks, including Dem Franchize Boyz, Bubba Sparxxx, Gorillaz, and Enigma.

Industry insider types suggest the London-based EMI is looking to step up its game after suffering significant financial losses in this new era of digital music-- this despite the presence of Saosin and Starsailor on the EMI roster.

"By bringing Capitol and Virgin into one label group," snoozed EMI Group CEO Eric Nicoli in a statement (as quoted on Variety.com), "we will be better equipped than ever to promote and nurture artistic talent." And, most importantly, they will be better equipped to find the next Korn.