BERLIN The European Commission has approved unconditionally a merger between the music units of Sony Corp. and Germany's Bertelsmann AG to create the world's second-largest music company, with a 25 percent market share, the two companies said Monday.

"The merger was approved without conditions," Bertelsmann spokesman Oliver Herrgesell said.

The EC, the executive body of the European Union, opposed the merger plan in late May between Sony Music Entertainment Inc. and Bertelsmann's BMG, saying the deal was unacceptable under EU competition law.