FACTBOX: How Sony BMG ranks among music companies

(Reuters) - Sony Corp agreed to buy out Bertelsmann's share in Sony BMG in a deal worth about $1.2 billion, four years after the Japanese electronics conglomerate and the German media group founded the joint venture.

Following are statistics on how Sony BMG compares with its main rivals:

UNIVERSAL MUSIC (owned by Vivendi):

- 2007 sales 4.87 billion euros ($7.6 billion), EBITA 624 million

- 2007 market share* 28.8 percent; 2006 market share 25.7 percent

- Top artists include: 50 Cent, Amy Winehouse, Fela Kuti, Mariah Carey, Scissor Sisters, Rolling Stones

SONY BMG:

- 2007 sales 2.91 billion euros, EBIT 186 million

- 2007 market share 20.1 percent; 2006 market share 21.2 percent

- Top artists include: Justin Timberlake, Usher, Dido, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce

WARNER MUSIC GROUP

- 2007 sales $3.38 billion, operating income $215 million

- 2007 market share 14.4 percent; 2006 market share 13.8 percent

- Top artists include: Madonna, Faith Hill, Cher, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M

EMI (owned by Terra Firma)

- 2007 sales 1.75 billion pounds ($3.4 billion), EBITDA 174 million