More than 140 independent businesses have bid for Warner’s assets from its buyout of Parlophone Music Group, leaving the company “50 times oversubscribed” as it continues the divestment process.

The bidding process began over a year ago, with the likes of Iggy And The Stooges, Talking Heads, Pretenders (pictured) and Black Sabbath said to be on the table as part of the 11,000 artists and catalogues on offer.

An email from Warner to IMPALA and Merlin reps ...