Respected Mute Records founder Daniel Miller has spoken publicly for the first time over his support for Universal's proposed £1.2bn acquisition of EMI Music - which he backs so long as certain divestments come the way of indie labels.

Divestments suggested by Universal boss Lucian Grainge include EMI's Mute catalogue, which would give Miller the chance to buy back rights which he sold to the major in 2002.

“Universal is already the biggest music company in the world — that’s ...