MUSIC group EMI is to shed 1,500 jobs as part of a shake-up of its manufacturing operations.

The group, which has its UK head office in Hammersmith, west London, said it would reduce staff numbers by about 900 in Holland and the US as it moves to contract out production of compact discs and DVDs.

EMI said it was restructuring some of its record labels and artist roster, particularly in continental Europe.

A spokesman for the group said a small fraction of the job cuts would take place at its sites in the UK, but would not say how many.

EMI said the cuts would come in its recorded music division, which has artists including the Rolling Stones, Radiohead, Coldplay and Robbie Williams in its portfolio.

It said it expected to save at least £50m a year, of which £25m would be saved in the 12 months ending March 31, next year. It said it would stop in-house manufacturing of CDs and DVDs in Europe and the US. The group employs about 8,000 staff around the world.