Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs has been talking about his new deal with Universal Music – reported in yesterday’s Daily. The deal means Universal will market and distribute all forthcoming releases from Comb’s Bad Bay Entertainment label, including his own music. "It was important for me to have the opportunity to grow Bad Boy, and I can do that with the music industry's number one music powerhouse," Combs said in a statement. "This is a perfect situation for me and Bad Boy, and I can't wait to get out there and start making music history.
Mel Lewinter of the Universal Music Group added: "We are excited and honored to welcome P. Diddy and Bad Boy to the Universal family. As a songwriter, producer and artist, P Diddy is one of the world's most gifted and accomplished creative talents, who has cultivated a remarkable business over the last decade. We look forward to playing an important role in what is sure to be his next career milestone."
It means the Universal Music Group now have stakes in two of the main hip hop powerhouses – Dre’s Aftermath and P Diddy’s Bad Boy – which, given the continued success of the genre, should help them maintain their dominance in the industry (unless parent company Vivendi sell them off of course!).