Universal Music Group news

As big money calls the shots at Universal Music: is Lucian losing control?

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Lucian Grainge • 6 min read

As big money calls the shots at Universal Music: is Lucian losing control?

As Pershing Square forces humiliating U-turn on US listing, does Universal Music top dog’s €100m ‘megabonus’ begin to look more like an exit package, while questions mount over who really pulls the strings at the “world's most successful music company”…

Sam Taylor • 17 Jan 2025

Universal put “corporate greed” before Drake’s safety, says defamation lawsuit filed over Kendrick Lamar diss track

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Drake • 5 min read

Universal put “corporate greed” before Drake’s safety, says defamation lawsuit filed over Kendrick Lamar diss track

Drake has sued his own label, Universal Music, for defamation over the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track ‘Not Like Us’, which the major also released. A lawsuit claims that the lyrics make defamatory allegations against Drake which have jeopardised the safety of the musician and his family…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jan 2025

Downtown deal “another step in UMG’s relentless path to dominance” says WIN, as criticism builds over Universal’s latest acquisition

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Universal Music • 4 min read

Downtown deal “another step in UMG’s relentless path to dominance” says WIN, as criticism builds over Universal’s latest acquisition

Criticism continues to build of Universal Music’s deal to buy Downtown Music. The World Independent Network has today published a lengthy statement including comments from labels and trade organisations based all over the world…

Chris Cooke • 19 Dec 2024

Beware the “wolf under the cape” in Universal’s Downtown land grab, warns Beggars boss as IMPALA calls for regulators to block the deal

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Downtown Music • 2 min read

Beware the “wolf under the cape” in Universal’s Downtown land grab, warns Beggars boss as IMPALA calls for regulators to block the deal

The independent music sector has called on competition regulators to investigate and block Universal’s Downtown Music deal, which is a “huge market share” grab according to IMPALA’s Helen Smith and part of the major’s bid for “utter dominance and control” according to Beggars boss Martin Mills…

Chris Cooke • 17 Dec 2024

Universal continues its plan to eat the entire world, buys Downtown Music

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Downtown Music • 3 min read

Universal continues its plan to eat the entire world, buys Downtown Music

Universal is buying Downtown Music for a whopping $775 million, via its Virgin Music Group stalking horse. The transaction will greatly boost the major’s distribution market share, and is almost certain to get mired in regulatory scrutiny with opposition already being voiced by AIM and other indies…

Chris Cooke • 16 Dec 2024

Majors labels' primary physical distributor Utopia Distribution Services collapses

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Utopia Distribution Services • 6 min read

Majors labels' primary physical distributor Utopia Distribution Services collapses

Physical distribution business UDS has collapsed after its Swiss parent Utopia Music was forced into bankruptcy. UDS apparently owed millions to landlord DP World - which is now taking ownership of the company's assets. But why?…

Sam Taylor • 13 Dec 2024

Universal forms partnership with marketing group WPP

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Universal Music • 2 min read

Universal forms partnership with marketing group WPP

Universal Music and marketing agency group WPP have announced a big old partnership that will see them working together on “cutting-edge audience engagement strategies” for brand clients, using data, technology and “the power of music” along the way…

Chris Cooke • 13 Dec 2024

“Offensive and untrue” says Universal Music after Drake accuses major of streaming fraud in Kendrick beef

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Drake • 4 min read

“Offensive and untrue” says Universal Music after Drake accuses major of streaming fraud in Kendrick beef

Drake has accused Universal Music of employing stream manipulation and other dodgy marketing tactics to boost the streams of Kendrick Lamar’s Drake-dissing ‘Not Like Us’. The major insists those claims, made in two legal filings with courts in New York and Texas, are “offensive and untrue”…

Chris Cooke • 26 Nov 2024

Fred Durst’s $200 million lawsuit against Universal “based on a fallacy”, says the major

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Limp Bizkit • 3 min read

Fred Durst’s $200 million lawsuit against Universal “based on a fallacy”, says the major

In October, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst accused Universal Music of operating a system to “conceal artists’ royalties and keep those profits for itself”. He also wants to terminate his old deals with the major. In a formal response, Universal says Durst’s claims are “based on a fallacy”…

Chris Cooke • 26 Nov 2024

“This is art, I am like Picasso” screamed Kanye as he sexually assaulted model alleges new lawsuit, naming Universal Music

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Kanye West • 3 min read

“This is art, I am like Picasso” screamed Kanye as he sexually assaulted model alleges new lawsuit, naming Universal Music

Yet another lawsuit against Kanye West, this time alleging a violent sexual assault against a performer on a music video for Polydor-signed artist La Roux, when Kayne was signed to Def Jam. With those labels both subsidiaries of Universal Music, the major has been named in the lawsuit…

Chris Cooke • 25 Nov 2024

Spotify’s Ek puts a damper on ‘super premium’ hype, bigs up AI and innovation as the future

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Spotify • 5 min read

Spotify’s Ek puts a damper on ‘super premium’ hype, bigs up AI and innovation as the future

The super premium opportunity maybe isn’t as exciting as some people would have you believe, and no one can really agree what it would even be anyway. That was a key takeaway from yesterday’s Spotify earnings call, as Daniel Ek doubles down on AI and innovation as the future of streaming…

Sam Taylor • 13 Nov 2024

Pershing Square’s Ackman wants Universal Music to ditch Dutch stock market

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Pershing Square’s Ackman wants Universal Music to ditch Dutch stock market

Universal Music board member Bill Ackman says he wants the major to move its stock market listing from Amsterdam to New York. Although prompted by unrest in Amsterdam last Thursday, he argues there are sound business reasons to move the listing. Universal says Ackman’s position has been noted…

Sam Taylor & Chris Cooke • 11 Nov 2024