Universal Music Group news

Playboi Carti sued by former collaborator over unpaid royalties on 2017 track

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Playboi Carti • 2 min read

Playboi Carti sued by former collaborator over unpaid royalties on 2017 track

A singer and producer who provided vocals for Playboi Carti track ‘Kelly K’ says he has never been paid any royalties, despite being allocated a 5% share of the song copyright. He’s suing Playboi Carti as a result, though it’s not clear if those royalties should have been coming via the rapper…

Chris Cooke • 29 Jan 2025

Universal tries to get Drake petition in Texas courts dismissed by arguing he’s relying on mere “hearsay”

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Drake • 2 min read

Universal tries to get Drake petition in Texas courts dismissed by arguing he’s relying on mere “hearsay”

Last year Drake filed petitions against Universal Music with courts in New York and Texas, accusing it of employing dodgy tactics when promoting Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’. The New York petition was replaced by the big defamation lawsuit, but the Texas one stands. Universal wants it dismissed…

Chris Cooke • 27 Jan 2025

Universal Music’s new Spotify deal could be a knock-out blow for streaming platform’s audiobook bundling trick

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Spotify • 4 min read

Universal Music’s new Spotify deal could be a knock-out blow for streaming platform’s audiobook bundling trick

Universal Music has signed a big new deal with Spotify, and it’s precisely what Lucian Grainge “envisioned” when he coined the buzzword “streaming 2.0”, apparently. More importantly, it seems to address the audiobook bundling dispute when it comes to Universal’s songs catalogue in the US…

Chris Cooke • 27 Jan 2025

Judge says Fred Durst can’t cancel old record deals in royalty dispute with Universal Music

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Limp Bizkit • 3 min read

Judge says Fred Durst can’t cancel old record deals in royalty dispute with Universal Music

Last year Fred Durst sued Universal Music accusing the major of breach of contract and copyright infringement, and seeking to cancel his old deals with the music company. A court has now ruled that Durst has failed to demonstrate there are grounds for actually rescinding his old record contracts…

Chris Cooke • 23 Jan 2025

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