Universal Music Group news

Lucian’s lunch money under threat as shareholder pressure mounts over “excessive” pay packet

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Lucian Grainge • 4 min read

Lucian’s lunch money under threat as shareholder pressure mounts over “excessive” pay packet

Lucian Grainge is inches away from getting a massive bonus as the UMG share price nears €30 per share, while investors are looking for signs that his STIs could be out of control. That’s short-term incentives, you filthy dogs…

Sam Taylor • 07 May 2024

Setlist Podcast: Calls for urgent new AI laws in UK and US

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Setlist • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: Calls for urgent new AI laws in UK and US

Politicians, artists and industry reps say there is an urgent need for new AI laws, UMG and TikTok are best buds again, and more…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 04 May 2024

Universal boss Lucian Grainge talks up the new TikTok deal which “will protect the integrity and value of human artistry”

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TikTok • 2 min read

Universal boss Lucian Grainge talks up the new TikTok deal which “will protect the integrity and value of human artistry”

Following the news that Universal Music has agreed a new licensing deal with TikTok, boss man Lucian Grainge has sent a memo out to this staff. He confirms that the new deal addresses the major’s concerns around money and platform safety, and especially AI…

Chris Cooke • 03 May 2024

Universal and TikTok are best buds again

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TikTok • 3 min read

Universal and TikTok are best buds again

Universal Music has agreed a new licensing deal with TikTok, ending a three month standoff that saw the major’s music removed from the social media platform. Universal says its new deal properly values music, while providing reassurances about TikTok’s ambitions in AI…

Chris Cooke • 02 May 2024

Universal seeks dismissal from another Diddy lawsuit

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Universal Music • 2 min read

Universal seeks dismissal from another Diddy lawsuit

A lawsuit filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act accusing Diddy of sexual assault named Universal Music as a defendant. In a new filing, the major disputes that it had the necessary connection to Diddy to be liable, and also argues that the lawsuit doesn’t even qualify under the ASA…

Chris Cooke • 15 Apr 2024

Setlist Podcast: MPs want to see action on musicians’ income

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Setlist • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: MPs want to see action on musicians’ income

UK politicians on the need for changes to how musicians get paid, Blur drummer Dave Rowntree's lawsuit against PRS, and more…

Andy Malt • 12 Apr 2024

Universal relaxes TikTok boycott - but only if your name is Taylor Swift

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Taylor Swift • 2 min read

Universal relaxes TikTok boycott - but only if your name is Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has a new album to promote and would presumably like her fans to help by posting TikTok videos aplenty. But she works with Universal Music, which is boycotting TikTok. Worry not, however, because Universal’s big boycott no longer applies to Swift…

Chris Cooke • 12 Apr 2024

Lawyer leading on Lil Rod’s Diddy lawsuit accused of “garnering media attention” and “embarrassing defendants” by judge

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Diddy • 2 min read

Lawyer leading on Lil Rod’s Diddy lawsuit accused of “garnering media attention” and “embarrassing defendants” by judge

Last week Universal Music accused a lawyer working on one of the lawsuits against Diddy of breaking US court rules by including allegations about the music company without ensuring there was “evidentiary support”. Now a judge in another case has accused the same lawyer of breaking the same rules…

Chris Cooke • 05 Apr 2024

Universal submits scathing response to allegations made against it in Diddy lawsuit

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Universal Music • 2 min read

Universal submits scathing response to allegations made against it in Diddy lawsuit

Universal Music and its CEO Lucian Grainge were named as co-defendants in a recent lawsuit targeting Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. But the allegations made against the music company and its boss were so “knowingly false”, they should never have been included in the lawsuit, a new legal filing states…

Chris Cooke • 01 Apr 2024

Sean Combs’ lawyer slams "unprecedented ambush" following Monday’s raids

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Diddy • 3 min read

Sean Combs’ lawyer slams "unprecedented ambush" following Monday’s raids

Following the high profile raids on properties owned by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, a lawyer for the musician has issued a statement criticising the tactics employed by US Homeland Security and insisting his client is “innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name"…

Chris Cooke • 27 Mar 2024

Sean Combs properties raided in federal sex trafficking investigation

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Diddy • 3 min read

Sean Combs properties raided in federal sex trafficking investigation

US Homeland Security yesterday raided two properties owned by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, reportedly as part of an investigation in relation to allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault. The most recent civil lawsuit against Combs, filed by a former collaborator, has also been updated…

Chris Cooke • 26 Mar 2024

Setlist Podcast: UK music revenues are back to their CD peak (sort of)

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Setlist • 5 min read

Setlist Podcast: UK music revenues are back to their CD peak (sort of)

Music retail revenues are now higher than their 2001 peak (just don't adjust for inflation), and the brewing legal battle between Kanye West and the Donna Summer estate…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 01 Mar 2024