MUSIC INDUSTRYJason Balogun & Elma Otchereh

Universal Music Group•The Largest Music Corporation in The World.

•An American based in Santa Monica, California.

•Separated with Universal Studios Inc. in 2006 when the film company was bought by General Electric (GE). Similar to what happened with Time Warner & WMG.

•Britain’s Lucian Grainge was announced chairman & CEO of UMG in 2011, after Doug Morris stepped down. Doug Morris is now chairman & CEO of Sony Music Entertainment.

Who Owns Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group

Panasonic Corporation

Parent company between 1990-

2006

Vivendi

Current parent company since

2000

Gained 100% Ownership in

2006 after UMG split with

Universal Studios

Universal Studios Inc.

Parent company between 1996-

2006

A Little About The Parent Company Vivendi• A French multinational mass media

and telecommunications company.

• They primarily focus their corporate efforts on digital entertainment and telecommunications.

• The company has a number of activities in other industries such as film, music, television and Internet.

Subsidiaries of Universal Music GroupUniversal Music Group is the parent company for many record labels that we are aware of today.

• The Island Def Jam Music Group• Roc-A-Fella Records• GOOD Music

• Interscope Geffen A&M• Aftermath Entertainment• Bad Boy Records• Will.i.am Music Group

• Universal Music Group UK• Decca Records• Virgin EMI• Polydor Records

• As well as many more record labels

Universal Music Group & VEVO

• VEVO is an online site and electronic devices application part owned by Universal Music Group.

• Universal Music Group part owns VEVO along with another big three record label Sony Music Entertainment and other world renowned businesses such as Google and Abu Dhabi Media.

• VEVO was founded by ex-Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Group Doug Morris, who is now with Sony (SME) in the same position.

• VEVO offers music videos from two of the big three major record labels UMG and SME.

• This is used as method of which they market their artist via music videos.

CROSS-MEDIA & NON-MEDIA• Vevo is the main cross-media; a site designed for music

videos owned by UMG, Sony and Google as a joint venture.

• There is Universal Studios which is cross-media is an American motion picture studio. It is one of the 6 major movie studios.

• Universal Orlando which is a non-media interest. It is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is the second largest resort in Greater Orlando.

• Universal Channel which is a cross-media is a television channel on movies and television. It is launched in many countries such as UK, Poland, Romania, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, Australia, Greece

Timeline of UMG Since 2000

• 2003 – UMG acquires DreamWorks Records

• 2003 – UMG agree terms with eBay to launch “Universal Music Store”

• 2004 – UMG achieved a 43.07% market share week ending 14th November

• 2005 – Gwen Stefani becomes the first artist to sell 1 million commercial downloads

• 2005 – UMG breaks their market share record and now owns 43.54% of the market

• 2008 – UMG delivers 1 billion video streams via YouTube

• 2008 – UMG partners with MySpace to create MySpace Music

• 2009 – UMG forms VEVO and joins forces with SME, EMI and CBS Broadcast Inc.

Timeline of UMG Since 2000

• 2010 – The Black Eyed Peas become first group to sell over 6 million US digital downloads with “I Gotta Feeling”

• 2010 – VEVO named number 1 online music destination by comScore

• 2010 – Lady Gaga becomes first artist to have her first 5 singles reach number 1

• 2011 – UMG forms strategic partnership with Live Nation Entertainment

• 2012 – UMG completes their acquisition of EMI Recorded Music

How Does UMG Market Their Acts

Music Publishing

• Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) is a global leader in music publishing and represents music in every genre from some of the world’s hottest songwriters and catalogues UMPG is also a global leader in the areas of Classical, Christian/Gospel, and Production Music.  Additionally, UMPG plays a major role in film and TV, administering the music of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Universal Studios, HBO, DreamWorks, NBC and Sesame Workshop, among others. 

• UMPG is responsible for recording studios ensuring that the state of the art equipment is used; creative services – song plugging, income tracking along with other areas of music production.

Merchandising:

• Bravado is the only global, 360 degree full service merchandise company, develops and markets high-quality licensed merchandise to a world-wide audience. The company works closely with new and established entertainment clients, creating innovative products carefully tailored to each artist or brand.

• They are responsible for the merchandise sold on tours, online, etc.

• Bravado is the company behind the majority of UMG artist official online stores. Artists include Lil Wayne, Mindless Behaviour, Take That and many more.

Distribution of UMG Music

• Within the US UMG have their own distribution company that manages the sales, marketing and distribution of UMG artist as well as other creative work associated with UMG, in all digital formats. UMG Distributions has been the industry market share leader for the past fifteen years.

• Outside of the US, the country’s UMG offices handle their own distribution and sales whereas in some cases in other markets UMG companies have sub-contracted services to third parties otherwise gone into into distribution joint ventures with other record labels.

XL Recordings

• Founded in 1989 by Richard Russell, Tim Palmer & Nick Halkes

• The record label is based in London UK - National label

• The record label was originally launched to release rave and dance music

• They release on average 6 albums a year

Who Owns XL Recordings

• XL Recordings is owned by a British record company known as the Beggars Group

• The record label originated from a chain of record stores known as Beggars Banquet

• Beggars Group was founded by Martin Mills, he has become known as a fierce supporter for independent label rights

• Beggars Group also owns other labels such as 4AD, Rough Trade Records & Matador Records

• They are responsible for the distribution of XL Recordings’ music

Recent History of XL

• 2003: XL Recordings won the Music Week A&R award.

• 2009: XL won the "Music Week" Best Independent Label award.

• 2011: Sales of Adele's 21 helped increase XL Recordings' bank balance from £3million to £32million in the space of 12 months.

• 2012: XL Recordings was named 'Label of the Year' at the Music Week Awards in London.

Artist Under XL Recordings

• Adele

• Jack White

• Radiohead

• Sampha

• Giggs

• Jai Paul

• Tyler The Creator ( was signed for a one album deal for his second studio album Goblin)

Adele has her own offiical website

where she can

promote her and

her music through her blog,

mobile app etc.