Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s largest record company, has sued Believe, the global distributor of music recordins. Believe is also the parent company of leading music distributor TuneCore, which is a popular on-ramp for indie musicians putting their music into global streaming platforms. Click for quotes and link to the court document. Continue Reading
In a noisy announcement that can be celebrated by musicians, many social media users, a major label, and a major internet company, Universal Music Group and Meta have reached a new licensing agreement. The thrust is that social media users across Meta’s immense social platform reach will be able to use UMG-published music without repercussion to them, or to Meta. The agreement builds on an earlier (2017) accord.
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Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s largest record company, suffered an off-the-cliff stock dip last Thursday following the company’s earnings call. The hinge point? unexpectedly low streaming revenue. The question was: Who set the expectation? Continue Reading
Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company, released financial information for Q4, and full-year 2023. UMG is a Dutch-American firm operating under Dutch law and traded on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AMS). We look at top-line Q4 and 2023 numbers. Continue Reading
In a flaming accusatory open letter, label giant Universal Music Group verbally eviscerates TikTok for failing to meet UMG’s royalty terms. The statement is posted on the final day of an existing royalty contract between the two giants. Continue Reading
The new royalty attribution method recently deployed by Universal Music Group and streaming music platform Deezer seeks to make royalty calculation more fair. But the change is not universally applauded. Two digital distribution companies Believe and TuneCore, whose customers are mainly indie musicians, calls the system “reverse Robin Hood.” Continue Reading
In an unprecedented shift in how streaming music royalties are assessed, Universal Music Group (UMG) has reached agreement with Paris-based global streaming service Deezer. It is an artist-centric model which scales payouts upward in an attempt to reward musicians who are most favored by fans. Click for the details. Continue Reading
Universal Music Group (UMG), Capitol Records, Sony Music Entertainment, and Arista Music have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Internet Archive. The heart of this confrontation is a branded section of the Internet Archive’s Great 78 Project, a streaming database of 400,000 streaming, downloadable, and shareable recordings. Click through for the whole story. Continue Reading
Chinese media conglomerate Tencent is reportedly acquiring 10% of major label Universal Music Group (UMG). The deal includes an option to own an additional ten percent within a year. The two companies have mutually benefited in the past. Continue Reading
We learn from Billboard that Ty Roberts, Chief Technology Officer of Universal Music Group (UMG) has left the company after a little more than a year. Ty Roberts’ sideways career move from Gracenote to Universal was seen by many as a significant signal that the music industry could, to some extent, reinvent itself as a technology industry — or at least a tech-flriendly, tech-fluent one. Continue Reading
One of UMG’s top execs is stepping down effective immediately. Max Hole will leave his role as the Universal Music Group International’s chairman and CEO following medical troubles. Continue Reading
After a six-month pause, the trial of UMG vs. Escape Media resumes today with a jury in place to set damages after a ruling of copyright infringement last September. Escape Media is the parent company of Grooveshark. the damages verdict could range as high as $736-million for the full statutory penalty. Continue Reading