Vivendi’s planned sale of a portion of Universal Music Group may be delayed substantially into 2020, according to sources to Digital Music News. Last week, Vivendi SA suspended its planned sale of Universal Music Group for six months, for unspecified r…
Author archives: Paul Resnikoff
UMG Kept a Secret List of Masters Destroyed In the Fire — The New York Times Just Published It
Previously, Universal Music Group had refused to disclose any list detailing its losses in the 2008 Universal Studios fire. Now, the New York Times is releasing it for them. Late Tuesday, Times investigatory reporter Jody Rosen released a list of more …
Spotify Says They ‘Overpaid Most Publishers In 2018’ — And They Want Their Money Back
Looks like everybody’s gotta play by the same rules — Spotify’s rules. Not only is Spotify fighting a proposed increase songwriter and publisher royalties. They’re also demanding a refund, based on overpayments made in 2018 on family bundles and colle…
Universal Music Sued for $100 Million by Tom Petty Estate, Tupac Estate, Soundgarden, Hole, Steve Earle Over 2008 Fire
Universal Music Group now faces a $100 million lawsuit from a group that includes the estates of Tom Petty and Tupac Shakur, surviving members of Soundgarden, Hole, and Steve Earle, among others. The litigation stems from a recent New York Times Magazi…
YouTube Partners With Universal Music Group to HD Upgrade 1000+ Music Videos — But Royalties Will Remain the Same
In a move that will enhance potentially billions of views, Universal Music Group (UMG) has partnered with YouTube to convert 1,000 or so music videos into high definition. But according to YouTube, the upgraded videos won’t enjoy an upgraded royalty pa…
Vivendi CEO: Universal Music’s 2008 Fire Crisis Is “Just Noise”
As legal action stemming from the 2008 Universal Studios Fire awaits, Universal Music Group’s PR counter-offensive continues. What really got torched in the blaze of ’08? According to the New York Times and its sources, roughly 500,000 priceless record…
Vivendi Suspends Its Sale of Universal Music Group — Possibly Due to the 2008 Fire Fallout
French media megalith Vivendi is pausing its efforts to divest 50% of Universal Music Group. But why? The proposed sale of Universal Music Group has attracted interest from several potential buyers, including Alibaba, KKR & Co., SiriusXM/Pandora o…
UMG Receives First Legal Warning to Disclose Its 2008 Fire Losses; Chairman Lucian Grainge Breaks His Silence
What exactly was lost, and why isn’t UMG disclosing it? The crisis over UMG’s catastrophic loss of recording masters in 2008 is now entering a new phase. Just this morning, LA-based law firm King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano, LLP issued a written …
UMG Secured a Massive Settlement from NBCUniversal After the 2008 Fire — But Shared Nothing Back With Artists
The crisis surrounding UMG’s handling of the Universal Studios Fire of 2008 is worsening with news of a massive settlement. As Universal Music Group faces the specter of dozens of lawsuits stemming from its mishandling of the 2008 Universal Studios fir…
Universal Music Group Faces Dozens of Artist Lawsuits Related to the 2008 Universal Studios Fire — And a Potentially Serious Hit to Its $50B Valuation
Universal Music Group lied about the loss of roughly 500,000 recordings in the Universal Studios fire in 2008. Now, 11 years later, top industry attorneys are gearing up for some serious litigation, with dozens of artists potentially filing suit. With…