Vivendi to appoint banks for Universal stake sell-off on Thursday – report

Vivendi is officially looking to sell off 50% of UMG
The post Vivendi to appoint banks for Universal stake sell-off on Thursday – report appeared first on Music Business Worldwide.

Only 22 ‘original masters’ lost in 2008 fire, says Universal Music Group

“Our current priority is to communicate directly with our artists and their representatives.”
The post Only 22 ‘original masters’ lost in 2008 fire, says Universal Music Group appeared first on Music Business Worldwide.

Can Major Labels Survive The Indie Music Revolution?

At the heart of the music business almost since its inception, major labels have successfully weathered multiple challenges to their industry dominance. But as music once again reinvents itself, can the major labels continue cling to power? ____________________________ Guest post by Bobby Owsinski of Music 3.0 Major record labels have…

UMG Attempts To Block O-Town’s Trademark Application Over Its Motown Label

In a recent move, Universal Music Group has thrown down the copyright tire spikes, attempting to block the MTV era group O-Town from applying for a trademark, alleging the band’s name is too similar to UMG’s Motown. _______________________________ Guest op-ed Timothy Geigner of Techdirt It will surprise nobody to hear…

UMG Pocketed Up To $150M In Fire Settlement, Insurance Payments and Paid Nothing To Artists, Lawsuit Claims

In addition to covering up the scope of damage in a 2008 fire in a Universal Music Group vault containing recording masters of more than 800 artists, the company allegedly also profited from settlement and insurance payments, according to a new report and court filings. After the devastating fire, UMG…

Universal Music Faces a Growing Chorus of Artist Complaints Over Its Handling of the 2008 Universal Studios Fire

Over ten years ago, several workers at Universal Studios Hollywood made a huge blunder.  Universal Music Group committed a much greater one. To repair a building on a set, the workers had decided to use a blowtorch.  This would warm asphalts applied to…

800+ Artists Lost Tapes In Universal Fire [NY Times]

The New York Times has published a list of over 700 more artists believed to have lost their masters in the 2008 fire that swept the backlot of Universal Studios in Hollywood. This follows an existing tally of more than 100 artists named in an investigation earlier this month. The…

Musicians Sue Universal Alleging $100M 2018 Fire Loss

A group of high-profile musicians and estates have filed a $100 million lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMPG) over the 2008 fire that destroyed thousands of archived master recordings. The lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles Federal District Court Friday (June 21) by the rock bands Soundgarden and Hole,…

UMG Fire Concerns Are ‘Just Noise,’ Says Vivendi Chair, As Music Group Sale Timetable Extended

Even as details emerge of a 2008 fire in a vault holding thousands of Universal Music Group recordings point to devastating destruction of historic masters, the chairperson of UMG corporate parent Vivendi is calling the concerns of artists and producers is "just noise." "It’s a credit to the leadership of…

THU. BRIEF: UMG Slow Tracks Sale • A2IM Indie Week • Grammys ♥ Streams • Spotify’s Ek Talks Libra • Voisey • More

THURSDAY 6.20.19
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