Universal Music Group valuation hits $50bn – as Vivendi seeks ‘half dozen’ investment bank partners

“[UMG] owns undermonetized, must-have, global content that is strategic to the tech giants and can’t be replicated.”
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UMG Acquires Independent Music Distributor Ingrooves

Universal Music Group is acquiring independent music distributor Ingrooves Music Group. Ingrooves will continue to operate as a standalone company led by CEO Bob Roback. UMG has been a minority investor in Ingrooves since 2006. The acquisition of Ingrooves is expected to close before the end of the current quarter…

Class action lawsuits filed in New York against Sony and Universal

The suits seek damages for copyright infringement and declaratory relief
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Spotify didn’t launch in India today after all… and still doesn’t have major label approval to do so

Spotify’s proposed average ad-funded rate in India will sit at less than $0.0005 per-play
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Universal parent Vivendi buys book publishing company Editis in $1bn-plus deal

“This acquisition is a logical step in the building of a large content, media and communications group. It also marks the return of this French publishing powerhouse to a European group with a global reach.”
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Universal’s investment in Pluto TV pays off as startup sells to Viacom for $340m

Major invested in Pluto in November 2014, alongside Nas’s investment vehicle
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Universal expands in China and Asia with local hires and promotions

Aaron Wang, Tracy Mu and KT Ang all join major, as other execs are promoted
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Spotify’s market cap sinks below $20bn for the first time since it went public

Spotify has seen more than $15bn wiped off its valuation since its peak ($35bn) in late July
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