Rockbites: Universal Music Group celebrates control of record industry

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September 2000 • Rockbites Alternative Daily

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Universal Music Group celebrates control of record industry
22 September 2000

Startups like MP3.com, Napster, Garageband.com, and Ice-T’s Coroner Records make headlines these days in their attempts to democratize the recording industry. Even individual bands including Smashing Pumpkins, The Offspring, The The, and Placebo are taking stands, releasing albums for free on the Web, thumbing their noses at label control. Yet amid the gaiety it’s helpful to keep some perspective on just how much (how little) these flies are really bothering the elephant.
    International conglomerate Universal Music Group (owned by Seagram, in turn owned by Vivendi) proudly announced yesterday that they own the top four albums this week and ten of the top 20. And for the past 17 weeks UMG has held on to the number one album spot on SoundScan.
    Universal lays claim to a multitude of record companies and licensees in 63 countries. Their sub labels include A&M, Decca, Geffen, Interscope, Island Def Jam, Farmclub.com, Motwown, Polydor, and many, many others.
    Celebrating his company’s centralized control of audio entertainment product, chairman and CEO Doug Morris said “This is a great achievement for UMG. It is a reflection of the tremendous depth of artistry within our company and also of the incredible management within each of our various labels.”
    For an alternate perspective on big labels and what they mean to the 99% of bands not signed to them—and to the 99% of those who are that don’t make it—check out Courtney Love’s address to the Digital Hollywood conference from this past spring. | Universal Music Group | | Seagram | | Vivendi | | Love's address to Digital Hollywood | | top of page |

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