Universal Music Group

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Hit by Drake, the Weeknd Went Viral. It Wasn't Theirs

We have a new can of worms, courtesy of AI

(Newser) - A song that went viral on streaming platforms over the weekend appeared to feature Drake and The Weeknd trading verses about fellow singer Selena Gomez. But as Mashable reports, "Heart On My Sleeve" was both "very good and very fake." The AI-generated tune had actually come from...

Not-So-Great Vibrations for Brian Wilson, Ex Lead to Suit

Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford says she's entitled to more cash after Wilson sold song rights to UMPG

(Newser) - Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford was married to Brian Wilson from 1964 to 1978, a 14-year stretch during which the Beach Boys co-founder helped write some of the group's biggest hits, including "Good Vibrations," "California Girls," and "Wouldn't It Be Nice." Now, a year after...

Universal Picks Up Another Huge Music Catalog

Music group just bought the rights to Neil Diamond's song collection, including 'Sweet Caroline'

(Newser) - Universal Music Group has been on a shopping spree. First it scooped up the rights to Bob Dylan's lyrics and compositions , then Sting's song catalog , and now it's got a new acquisition to brag about. The music corporation has purchased the rights to Neil Diamond's entire...

Sting Joins Artists Selling Songwriting Catalogs
Sting Sells
Songwriting
Catalog
Feb 10, 2022 6:42 PM CST

Sting Sells Songwriting Catalog

Sale to Universal includes releases by the Police

(Newser) - Sting has sold his songwriting catalog, including his output with the Police, to the Universal Music Group. The deal announced Thursday is estimated to be worth $300 million, the New York Times reports, and includes more than 600 songs. Sting, 70, has been on the Universal label for most of...

Kanye Claims Donda Release Was Unauthorized

That's 'preposterous,' Universal insiders say

(Newser) - The long-delayed Kanye West album Donda broke streaming records after its release Sunday morning—but West says he never signed off on the release, Pitchfork reports. "Universal put my album out without my approval and they blocked Jail 2 from being on the album," he said in an...

Bob Dylan Just Sold His Whole Song Catalog

Universal Music Group likely paid hundreds of millions

(Newser) - Bob Dylan just became a very, very rich man. The music legend has sold his entire song catalog to Universal Music Publishing Group, and early reports say the deal is worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Terms were not disclosed for the catalog spanning six decades and more than 600...

UMG Tried to Downplay Big Fire. Now, a Bigger List of Names

Cher, Dolly Parton, Styx, Rodney Dangerfield—all apparently lost master recordings in 2008 blaze

(Newser) - What's been called "the biggest disaster in the history of the music business" now has an even longer list of victims. A New York Times story documented the destruction of master recordings in a 2008 fire that burned a Universal Music Group vault, with 100 or so artists...

Fire Wiped Out Their Masters. Now the Artists Are Suing

They want Universal Music Group to pay up over devastating 2008 blaze

(Newser) - In 2008, a fire at Universal Studios Hollywood also hit a vault of master music recordings owned by Universal Music Group. The full scope of the damage wasn't revealed until earlier this month, when a New York Times investigation labeled it "the biggest disaster in the history of...

Some of Music's Best Master Recordings Were Torched
11 Years Later,
Full Scope of
a Music Disaster
Is Revealed
in case you missed it
Jun 15, 2019 3:00 PM CDT

11 Years Later, Full Scope of a Music Disaster Is Revealed

NYT Magazine reports on Universal Studios fire that wiped out priceless master recordings

(Newser) - Some of history's most important music recordings were destroyed a decade ago. That's according to New York Times Magazine , which reports that a 2008 blaze at Universal Studios Hollywood was far more devastating than previously reported. Flames didn't just destroy movies and TV shows already copied to...

Richard Carpenter Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Karen

He's suing for unpaid digital royalties

(Newser) - The lawsuits may have only just begun: Richard Carpenter filed a suit in California Wednesday on behalf of sister Karen Carpenter's estate, saying record companies are cheating both of them out of digital royalties. Richard, the surviving member of the sibling duo, accuses Universal Music Group and A&M...

'Dancing Baby' May Head to Supreme Court

High court may hear mom's case against 'abusive' infringement claim by Universal

(Newser) - Of all the YouTube videos that could pose legal problems, a 30-second clip of a dancing baby seems less than likely. But almost 10 years after Stephanie Lenz posted her young son bopping to Prince's "Let's Go Crazy," her video may now appear before the Supreme...

Online Hacking Group 'Anonymous' Deletes CBS Website, Takes Down Universal Music Site
 Anonymous Deletes CBS Site 
Jan 22, 2012 1:23 PM CST

Anonymous Deletes CBS Site

Hackers also take down Universal Music again

(Newser) - Those pesky online pirates known as Anonymous struck again today, knocking CBS.com offline for "a good period of time" and deleting all of its files, Gizmodo reports. Unlike earlier strikes this week against the Justice Department and the Motion Picture Association of America, the hackers actually deleted everything,...

Elvis Costello: Don't Buy My New Boxed Set

Inflated price 'appears to be either a misprint or a satire,' he quips

(Newser) - Elvis Costello's new Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook boxed set is pretty good—but no way is it worth the current price Elvis Costello says. The special-edition set, which includes a CD and DVD of a concert from earlier this year, plus a coffee-table book, is selling for...

New Jackson 5 Tracks Drop in Nov.

New single 'That's How Love Is' available online now

(Newser) - The Jackson 5 may well be back on the charts this November with the release of I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters, a collection of never-before-heard material and alternate versions of beloved tunes. One of the new songs, “That’s How Love Is,” can be heard on the...

Apple Teams Up With Record Labels to Revive the Album

(Newser) - Apple has joined forces with four major record labels on a mission to get music buyers to start buying albums again instead of just single tracks, the Financial Times reports. The project—codenamed "Cocktail"—will bundle album downloads with lyrics sheets, sleeve notes, photos, and assorted interactive features...

Universal, YouTube Team Up for Music Video Site

(Newser) - At last, a little peace and harmony between the music industry and the tech world. YouTube and Universal Music announced a deal today to create a new website called Vevo.com to show music videos, CNET reports. It will launch later this year, with YouTube—and parent company Google—providing...

Warner Music Pulls Videos From YouTube

Contract negotiations between firms stall

(Newser) - Warner Music ordered YouTube to remove all music videos by Warner artists today after talks to renew their licensing deal stalled, Reuters reports. The impasse could affect hundreds of thousands of video clips. The music group, home to artists such as Madonna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is demanding...

Stones Exit EMI, Jump to Universal

Post-1971 catalogue comes with Jagger & Co., who take potshot at now-former label

(Newser) - After the latest skirmish between EMI’s new owner and the recording label’s bands, the Rolling Stones have fled for Universal—in a $15 million deal that includes rights to all Stones releases since 1971. Mick Jagger & Co. knocked EMI on the way out the door, the Times...

As Digital Gains, Album Sales Plunge 11%

Music biz turmoil as CDs plummet

(Newser) - CDs continue to go the way of the 8-track, losing further ground to digital music. Another big drop in CD sales is being driven by the closure of Virgin stores and reduced shelf space at outlets like Target. CD sales are off 16% over the last 12 months and total...

14-Year-Old Boy Sues 50 Cent
 14-Year-Old Boy Sues 50 Cent 
Apr 10, 2008 6:00 AM CDT

14-Year-Old Boy Sues 50 Cent

Teen alleges rapper's music promotes gangsta lifestyle that led to his assault

(Newser) - 50 Cent and Universal Music Group were sued yesterday for promoting a "gangsta lifestyle" that encourages violence. The plaintiff: 14-year-old James Rosemond, who was assaulted on a Manhattan sidewalk by 50's fellow G-Unit member Tony Yayo. Rosemond is the son of a record exec whose label represents The Game,...

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