Universal Music Group (UMG) is a major music label that owns and distributes music from various artists. UMG uses a variety of marketing techniques like YouTube channels and music festivals to promote its artists. The rise of digital music distribution through iTunes and streaming services has benefited UMG by providing new ways to distribute music, but has also harmed CD sales. UMG adapts to changing media technologies to find new artists and reach music fans.

1. Music IndustryUniversal Music Group&Fuel For Ramen

2. ContentOWNERSHIP, PRODUCTION, MARKETING, DISTRIBUTION EXCHANGE

3. UMG ArtistsLady GagaTimbalandAll American RejectsBon JoviOnerepublicOwl CityThrough Arrangement With Big Machine – Taylor Swift

4. UMG Artists – Lady Gaga Long TailLast FM:Top Tracks (past 6 months):Poker Face – 345,580 viewsPaparazzi – 303,422 viewsBad Romance – 253,637 viewsItunes:Telephone – 7th in top downloads (songs)Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/user/ladygagaofficialhannelViews: 32,043,565Total Upload Views: 121,856,067Subscribers: 267,587

5. Timbaland Last FM & ItunesLast FM: Top 3 Songs: MiscommunicationCarry Out (feat. Justin Timberlake)Apologise (Pts Onerepublic)Itunes:Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TimbalandMusicChannel Views: 1,137,060Total Upload Views: 94,561,047Subscribers: 26,323

6. Major Music FestivalsGlastonbury 2009 (those signed to UMG):Black Eyed PeasLady GagaT4 On The Beach & Radio 1 Big Weekend: AkonLeeds & Reading, Fuji Rock, Carling Weekend: Fall Out Boy

7. In your opinion, why have music festivals had a renaissance over the last few years?Because of the internet and downloads, the publicity artists get at festivals they boost the sales.

8. Ownership of UMGCEO Doug Morris is planning on stepping down from his position in the summer of 2010. UMG Is expected to promote its Chairman/CEO of Universal Music International Lucian Grainge to CEO of the company next year.

9. U.S Labels Under UMG

10. Labels Outside U.S

11. Production“Santa Monica, California, July 15, 2002 - Universal Music Group (UMG) Studio Operations announce today the addition of a Pro-Tools HD Suite in its West Coast mastering facility, “Universal Mastering Studios-West” located in Universal City, California.The introduction of the Pro-Tools HD Suite makes Universal Mastering Studios-West the only mastering studio in the industry to offer clients complete studio services in one location. The Pro Tools HD Suite now allows clients to record, mix, edit and transfer between multi-track tape sources. In conjunction with mastering and vinyl cutting services, the facility also offers a full array of other in-house production services, including CD-R duplication plus secured electronic bi-directional audio file transfers to worldwide locations.” – (UMG main website)“Now, UMG is radically changing the price of the dying format, to between $6 and $10 for single-disc releases.” (article on fastcompany.com – Thur March 18th 2010)

12. In what ways has media technology helped your MAJOR labels to find and recruit talented artists?“February 4, 2002 - Toronto, ONT – Universal Music Canada today announced a substantial equity investment in MapleCore Inc. MapleCore is a Canadian company that operates, among other things, an independent record label.. The groundbreaking deal includes access for Maple Music to Universal’s national distribution and promotion systems. MapleCore also becomes a preferred provider to Universal of a wide range of e-business solutions. This investment is a part of Universal’s ongoing commitment to grow the production and distribution of Canadian music and new media organizations.” (UMG main site)Amongst others is through the use of the internet, artists gathering publicity through websites and music channels on youtube etc.

13. Marketing - What marketing techniques does your Major label use to promote a new CD album or single launch? Distributing through Itunes, Spotify Napster etc, all the major internet music networks. CDs in shops (HMV etc) however prices for CDs in the U.S (signed to UMG) have been lowered due to the lack of sales of CDs. UMG appear to be relying on the downloading charts now to sell their artists’ music rather than the ‘hard-copies’ of their music.

14. Myspace: Nashville UMGhttp://www.myspace.com/umpgnashvillePromotes upcoming Artists, placing their latest singles on the site along with information about Nashville UMG. Used to provide a more in depth information of Nashville UMG on myspace to gather subscribers/’friends’ in order to boost the publicity of their artists and company.

15. Youtube: UMGUMG account: http://www.youtube.com/user/universalmusicgroupNashville UMG account:http://www.youtube.com/user/UMGNashvilleAlong with an encompassing channel named: Universal Music World Group: http://www.youtube.com/user/universalmusicsworldEach sight features videos of artists signed to the labels along with (for UMG) videos of upcoming films to promote for the Universal Studios company.

16. Press Coverage – Black Eyed PeasBlack Eyed Peas had recently done a 3D telecast of one of their concerts, the 3D equipment (most of it) was then used to air a 3D coverage of the NHL contest between the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders. (26 March 2010)(daylife.com) to be aired for the charity fund-raiser week ‘Idol Give Back’ along with Justin Bieber & Annie Lennox etc. Bad publicity: 3D coverage of the NHL contest between the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders. (nowpublic.com) where a 32 year old Muslim woman was caught drinking publicly in a hotel and caned for it. Now Muslims are banned from attending the Guinness sponsored concert for Black Eyed Peas. (Aug 2009)

17. Publicity – Lady GagaSpotify has responded with unusual detail to claims that Lady Gaga made just £100 from a million plays on its service. The streaming music company doesn’t usually get specific when talking about what it pays to artists but it’s clear that they’re becoming frustrated with regular criticism coming from certain parts of the industry. (telegraph.co.uk – April 14th 2010)Lady Gaga has a new title: Queen of YouTube. The pop star has broken the record for video views from a single channel, which now stands at over a billion. Her hit videos include 'Just Dance' (272,941,674 views). (mashceleb.com – April 15th 2010)

18. Distribution & ExchangeOn the UK Universal Music Group website, the downloads are for singles £1.19 & £7.99 for the entire album. (umusic.co.uk)Along with: Itunes, Spotify& Sky Songs, each sell music from UMG such as: Lady Gaga, Timbaland, All American Rejects & Bon Jovi. Prices:Itunes: £0.79 (single) & £ (album)Sky Songs: Prices vary between £6.99 (albums) - £.099 (singles) depending on the artists & how soon the release of the single/album is.

19. How has new media technology benefitted the Distribution of your Major label’s artists?By providing a quicker, wider channel for distribution of products, the music world has accessed the downloading world via the internet & various websites. Although there are sites where music can be downloaded illegally, the majority of sites (such as Itunes, Spotify, Sky Songs etc) provide monthly subscriptions to ‘stream’ music through the internet or purchase the songs/albums of various artists.It has also however, hindered the distribution of music for the sales of CDs have dropped dramatically since the downloading scene has taken over and people now rarely buy ‘hard-copies’ of music when they can download it onto the computer, quicker and cheaper.

20. In what ways has media technology radically altered the way music fans access music?It has radically changed the access of music, because people no longer have to travel to shops in order to purchase their music, nor listen to it via radio or T.V. Through video streaming on youtube& other sites, the fans are able to listen to their music for free. OR if they wish to purchase (download) music then Itunes, Sky Songs etc provide the music to download at prices cheaper compared to music stores such as HMV. Basically music can now be downloaded & listened to via streaming not just through the t.v, radio or CD/Vinyl.