Universal Music Group (UMG)

Universal Music Group is the largest group of record labels in the world, owned wholly by French Media Company Vivendi. Universal music group has many subsidiaries, mainly the Universal Music Publishing group, which is responsible for the publishing of Universal's many artists who are signed to the record label: such as Eminem, Aerosmith and ABBA.

Universal Music Group may have all these record artists signed, but they will have their music published through one of Universals many subsidiaries. Labels such as Island Records and Interscope will cater for the Groups many indvidual acts, making sure that the artists style and musical talent are nurtured and, in some cases, exploited.

A list of Universal Music Groups Subsidiaries:

• Universal Music Publishing Group (U2, Shania Twain, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi,)
  Universal Music Group Distribution
  Interscope-Geffen-A&M (Lady Gaga, Eminem, Aerosmith, Snow Patrol)
  Island Def Jam Music Group (Lionel Richie, Def Leppard, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi)
  Universal Motown Republic Group
  Universal Music Group Nashville
  Verve Music Group
  Decca Label Group
  Universal Music Latin Entertainment
  Universal Music Enterprises
  Show Dog-Universal Music
  Fontana Distribution
  V2/Co-operative Music
  Polydor Records
  Mercury Music Group
  Island Records Group
  Universal Music TV
  Universal Classics and Jazz

Universal has been very clever in its setup of record labels and production companies, by creating and owning many different record labels it can pander to the tastes of the general public and assign acts to labels who will nurture the talent of the act as they have experience with the genre of music.