Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group was founded in 1898 by the National Gramophone Company as Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. It later adopted the name 'Universal' in 1912 when it merged with a film studio.

Universal Music Group was founded in September 1934. It is a major player in the music and entertainment industry, with a wide range of labels under its umbrella.

In 1958, MCA acquired the Universal Studios property and obtained Paramount's pre-1948 film library for its MCA TV division. This acquisition marked a major milestone for Universal Music Group's expansion.

Universal Music Group was founded in 1962. It is one of the largest music corporations in the world.

In November 1990, Matsushita Electric agreed to acquire MCA for $6.59 billion, marking a significant financial transaction in the music industry.

Nirvana released their iconic album 'Nevermind' on September 24, 1991.

By 1997, EMI had expanded to 60 labels in 46 countries, including mainstream labels, with a total of 17699 employees and sales reaching $5.58 billion.

In May 1998, Seagram purchased PolyGram and merged it with Universal Music Group in early 1999, leading to a consolidation of major music entities.

In 2001, Universal Music Group acquired RMM Records, a legendary Latin and Tropical label founded by Ralph Mercado. This acquisition allowed UMG to expand its presence in the Latin music genre.

In 2003, Universal Music Group acquired the rights to DreamWorks Records, further strengthening its position in the music industry. This acquisition marked a significant milestone for UMG's growth.

On September 6, 2006, Universal announced the acquisition of BMG publishing, according to BBC News.

A fire at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 1, 2008, destroyed over 118,230 master recordings, including those from labels like Decca, Chess, Impulse!, MCA, ABC, A&M, Geffen, and Interscope, leading to a significant loss in music history.

Upon Lucian Grainge's appointment as CEO of Universal Music Group, Max Hole was promoted to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Universal Music Group International (UMGI) effective from July 1, 2010.

On January 1, 2011, Doug Morris resigned as CEO of Universal Music Group, and Lucian Grainge took over as the new CEO. Grainge later assumed the role of chairman on March 9, 2011. Doug Morris moved on to become the chairman of Sony Music Entertainment on July 1, 2011.

On January 10, 2011, Citigroup sold EMI in parts for $4.1 billion to Vivendi and Sony, as mentioned in Los Angeles Times.

Megaupload released a music video titled 'The Mega Song' featuring artists like Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Alicia Keys, and will.i.am, leading to a legal battle with UMG after the video was taken down from YouTube.

On September 21, 2012, Universal's £1.2bn takeover of EMI was approved with certain conditions, according to The Guardian.

Universal Music Group completed the acquisition of EMI on September 28, 2012.

On February 8, 2013, Warner Music Group acquired the Parlophone Label Group for $765 million.

UMG extended their exclusive distribution deal with Disney Music Group worldwide, excluding Japan. This allowed DMG's labels and artists to access UMG's producers and songwriters globally, along with unlimited rights to Disney's 85-year back catalog.

On September 14, 2013, Universal Music Group achieved a perfect 10 on the Billboard 100 chart, showcasing their dominance in the music industry.

On April 1, 2014, Universal Music announced the disbandment of Island Def Jam Music, one of the operational umbrella groups within Universal Music. Island Records and Def Jam now operate as autonomous record labels.

On February 29, 2016, the documentary 'Amy' emerged victorious by winning the prestigious Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, garnering acclaim and recognition.

Universal Music Group finalized the acquisition of EMI, solidifying its position as the largest among the remaining major music companies.

On February 12, 2017, Universal Music Group made a significant move by reviving the Polygram label for film and TV production, aiming to tap into new creative avenues.

In December 2017, YouTube signed a deal with Universal Music Group (UMG) and Sony regarding streaming policies. This agreement aimed to address issues related to music streaming on the platform.

Universal Music signed a multiyear licensing deal with Facebook in December 2017. The agreement allows Facebook to use Universal Music's catalog in its platform.

In July 2018, Vivendi announced plans to sell up to half of Universal Music Group. This decision marked a significant potential change in the ownership structure of UMG.

Taylor Swift's status as a free agent in the music industry could potentially make history, according to Variety.

Elton John signed a lifetime deal with Universal Music Group, marking a significant milestone in his career according to Reuters.

Taylor Swift's new record deal not only affects her but also has implications for thousands of other musicians, as highlighted by Rolling Stone.

John Waite and Joe Ely filed a class-action lawsuit against UMG in 2019, accusing the company of violating their right to terminate grants of copyright after 35 years, which led to a legal dispute over Notices of Termination.

The valuation of Universal Music Group hit $50 billion, with Vivendi seeking multiple investment bank partners, according to Music Business Worldwide.

On May 8, 2019, music legend Paul McCartney signed a global deal with Capitol Records, marking a significant collaboration between the iconic artist and the renowned record label.

Universal Music Group relocates its main office in the UK from Kensington to King's Cross.

UMG issued a statement on June 11, 2019, refuting the claims made in The New York Times article about the extent of the damage caused by the fire at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2008.

Following the devastating fire at Universal Music Group's warehouse, musicians expressed grief over the destruction of their recordings. Artists like Nirvana's Krist Novoselic and Eminem were affected.

On June 21, 2019, Howard King filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles on behalf of several artists including Soundgarden, Hole, Steve Earle, Tupac Shakur's estate, and a former wife of Tom Petty. The lawsuit seeks class action status for artists whose master recordings were thought to have been destroyed in the Universal Studios fire.

Several states reach a settlement in a case involving price-fixing by music companies.

Vivendi is in discussions with Tencent to sell a portion of its ownership in Universal Music Group.

UMG suspended all its operations in Russia in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine.