David Balogh

November 14th, 2006

UMG’s CEO Doug Morris sure seems to have a lot to say about iPod owners, stereotyping them as out-right ‘thieves’ of music. Though I tend to buy MOST of my music, the occasional album does come from friends, just like it did on mix tapes, burned CDs, etc. etc. An iPod is just another device, and if I didn’t take the subway everyday I probably wouldn’t own one, but it’s a very useful product for many people. To generalize that we are all thieves is exactly why the music industry just doesn’t get it.

I saw a blog post about ‘boycotting’ UMG for a week, I couldn’t help but want to ban them for a hell of a lot longer than that. And now anytime I want a UMG album, I guess I’ll have to Limewire it! (YUP I said it. Me who likes buying CDs, and supports most of my fave bands). I suggest to any band out there looking to be signed or are already signed by UMG to rethink. These money-hungry fellas don’t deserve your talent. I know no one’s reading this but friends, but still I feel the need to put it out there.

Here’s a listing of UMG Labels:

Geffen Records
Interscope Geffen A&M
Island Def Jam Music Group
Lost Highway Records
MCA Nashville
Mercury Nashville
Motown Records
UNI Records
Universal Music Classics Group
Universal Records
Universal Music Enterprises
Universal Music Latino
Universal South
Verve Music Group
Classics & Jazz (Germany)
Decca Music Group
Def Jam (UK)
Deutsche Grammophon Records
Island Records Group (UK)
Jazz Echo (Germany)
Jazz Land Records (Norway)
Mercury (UK)
Polydor (UK)
Stockholm Records (Sweden)
UMTV (UK)
Universal Music Australia
Universal Music Brazil
Universal Music Canada
Universal Music Colombia
Universal Music Czech Rep
Universal Music Finland
Universal Music France
Universal Music Germany
Universal Music Hong Kong
Universal Music Hungary
Universal Music India
Universal Music Italy
Universal Music Japan
Universal Music Mexico
Universal Music Netherlands
Universal Music Norway
Universal Music Poland
Universal Music Portugal
Universal Music Publishing Group
Universal Music Russia
Universal Music Spain
Universal Music Sweden
Universal Music Switzerland
Universal Music UK
Universal Pop (Germany)
Urban (Germany)

And a nice little side note about our next governor:
In May 2006, an investigation led by New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer concluded with a determination that Universal bribed radio stations to play songs from Ashlee Simpson, Brian McKnight, Big Tymers, Lindsay Lohan and other performers working for Universal labels. The company paid $12 million to the state in settlement.

Entry Filed under: Blog, Music