Who Owns Motown Records?

What does Universal Music Group own?
Universal Music Group owns a portfolio of record labels including Republic Records, Interscope Records, Capitol Music Group, Def Jam Recordings, Island Records, Motown Records, Geffen Records, Virgin Music, Polydor Records, and Decca Records, among many others. The company also owns Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the world's largest music publishers, and Bravado, an artist merchandising business.

Is Universal Music Group publicly traded?
Yes, Universal Music Group N.V. is listed on Euronext Amsterdam under ticker UMG. The company was spun off from Vivendi and listed in September 2021. Major shareholders include Tencent Holdings (approximately 20%), Pershing Square Holdings (approximately 10%), and Vivendi (a reduced stake). The remaining shares are held by institutional investors and public shareholders.

Who founded Universal Music Group?
Universal Music Group in its current form was created through the 1998 merger of Universal Music Group (owned by Seagram) and PolyGram (owned by Philips). The predecessor companies trace their origins to Decca Records (1929), MCA Music (1962), and PolyGram (formed in the 1960s and 1970s). Vivendi acquired UMG through its 2000 acquisition of Seagram and retained ownership until the 2021 Euronext listing.

Where is Universal Music Group headquartered?
Universal Music Group is headquartered in Hilversum, Netherlands, as its registered corporate headquarters, with major operational headquarters in Santa Monica, California, USA. The company also has significant operations in London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, and other major music markets worldwide.

How many record labels does Universal Music Group own?
Universal Music Group owns dozens of record labels across all genres of music. The major labels include Republic Records, Interscope Records, Capitol Music Group, Def Jam Recordings, Island Records, Motown Records, Geffen Records, Virgin Music, Polydor Records, and Decca Records. Each major label typically operates several sub-labels and imprints. UMG also provides distribution services to independent labels through its distribution network.

Who owns Universal Music Group?
Universal Music Group N.V. is publicly traded on Euronext Amsterdam. Major shareholders include Tencent Holdings (approximately 20%), Pershing Square Holdings (approximately 10%), and Vivendi (a reduced stake following the 2021 spin-off). Lucian Grainge serves as Chairman and CEO. The remaining shares are held by institutional investors and public shareholders worldwide.