Who Owns Universal Music Latin Entertainment?

Who Owns Universal Music Latin Entertainment? A big conglomerate or someone who is passionate about music?
The answer may surprise you.

Introduction

In 2008, the Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company, purchased a controlling interest in EMI’s recorded music operations. This included internationally recognized labels such as Capitol Records, Virgin Records, and EMI’s Latin American label, Capitol Latin. In 2012, UMG completed its purchase of EMI, and as a result, Capitol Latin became a wholly owned subsidiary of UMG.

UMG’s labels in Latin America are operated under the umbrella of Universal Music Latin Entertainment (UMLE), which is based in Miami, Florida. UMLE includes such labels as Machete Music, Disa Records, Fonovisa Records, and Universal Music Latino. The roster of artists signed to these labels includes some of the biggest names in Spanish-language music, such as Luis Miguel, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Ozuna, and Daddy Yankee.

While UMG is the undisputed leader in the Latin music market, it is not the only player. Sony Music Entertainment also has a strong presence in the region through its Sony Music US Latin division. Other major companies with a stake in the Latin music market include Warner Music Group (via its Warner Latina imprint) and independents like Carbón Fiber Music.

History of Universal Music Latin Entertainment

Universal Music Latin Entertainment, a division of Universal Music Group, is the largest Latin music label in the world. It was founded in 1992 by Argentine-born entrepreneur Geraldo Thiele, and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

The label specializes in Latin American music, and has a catalogue that includes some of the most popular and influential artists in the genre, such as Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Mana. UML Latin also has a strong presence in the Mexican market, with artists such as Luis Miguel and Julieta Venegas signed to the label.

In recent years, UML Latin has been increasingly focused on signing crossover artists who appeal to both Latin and non-Latin audiences. For example, the label has worked with Justin Bieber on his Spanish-language album Purpose: The Movement (2016), and collaborated with Ed Sheeran on the track “Boys” from his album ÷ (2017).

As of 2018, Universal Music Latin Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vivendi SA.

Current Ownership Structure

As of May 2018, the current ownership structure of Universal Music Latin Entertainment is as follows:

Vivendi – 63.36%
Investor Group led by Tencent – 9.92%
Merck Mercuriadis / Hipgnosis Songs Fund – 5.00%
The estate of Michael Jackson – 4.39%
Other minority shareholders – 17.33%

Key Executives

Mr. Bruce Resnikoff is the Founder of UMe and has been its President & Chief Executive Officer since August 1998. Mr. Resnikoff served as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of UMe from June 1998 to August 1998. He served as the President of UMe from 1983 to 1998. From 1981 to 1983, he served as its Senior Vice President and from 1979 to 1981, he served as its Executive Vice President. He has been Chairman of Quarto Group, Inc. since October 20, 2016 and has been its Director since June 23, 2016. He serves on the Board of Directors of eOne Entertainment Ltd., RLJ Entertainment, Quarto Publishing Group USA and Viacom Media Networks (formerly known as MTV Networks). Mr. Resnikoff received a B.A. degree in English literature from New York University in 1971

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is safe to say that the question of who owns Universal Music Latin Entertainment is a complicated one. While it is majority owned by Vivendi, there are many other companies and individuals with stakes in the company. Ultimately, this means that there are a variety of interests represented within Universal Music Latin Entertainment, which could potentially lead to conflicts of interest down the line. However, for now, Vivendi appears to be in control of the company and is free to make decisions about its future as it sees fit.