Universal Music Group

Key facts:

• The largest of the 'big four' labels
• Responsible for 30% of the world's music sales
• Based in the US with offices worldwide
• Owned by Vivdendi (French media conglomerate)
• Merged with BMG Music Publishing in 2007
• Many subsidiary companies including: Island Records Group, Decca, Polydor and Mercury.
• Revenie $5.87billion in 2010
• Has access to a global market - targets international audiences and manages artists with global appeal.

How do majors operate?
Major labels operate a vertically integrated business model, where the owner has acquired companies which play different roles in the process of creating, promoting and selling music.