Universal Music Suspends Business in Russia

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: The Wall Street Journal.

32 min ago

Universal Music Suspends Business in Russia

By Anne Steele

The world’s largest music company said it is suspending all operations in Russia and closing its offices there immediately. Universal Music Group NV, the No. 1 label and No. 2 publisher which has local operations in Russia, said it is adhering to international sanctions. ... Similar discussions are happening at the other music majors, Sony Corp.’s Sony Music Group and Warner Music Group Corp., according to people close to the companies, both of which have much larger operations than Universal has in Russia. ... Such moves add to the sort of cultural sanctions global entertainment companies are making in an effort to isolate Russia economically and culturally as punishment for its military actions.

Earlier Tuesday, U.K. performance rights organization PRS for Music said it had suspended its rights-representation relationship with the Russian collecting society for musical works, pending the institution's separation from the Russian government and anyone on the U.K. sanctions list. It said it is working with CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers which represents collecting societies around the world, to consider the ongoing membership of Russian societies.

Entertainment companies in particular are grappling with balancing sanctions on Russia with their desire to support dissident voices from within the region. ... BMI, one of the major collection societies in the U.S., also this week said it suspended its copyright representation payments to RAO, the Russian collection society.

Last week, Live Nation Entertainment Inc., the world’s largest concert promoter and ticketing service via Ticketmaster, said it will no longer put on shows or do business in Russia. And Spotify Technology SA said it has closed its Russian office and has put restrictions on users being able to find shows by Russian state media. It also removed content from Russia's state-backed RT and Sputnik in the European Union and other markets, after the bloc suspended their licenses. ... Spotify’s service, however, is still available within Russia, which the company said would allow for the flow of information around the globe.

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latest-news-2022-03-08/card/universal-music-suspends-business-in-russia-vyKMj9m2Xr7bqzmt9VCz

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The world’s largest music company, Universal Music, said it is suspending all operations in Russia and closing its offices there immediately. Similar discussions are happening at Sony Music and Warner Music, according to people close to the companies.

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Universal Music Suspends Business in Russia
The world’s largest music company said it is suspending all operations in Russia and closing its offices there immediately. Universal Music Group NV, the No. 1

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[regnaD kciN]

1. FWIW, Universal Music Group is owned by French conglomerate Vivendi...

...and is not part of the NBC/Comcast/Universal organization.

UMG and Vivendi have somewhat less than a great reputation (for example, their incompetence in storing archival materials led to the destruction of thousands of important master tapes in the 2008 Universal Fire), but I'm glad to see them doing the right thing here.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. I was not aware of that. Thanks. NT

[SheltieLover]

3. Kicking for visibility