\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
\n\tWhat that blueprint may look like is still to come, however; Grainge also notes that the company will \u201cfurther evolve our organizational structure,\u201d suggesting that changes to how the overall company operates are on the horizon.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cAs you know, over the past several years, we have been investing in future growth, not just expanding geographically and leveraging new technologies, but building our e-commerce and D2C operations,\u201d Grainge writes. \u201cIn 2024, as we continue our industry-leading investments in A&R and artist development, we will further evolve our organizational structure to create efficiencies in other areas of the business, so we can remain nimble and responsive to opportunities as they arise, while also taking advantage of the benefits of our scale. In the face of so much change and opportunity, standing still is never an option.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tRead Grainge\u2019s full New Year\u2019s note to staff below.<\/p>\n
\n\tDear Colleagues,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tHappy New Year! I want to express my deepest gratitude to every one of you for all of your hard work and also to take a few moments to review with you some of the highlights of 2023 and preview some of what\u2019s to come in 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOnce again, 2023 saw Universal Music lead the industry in all major financial and competitive performance metrics, at the same time our artists broke records and topped the charts around the world. To put it succinctly: UMG is the most successful company in the history of the music industry and every one of us should be enormously proud of what we have accomplished together, let alone what I know we will accomplish going forward.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn fact, even beyond our artists\u2019 extraordinary achievements and our financial results, there was so much more to be proud of this year. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tBy the beginning of 2023, it had become obvious that if the industry were to continue to thrive and the value of our artists\u2019 work respected, a number of critically important issues would have to be confronted. As the industry leader we had a clear vision of how to address these issues. And then we went out and took bold steps to turn that vision into reality.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tLast January, for example, I wrote to you about the streaming royalty model. A new model was needed, one that would properly reward the artist-fan relationship and disincentivize fraud and gaming the system. Because artists are at the center of everything we do, we called it the \u201cArtist-Centric Model.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tI\u2019m proud to say that in just a matter of months, several global platforms, including the world\u2019s largest music platform, have already adopted artist-centric principles that will transform the way artists are compensated for their work. In the coming months, I believe you will see more platforms adopting these principles. Why? Because it is the right thing to do both for artists and for the wider music ecosystem. As this new model becomes widespread, the impact will be profound: a healthier, more equitable and more vibrant music ecosystem that rewards all artists \u2014 be they major, indie or DIY \u2014 at all stages of their careers.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn the same way, we showed the industry the way forward when it came to confronting the challenges and opportunities of AI.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tEarly on in 2023, many \u201cexperts\u201d viewed AI as a looming threat. Our view? Just as we had done with so many other previous proclamations of doom, we rejected that short-sighted appraisal. On the contrary, we saw AI as presenting opportunities. And then, just as we did with streaming, we went out to turn those opportunities into reality.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tWe launched our Responsible AI initiative this year with two goals in mind. First, to lobby for \u201cguardrails,\u201d that is public policies setting basic rules for AI. In the U.S., for example we are lobbying for legislation that would establish a federal right of publicity to harmonize the protections of artists\u2019 image, likeness and voice from AI deepfakes. We were the first music company to call upon the U.S. Congress to protect artists against unethical uses of AI.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOur second goal was to forge groundbreaking private-sector partnerships with AI technology companies. In the past, new and often disruptive technology was simply released into the world, leaving the music community to develop the model by which artists would be fairly compensated and their rights protected. In a sharp break with that past, we formed a historic relationship with our longtime partner, YouTube, that gives artists a seat at the table before any product goes to market, including helping to shape AI products\u2019 development and a path to monetization.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tBecause we fundamentally believe the best way to ensure responsible AI development is through partnership and market-led solutions, in addition to YouTube, we are collaborating with several platforms on numerous opportunities and approaches \u2014 always with artists at the forefront of our thinking. In addition, our artists have begun working with some of the latest AI technology to develop tools that will enhance and support the creative process and produce music experiences unlike anything that\u2019s been heard before. And to leverage AI technology that would benefit artists, we continue to strike groundbreaking agreements with, among others, Endel and BandLab.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tWe also advanced our initiatives in areas from health and wellness to sustainability and the environment.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tThe intersection of music and health is another exciting area about which I am especially passionate. We\u2019ve all had experiences in which music changed our mood or comforted us in times of emotional crisis, or even helped us physically. In fact, it\u2019s one of the reasons why so many of us have chosen to spend our careers in music. I\u2019ve long wanted the powerful relationship between music and health to be more than a handful of subjective observations and anecdotes so that it could become a key component of our strategy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tBuilding upon our success in creating a robust commercial category in fitness, we\u2019re now leading the industry in music and health. In September, we produced the first-ever Music + Health Summit where we brought our artists together with health entrepreneurs and leading neuroscientists to advance this new category. This came on the heels of us entering into a series of more than 40 license agreements to amplify the possibilities in this space. For example, we are pioneering a new category that we call \u201cprescription music,\u201d an evidence-based health technique built on scientific and medical research. What excites me is that it\u2019s cost-effective, non-invasive and drives truly beneficial results. While it\u2019s a field still in its infancy, this area will become an increasingly important component of our strategy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn the same spirit of promoting positive change in society, our employees also accomplished amazing things. Throughout 2023, our All Together Now Foundation, Task Force for Meaningful Change, Green Team, Unhoused Coalition, and Employee Matching Program contributed to more than 500 organizations around the world, and supported over 1.2 million meals for those in need.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tMoreover, in the more than three years since we established a groundbreaking relationship with the non-profit Music Health Alliance (MHA), 500 UMG and UMPG recording artists, songwriters and their families in the U.S. have received life-changing medical care. With this year\u2019s dramatic jump in the need for mental health care within the artist and songwriter community, the MHA partnership significantly increased its support in that area.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOur efforts to move the industry on issues concerning sustainability and the environment led UMG and Bravado to host the first music industry sustainability summits in L.A., London, and New York. The series brought together industry leaders and innovators who made commitments to institute sustainable solutions across a range of categories including events, merchandise, touring and more. We co-founded the Music Industry Climate Collective, the new music industry alliance to address global climate change. And we became the first standalone major music company to win the approval of its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by the Science Based Targets initiative, the gold standard for establishing corporate climate goals.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tAll of these initiatives are of course ultimately powered by the success of our artists and songwriters and the support that our employees around the world provide them. So let\u2019s turn to the achievements of our artists and songwriters which were nothing short of astounding in 2023. Here are just a few examples.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tGlobally in 2023, UMG had:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Spotify: Six of the Top 10 global artists: Taylor Swift (at No. 1), The Weeknd, Drake, Feid, Karol G and Lana Del Rey.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Apple Music: 13 of the Top 20 most-streamed songs globally, with Morgan Wallen\u2019s \u201cLast Night\u201d at No. 1.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Deezer: The three most-streamed artists worldwide with The Weeknd, Taylor Swift and Imagine Dragons.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn YouTube: Three of the Top 5 songs, with Toosii\u2019s \u201cFavorite Song\u201d at No. 1.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Vevo: Karol G was the \u2018Most Watched Artist\u2019 for the third consecutive year.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Amazon: The top two artists (Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen), three of the Top 5 songs and albums, and the world\u2019s most requested artist on Alexa (Taylor Swift).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tAnd to break it down by region:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Spotify: The four most-streamed artists in the U.S.: Taylor Swift, Drake, Morgan Wallen and The Weeknd. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Apple Music:\u00a0 Five of the top seven songs in the U.S., with Morgan Wallen\u2019s \u201cLast Night\u201d (at No.1), and \u201cYou Proof\u201d; Drake & 21 Savage, \u201cRich Flex\u201d and \u201cSpin Bout U\u201d; and Lil Baby \u201cFreestyle\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn the Billboard 200: Six of the Top 10 albums\u2014Morgan Wallen\u2019s One thing At A Time (No. 1), Taylor Swift\u2019s Midnights (No. 2), Drake, 21 Savage\u2019s Her Loss, Metro Boomin\u2019s Heroes & Villains, Morgan Wallen\u2019s Dangerous: The Double Album and Taylor Swift\u2019a Lover;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tRepublic Records was named Billboard\u2019s top label for the third consecutive year. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn the UK, according to the Official Charts Company, UMG had seven of the Top 10 artists, including Taylor Swift at No. 1, Drake and The Weeknd in the top five.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tAlso in the UK, UMG had all of the three nominees for the prestigious 2024 BRITs Rising Star award, with Island\u2019s The Last Dinner Party taking the award, marking the third consecutive year a UMG artist has won.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn Germany, after having ALL of the Top 10 albums for a week in mid-November, a feat never before accomplished by any company; UMG finished the year with six of the Top 10 albums.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn Japan, UMG had five of the Top 10 albums according to Billboard Japan, including King & Prince at No. 1, while Ado\u2019s single \u201cShow\u201d held the top spot on the weekly streaming chart for 14 consecutive weeks to finish the year.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn France, UMG had five of the Top 10 tracks overall, and three of the Top 5 tracks on Apple Music.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn Australia, UMG had the No. 1 album for 34 weeks this year, with albums from Taylor Swift, Sam Smith, Morgan Wallen, Lana Del Rey, Metallica, Peach PRC, Lewis Capaldi, Niall Horan, G Flip, Powderfinger, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake, Troye Sivan and The Rolling Stones.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn Canada, UMG had eight of the Top 10 albums, including albums from Morgan Wallen at No. 1, Taylor Swift, Metro Boomin, and The Weeknd, and held the No. 1 album for 33 weeks this year.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tUMG Sweden\u2019s Loreen won the Eurovision Song Contest with her single \u201cTattoo\u201d and UMG Sweden had five of the Top 10 artists on Spotify.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tAt the Latin Grammys, Karol G swept three major awards, including Album of the Year, and Juanes won Best Pop\/Rock Album, marking his 25th Latin Grammy award.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tFeid continued his massive rise in 2023, as the third most-streamed Latin artist on Spotify, while Sebasti\u00e1n Yatra was recognized as \u201cArtist of the Year\u201d at the 2023 RIAA Honors.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn China, Wu Qingfeng\u2019s Mallarme\u2019s Tuesday won \u201cAlbum of the Year\u201d at the Golden Melody Awards.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn Indonesia, \u201cTak Segampang Itu\u201d by Anggi Marito was the top song of the year on Spotify.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tJuan Karlos became the first artist from the Philippines to enter the Top 100 Global Spotify Charts with his song \u201cEre,\u201d which was No. 1 in the Philippines for 10 weeks.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOur Universal Music Publishing Group songwriters also performed spectacularly:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Spotify\u2019s 2023 most-streamed artists globally, we had four out of the Top 5 (Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd and Drake) and seven out of the Top 10.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Spotify\u2019s most-streamed albums globally, we had four of the Top 5 (Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, SZA, The Weeknd) and seven of the Top 10.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Apple Music: UMPG had an interest in seven of the Top 10 most-streamed songs in the U.S.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOn Billboard\u2019s Hot 100 Songwriters in the U.S., UMPG had three of the Top 5 with Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff and SZA.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn total, a spectacular performance. We should all be so proud of our artists and songwriters and the work we do to bring their music to the world.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn 2023, we also continued our strategy to expand our presence in high growth markets around the world \u2014 both through the strength of our companies in those regions as well as the expansion of Virgin Music Group.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tWe acquired Chabaka Music, a leading MENA-based company, as well as a majority stake in RS Group in Thailand.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn India we strengthened our position domestically with an exclusive partnership with Represent, a leading management company.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn China we signed new long-term agreements with superstar Eason Chan and with 2022\u2019s No. 1 IFPI global album seller Jay Chou, that includes his JVR Music label.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tLooking to 2024, both the pace of change and our industry leadership will increase significantly. We\u2019ll be moving quickly and meaningfully on many different fronts.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOur pioneering artist-centric strategy will extend its reach. We first focused on a fairer way to allocate the streaming pie among real artists by addressing fraud and other aspects that deprive artists of their just compensation. The next focus of our strategy will be to grow the pie for all artists, by strengthening the artist-fan relationship through superfan experiences and products. We are already in advanced discussions with our platform partners regarding this phase and will have more to announce in the coming months. In addition, we will be building our in-house capabilities through groundbreaking partnerships that will accelerate our artists\u2019 ability to create experiential, commerce and content offerings for their fans. In short, we are creating the blueprint for the labels of the future.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tAs for AI, we will continue building opportunity for our artists, while also leading the fight to protect them from unethical uses of this technology. And all around the world, we will continue to prioritize and fight for policies in the service of artistry \u2014 not at the expense of it. We also expect to announce more real-world commercial applications for artist-driven, ethical AI.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tWe will keep growing our presence around the world by doing just what we do in more established music markets: signing and developing local artists; providing local labels and entrepreneurs with global promotion, distribution, and a full suite of artist services; and acquiring local labels, catalogs and artist services businesses.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tAs you know, over the past several years, we have been investing in future growth, not just expanding geographically and leveraging new technologies, but building our e-commerce and D2C operations. In 2024, as we continue our industry-leading investments in A&R and artist development, we will further evolve our organizational structure to create efficiencies in other areas of the business, so we can remain nimble and responsive to opportunities as they arise, while also taking advantage of the benefits of our scale.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tIn the face of so much change and opportunity, standing still is never an option.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tWe must continue to fight for our artists and songwriters and stand up for the creative and commercial value of music.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tOur vision of the future is filled with possibilities, and acting on our strategy will make those possibilities real \u2014 for our artists, our employees, our shareholders and the entire music ecosystem.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tI promise 2024 will be an extremely exciting and transformative year for our company.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\tLucian<\/em><\/p>\n
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