NSDTCM NEWS:UMG

UNIVERSAL MOTOWN REPUBLIC GROUP (UMRG) PROMOTES PAT MONACO TO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & FIELD MARKETING

New York, New York, December 2007 - Universal Motown Republic Group (UMRG), a division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, has promoted Pat Monaco to Executive Vice President of Sales and Field Marketing.

The announcement was made today by Mel Lewinter, UMRG’s Chairman and CEO. Formerly, Mr. Monaco served as Senior Vice President of Sales & Field Operations for the company.

Based in New York, Mr. Monaco will continue to report directly to Mel Lewinter, and additionally to Monte Lipman (President, Universal Republic Records ) and Sylvia Rhone (President, Universal Motown Records).

In this expanded role, Mr. Monaco will oversee artist relations and all of the sales activities for UMRG and its affiliated labels.

“As we further our leadership in the marketplace, we are continuing to expand operations and services to our artists,” stated Mr. Lewinter. “Pat’s understanding of today’s retail landscape, record of building sales teams that deliver results and music savvy make him the ideal choice to continue leading our retail efforts.”

“Pat has proven to be the consummate executive whose patience and expertise has strengthened the marketplace presence of our artists and provided crucial strategic depth within our existing sales infrastructure and emerging business models,” commented Ms. Rhone. “We congratulate him on this well-deserved promotion.”

“As one of the industry’s most respected executives, Pat’s leadership has been crucial to maximizing our sales impact and facilitating multiple new sales platforms for our artists,” added Mr. Lipman. “Everyone at Universal Republic looks forward to supporting him and his great staff as he continues in his new capacity as one of Universal Motown Republic Group’s most highly valued contributors.”

Prior to joining Universal, Mr. Monaco served as Senior Vice President, General Manager of Island Records. His background also includes a number of senior positions within Island Records and PolyGram Distribution, as well as serving as President/Owner of Landmark Distributors.

About Universal Motown Republic Group

Universal Motown Republic Group is a division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries.

Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry’s largest global music publishing operation.

Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca, Deutsche Gramophone, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Geffen Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal South Records and Verve Music Group, as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world.

The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions,

Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technologies division, and Global Digital Initiatives.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

SOURCES: UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
ISLAND RECORDS /VIVENDI

NSDTCM NEWS:UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP

VICTORY RECORDS & UNIVERSAL MUSIC CANADA

EXTEND EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION DEAL

Toronto, Ontario, Canada-

Universal Music Canada (UMC), the country\'s leading music company today announced that they have extended their exclusive distribution deal with Chicago based Victory Records, the top independent rock label in the United States (according to SoundScan market share). The extension was announced today by Randy Lennox, President & CEO of Universal Music Canada and Victory Records Founder, Tony Brummel.

“The relationship with Tony and Victory Records has flourished since 2005 and we’re excited to lengthen the terms of this vibrant deal,” commented Randy Lennox. “We’re all looking forward to taking our business with Tony and his team to greater heights.”

The extension sees Universal Music Canada continuing as the sole distributor of Victory\'s diverse rock roster including bands such as Silverstein, Hawthorne Heights, Aiden, Bayside, Between The Buried and Me and Darkest Hour.

Formed in 1993 by Tony Brummel, Victory Records has grown into one of the world\'s leading independent labels and boasts a roster of more than 30 active artists in various rock sub-genres.

Victory\'s Tony Brummel commented, “Randy and I have developed a very close relationship over the years. He has a real respect for independent music and the entrepreneurs that help make it available.

Universal controls close to 40% of the Canadian music market yet Randy is always available, communicative and proactive in the quest to sell records and break artists. This resonates with and through his entire team. We need more guys like Randy in the music business.”

The Universal Music Canada and Victory Records deal was originally signed on July 1, 2005.

About Universal Music Canada

Universal Music Canada, a unit of Universal Music Group, is Canada\'s leading music organization maintaining an overall 36.5% year-to-date market share. For further information on Universal Music Canada please visit

http://umusic.ca/

SOURCES:VICTORY RECORDS
UNIVERSAL MUSIC CANADA
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP

NSDTCM:VARIETY HEADLINE NEWSLETTER




UMG PRESIDENT SUES UNIVISION
Behar accuses parent co. of equity fraud
Univision Music Group prexy Jose Behar has sued Univision Communications, accusing the parent company of harming the music division's revs in order to pay less for his equity stake.
SOURCE:VARIETY.COM
SOURCE:UNIVISION
SOURCE:UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP

NSDTCM:VARIETY MUSIC NEWSLETTER

Hanson to leave EMI Music

By GORDON MASSON

Ian Hanson has ankled as chief operating officer of EMI Music, less than a year after he was promoted to the role.

Hanson's operational responsibilities will be assumed on an interim basis by Mike Clasper, who joined the EMI investor board last month and who has been reviewing the development of EMI's manufacturing, logistics and sales operations.

"With his experience of running international businesses at a very senior level, Mike will ably support the EMI recorded music business," said EMI Group chairman Guy Hands, who has been critical of the way that senior management ran EMI before his investment outfit Terra Firma bought the company earlier this year.

SOURCE:VARIETY.COM

NSDTCM:GROUP:MAKE MODEL
LABEL:EMI RECORDS
MYSPACE


Make Model are from Glasgow, Scotland and are one of the most exciting prospects making influential people sit up and take notice. Earlier this year they signed to EMI and released their debut single, 'LSB' to critical acclaim.

Make Model are:
Ray The Biz Black -Drums
JC -Bass
RG -Guitar, Vocals
Lewis -Guitar, Vocals
Ken -Guitar
Aimi -Vocals

SOURCE: MAKE MODEL
SOURCE: LAST FM
SOURCE HEADER:EMI CHRYSALIS.CO.UK

NSDTCM:IRON MAIDEN
MYSPACE

Iron Maiden stick with EMI

LONDON, 11th December, 2007 - EMI and Iron Maiden today announced they have renewed and extended their historic 28-year recording relationship in a deal for the world, excluding the USA, which also includes other revenues such as touring, merchandise and sponsorship.

Signed to EMI Records in November 1979, Iron Maiden quickly became one of the biggest rock bands in the world and have gone on to sell some 70 million albums including three No 1 and 15 Top 10 albums in the UK alone.

A Matter of Life and Death, Iron Maiden’s 14th and most recent studio album released in 2006, charted at No 1 in 10 countries, achieved Top 10 positions in 30 more and was Billboard magazine’s No 1 International Album.

Iron Maiden and EMI have a 28-year recording relationship. Since then, the band has since gone on to sell roughly 70 million albums, says EMI, including three No. 1 albums in the United Kingdom.
And as the group prepares to embark on an extensive world tour, its management team says the timing was perfect to renew ties with EMI and bring the music major into other aspects of its empire.

"For a band with a global following like Maiden, who rely on fan word of mouth, touring and marketing/sales expertise as they receive little or no radio or TV support, it is key that the 100% support and implementation of our visual marketing campaigns internationally is both effective and enthusiastic. EMI and their worldwide affiliates have always fulfilled this," comments manager Rod Smallwood.

SOURCE:EMI GROUP
SOURCE:BILLBOARD.COM
SOURCE PHOTO:http://www.ironmaiden.com/

NSDTCM:PANIC AT THE DISCO
LABEL:DECAYDENCE/
FUELED BY RAMEN RECORDS
MYSPACE

Members of Las Vegas four-piece Panic! At The Disco are taking a stripped-down approach to their as-yet-untitled sophomore album, due March 25 via Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen, relying less on computer software and more on their abilities as musicians, says Panic! guitarist/lyricist Ryan Ross. "We just wanted the record to sound like four people playing a song," Ross tells Billboard.com. "A lot of the songs are definitely more geared toward playing live; we didn't think about that on the last record."

SOURCE:BILLBOARD.COM