Universal Music Group said Friday that it will pay 1.2 billion pounds ($1.9 billion) for the recording division, joining Universal artists including Lady Gaga and Eminem with EMI superstars such as David Guetta and Lady Antebellu.
Sony/ATV, a joint venture between Sony Corp. and the Michael Jackson estate, said it is a 38 percent partner in the consortium. Other parties include Mubadala Development Co., Jynwel Capital Ltd., the Blackstone Group and David Geffen.
The two-part sale, if approved by regulators, would further increase Universal Music’s dominance in recorded music and springboard Sony/ATV into the top spot as a music publisher, according to Impala, an association of European independent music companies that is against the deal.
In the United States, Universal is the top music producer with a 30 percent market share compared with EMI’s 9 percent, according to Nielsen SoundScan. With a combined share of 39 percent, they would tower over Sony at 29 percent and Warner Music at 19 percent.
On the publishing side, Sony/ATV will add EMI’s 1.3 million song copyrights to its roster of 750,000 songs that include hits from The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift.
VIVENDI will finance the transaction from its existing credit lines. Concurrently, VIVENDI and UMG will also sell 500 million euros worth of non-core UMG assets.
Atlanta-born/ Orlando-raised singer-songwriter Nate Larson is poised to take the industry by storm with a dynamic Billboard-bound vocal style. “Maybe some would put into the blue eyed soul box,” he concedes. “But I’m much more than that.” Flaunting a musical style described as R&B with a pop edge, Nate has managed to tap into his broad range of musical influences while bringing a remarkably fresh sound all his own.
In the summer of 2010, Nate released his eponymous debut EP on his own NLM Media via Island Def Jam Digital Distribution. Recorded between New York City and Atlanta, Nate Larson is an impressive collection of high-powered pop-R&B ballads and bangers produced by esteemed industry vocal coach/ songwriter Robert “RAab” Stevenson (Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Hudson) and Drake Murphy. From the blissful, guitar-driven “Perfect Picture” to the buoyant cut “Miss America,” the 8-track EP is a mere sample of Nate’s nascent talent and potential as a pop artist and hit-making songwriter.
Interview
MISI: When did you realize that you wanted to sing?
Nate: I always loved music but knew I wanted to sing when I was about 14.
MISI: Has any racism played apart in your music career?
Nate: I personally have never encountered racism in my career and I am grateful that it is a testament to the times we live in.
MISI: How was it working with Drew Ramsey and Shannon Sanders?
Nate: Drew and Shannon are incredibly talented and also two of the most humble people I have ever met. Although their achievements speak
for themselves, they are fantastic to work with.
Nate: Growing up in Orlando was great because it was a melting pot and I was exposed to different cultures of music. It was just a
great place to grow up.
MISI: Top 3 albums of all time and why?
Nate:Thriller is one of my top albums of all time because although it is a perfect album it not only gave me a guide of quality to go by at the same time it broke down barriers long standing in the music industry. The societal impact it had was just as important as the music. Prince’s Purple Rain was also one of my top albums because he showed that you could mix all your musical influences to make something new and fresh and it was also the perfect storm of music and it had a huge cultural impact. My third top album of all time would be James Brown Live At The Apollo. It is a defining live album that was a showcase of not only his influence on every R&B artist to come but how to put on the best live show ever.
MISI: What do you want your fans to know about you?
Nate: I love music and want more than anything to share my music with my fans and hope that they feel the same way.
MISI: If there was something you can do differently about your music career what would it be?
Nate: I am incredibly happy where I am in my career and I really wouldn’t change a thing. I look forward to continuing to grow and develop
as a artist.
MISI: Is there any female artist you would love to do a duet with?
Nate: I would love to work with Melanie Fiona or Adele. They both have beautiful soulful voices and are great talents.
MISI: If you could go back in time what artist, producer or writer would you have worked with?
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) Michael Jackson had the ability to touch people all over the world emotionally with his music, recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. No matter what you are doing, how you are feeling when a Michael Jackson song comes on you will be dancing and grooving to every one of his songs. RIP Michael Jackson we will always LOVE YOU! (Below will be a collage of videos of Michael Jackson’s Greatest Hits)
Loading ...