Universal to Make ‘Trolls World Tour,’ Current Theatrical Releases Available Early on Home Entertainment

By Mike Fleming Jr

French entertainment and telecom conglomerate Vivendi said Tuesday that it has closed its sale of a 10 percent stake in Universal Music Group to a consortium led by Chinese online giant Tencent. It confirmed the deal was based on an enterprise value of €30 billion, or $33 billion at current exchange rates, compared with $33.6 billion when the transaction was announced at the end of 2019.

By Jake Kanter

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to shut down thousands of businesses around the country and keep millions of people confined to their homes around the globe, the Universal Music Group today (March 30) announced a multi-million dollar initiative intended to support its artists, songwriters and employees over the next several months.

Universal Music Group today announced several initiatives to bring relief to musicians, its employees and the music industry in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that in a short time has devastated so much of the global economy. It also pledged to assist its artists in their charitable efforts

Steve Earle is the latest artist to drop his claims against Universal Music Group regarding the 2008 fire on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood. Earle filed a voluntary request with the court on Monday (March 23) to dismiss his claims “without prejudice,” thereby reserving his right to litigate those claims in the future.With Earle exiting, Tom Petty’s widow Jane Petty remains the sole plaintiff in the lawsuit against UMG regarding losses due to the fire.

Steve Earle has pulled out of a lawsuit against Universal Music Group that was filed by five artists last year over damage the artists’ musical recordings suffered in a 2008 fire that destroyed many assets in the company’s vaults. With the withdrawal from the lawsuit earlier this month of the Tupac Estate and Soundgarden, and withdrawal last year of the group Hole, this leaves only the contested estate of Tom Petty.

On March 20, amid unprecedented circumstances resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, new Hollywood movies were suddenly available to buy or purchase on premium VOD. Historically, a major studio title isn’t widely available in the home entertainment space for around three months.

By Dino-Ray Ramos

Literally at the tail end of the continent, Argentina may have shut down its borders but not its music.Since last week, Universal Music Argentina and its management and live concert division launched an initiative called #Musicaentucasa (MusicInYourHouse). Every day at 4 p.m.

Anna Kendrick is super excited about the Trolls World Tour early release, that was announced today.

Universal Pictures is making it possible for fans to watch their new movies at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Anthony D'Alessandro

The soundtrack to Trolls World Tour dropped on Friday (March 13) via RCA Records, with new songs by Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Anna Kendrick and more.

Sir Lucian Grainge has been hospitalized after testing positive for coronavirus, multiple sources have confirmed to Billboard following the initial report by Variety.The Universal Music Group chief executive officer and chairman -- who was ranked No. 1 on the 2019 Billboard Power 100 chart and was selected as the Billboard executive of the decade -- is currently undergoing treatment at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Universal Music chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge is in the hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.

Universal Music Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge has been hospitalized after testing positive for coronavirus, multiple sources exclusively told Variety. He is currently receiving treatment at Los Angeles’ UCLA Medical Center, sources said.