Universal Music Group (UMG) Pacts With BigChampagne

Universal Music Group (UMG) Pacts With BigChampagne

Leading Music Company Joins With Leading Online Metrics Company

NEW YORK, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, has entered into a long-term music monitoring and information deal with BigChampagne, the leading online music measurement company, for North America.

As part of this deal, BigChampagne will provide UMG's market-leading family of labels with analysis of songs and listening patterns from millions of users of social networks and online music services.

"As we continue to expand our services to our artists and partner labels, it's important to utilize the best research tools available especially when it comes to the proliferation of music discovery and consumption on the web," stated Jim Urie, President & CEO of Universal Music Group Distribution. "And with the addition of BigChampagne, we provide a comprehensive view of the marketplace, from the radio, online, and retail perspectives, all of which results in more opportunities for our artists and labels."

"UMG's recognition and support of our work spans nearly a decade," commented Eric Garland, BigChampagne Founder and CEO. "As the music market continues to diversify, UMG is demonstrating critical thought leadership in understanding and meeting the demands of the new landscape. We are excited to work together to improve the state of the art in measurement and analytics."

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is 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 leading global music publishing operation.

Universal Music Group's record labels include A&M/Octone, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Polydor Records, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal Music Latino, Universal Records South 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 includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalog 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, its new media and technologies division; Bravado, its merchandising company; Twenty-First Artists, its full service management division; and Helter Skelter, its live music agency.

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

About BigChampagne

BigChampagne Media Measurement (http://www.bigchampagne.com/) is a leading provider of information about media consumption and analytic tools for measuring the impact of marketing impressions online and off. Since the company's launch in 2000, BigChampagne has become a nexus for intelligence about media consumption. The company aggregates and analyzes information about media of all types, in partnership with a wide variety of third parties that include retailers and distributors, online and traditional broadcasters (radio and television), major content companies, subscription services, social networks, and mobile providers.

In short, the company collects information about how and where people enjoy popular music, movies and other media, and then analyzes the information to tell customers what titles are most popular, who is interested, and why.

BigChampagne is a privately held technology and market research company, specializing in online music. BigChampagne's customers and subscribers include Viacom/MTV, Premiere Radio Networks (a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications), major brands and their agencies, Wall Street analysts, major recorded music companies, music publishers, commercial radio stations, artists, managers and other music industry professionals. BigChampagne has offices in Beverly Hills, CA and Atlanta, GA.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Universal Music Group

CONTACT: Maria Ho-Burge, Maria.Ho-Burge@umusic.com, or Peter LoFrumento,
peter.lofrumento@umusic.com, both of Universal Music Group

Web Site: http://www.bigchampagne.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment