Universal Music Group provides recorded music, music publishing, and merchandising services worldwide.

It discovers and develops songwriters, and owns and administers copyrights to musical compositions for use in recordings, public performances, and related uses such as films and advertisements; and sells artist and music branded products through multiple sales points including online, fashion retail, and live performances worldwide.

Universal Music Group was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Currently, it operates as a subsidiary of Vivendi Société Anonyme.