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"This is a great achievement for UMG. It is a reflection of the tremendous depth within our company and also of the incredible management within each of our various labels."
—Doug Morris, UMG Chairman/CEO

UMG, UNIVERSAL RECORDS
GROUP DOMINATE CHARTS

Nailing Down The Top Four, 10 Of 20 All In A Day’s Work
Sometimes it's a pitcher's duel, and the outcome is a little hard to deduce before the final out is recorded. Other times, it's a blowout and you can only hope there's a mercy rule or a sudden downpour.

UMG so dominates the charts this week—the top four slots on the album chart and a total of 10 of the Top 20—that the other labels might be checking for corked bats.

Nelly heads the pack with "Country Grammar" (Fo' Reel/Universal). LL Cool J's #2 debut "G.O.A.T." (Def Jam/IDJ) follows with Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP" (After/Interscope) and Boyz II Men's "Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya" (Universal)—also a debut!—close behind.

But the hits don't stop there: 3 Doors Down (Republic/Universal) and Papa Roach (DreamWorks) fill the #9 and #10 slots, respectively, and "Now Vol. 4" (UTV) and the "Baller Blockin'" soundtrack (Cash Money/Universal) fill in #12 and #13. Sting (A&M/Interscope), showing off his tantric staying power, remains on the chart at #15, with DJ Clue (Roc-A-Fella/IDJ) at #20.

"This is a great achievement for UMG. It is a reflection of the tremendous depth within our company and also of the incredible management within each of our various labels," said Chairman/CEO Doug Morris.

To dial down from the macro view for just a second, UMG's Universal Records is itself having a pretty good run this year, with Nelly, 3 Doors Down, Boyz II Men, Juvenile, Eiffel 65, Godsmack and others eatin' up some chartage on a regular basis. (Grandma said it would keep ya regular.)

It's very rewarding when your success stems from a real diversity of music," Morris said. "[Chairman, Universal/Motown Records Group] Mel Lewinter, [President, Universal Records] Monte Lipman, [Executive VP/GM] Jean Riggins and the entire Universal Records team have done a tremendous job; and they have shown that if you develop artists and focus on their careers, you'll create records that fans will not only enjoy, but will embrace."

Lewinter added, "Over the past six months, we have achieved the largest amount of sales since Doug founded the label nearly five years ago. But it's more than just a few big hits. When you look at our entire roster of artists, you see a real depth and variety to the music."

Just how well is Universal doing? How about being #1 in marketshare (8.8%) over Interscope (7.86%), Island/Def Jam (6.98%), Warner Bros. (5.82%) and Columbia (5.57%).

Not too shabby, especially considering two of those labels are part of the bigger UMG picture.

"We are generating the same marketshare as many of our competitors do with fewer releases," said Lipman. "The thrill for us is not only breaking new artists, but the fact that we are smaller, so we have to make every artist and album count. We are fortunate to have incredible artists, great music and a staff who handles each release with tremendous enthusiasm."It was left to Universal Music & Video Distribution President Jim Urie to sum it all up. "Leading the industry with our marketshare and a 17-week run at No. 1 is a tribute to our labels and the quality of their music. Looking at our fall release schedule, we are optimistic about continuing this great performance for the balance of the year."

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