Universal to Acquire Univision

Universal Music Group has announced a definitive agreement to acquire the Univision Music Group, a move that will push Universal far ahead of any other company in the U.S. Latin marketplace. The agreement, which has been under negotiation for months, will include Univision’s recording and publishing division.

Universal Music Group has announced a definitive agreement to acquire the Univision Music Group, a move that will push Universal far ahead of any other company in the U.S. Latin marketplace. The agreement, which has been under negotiation for months, will include Univision’s recording and publishing division.

According to Nielsen Soundscan’s 2007 year-end numbers, Univision Music Group is already the No. 1-selling Latin label in the United States, having claimed nearly 40 percent of the Latin music market share. When Univision combines with Universal’s Latin labels, Universal will control half of the Latin music market in the U.S.

Though a large bulk of Univision’s repertoire is considered regional Mexican music, executives have made recent efforts to diversify the catalog. Once the acquisition is complete, Univision’s roster will merge with a long list of pop and reggaeton artists currently signed to Universal’s Latin labels, including Juanes, Enrique Iglesias, Paulina Rubio and Wisin y Yandel.