Universal Music Group and X5 Music Group Form Unique Joint Venture, U5

Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, and Stockholm-based digital music pioneer X5 Music Group have launched U5, a first-of-its kind partnership to produce digital compilation albums from the music and artists of Universal’s world famous Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Verve and Blue Note Records labels.

U5 will curate and release more than 50 digital albums per month which will be made available around the world through all digital platforms. The first slate of U5 releases, which are available to download and buy now, include the new "50 Greatest" series which has launched with "The 50 Greatest Violin Pieces” by Joshua Bell, “The 50 Greatest Piano Pieces” by Lang Lang and “The 50 Greatest Performances of Classical Music” compilation.

"We see this as the beginning of a unique worldwide partnership that will bring this extraordinary music to a wider consumer audience," X5 CEO Johan Lagerlof said. "With the addition of Universal's classical catalog, we will be able to take our success in classical music to an even greater level."

"Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Verve and Blue Note Records are synonymous the world over with quality and legendary artists and music," said Ross Foster, Senior Vice President Commercial Affairs for Universal Music Group International. "X5 Music Group are a great partner for us in U5 and we're very excited about bringing our artists' music to fans through new and imaginative collections."

ABOUT X5 MUSIC GROUP
X5 Music Group (http://www.x5musicgroup.com), headquartered in Sweden, is a leader in digital music, having pioneered a new sales and promotion model that has met with considerable international success. X5, the #2 digital classical label in the US, recently launched a major expansion in the US with an office headquartered in the Empire State Building.

ABOUT UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP
Universal Music Group is the global music leader, with wholly owned operations in 60 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's premier music publishing operations worldwide. Universal Music Group's record labels include A&M/Octone, Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol Records, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, I.R.S., Island Records, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, Manhattan, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Latino, Verve Music Group and Virgin Records, 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 catalogue of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalogue 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 Global Digital Business, its new media and technologies division and Bravado, its merchandising company.

Universal Music Group is a fully owned subsidiary of Vivendi.

CONTACTS:
For X5 Music Group:
Jon Bleicher (Jbleicher@shorefire.com, 718.522.7171 x45)

For Universal Music Group:
Caryn Tomlinson
caryn.tomlinson@umusic.com
+ 44 20 7471 5666

Richard O’Brien
richard.obrien@emimusic.com
+44 20 7795 7447