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New boss at Universal France, as streaming overcomes CD/download declines at mega-major

By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 19 February 2016

Universal Music France has a brand new chief in the form of Olivier Nusse, who takes over from the long-time boss of the major in the country (like, since 1998, which is a damn long-time), Pascal Nègre. Nusse moves up to the CEO role from his current post of MD for the Mercury Music Group and Universal Classics & Jazz in France.

Confirming the changes, overall Universal Music top man big cheese boss bloke Lucian Grainge adopted his best French accent to declare: “On behalf of everyone at UMG, I would like to thank Pascal for his many significant achievements and commitment to our company over many years of profound transformation in the music industry. We wish him the very best for the future”.

Then, starting to sound a little bit like a character in ‘Allo Allo’, he went on: “We are very pleased to have an executive of Mr Nusse’s talents and stature take the lead for Universal Music France. Having worked with Olivier over many years, I am impressed by his capabilities and track record. He has demonstrated strong team leadership and an ability to drive results”.

The change at the top of Universal Music France follows a not insignificant rejig of the mega-major’s international operations, which in turn followed the stepping down of the company’s former international chief Max Hole due to ill-health last October. That rejig has basically removed a layer of management from Universal’s non-US operations, with regional divisions now reporting into the firm’s overall HQ in California. It’s a restructure that has resulted in some job-switching and downsizing in the company’s international division.

Elsewhere in Universal news, latest financials from the major via an earnings update from parent company Vivendi revealed that 52% of the Universal record company’s digital income now comes from the streams. And the subscription service boom is actually offsetting continued declines in CD sales and downloads. Slightly.

Which is super news. Let’s make the most of that half billion in extra cash Spotify is reportedly raising, which should assure more good news in terms of recorded music revenues later this year. You know, before the venture capital and debt financing runs out and everything turns to shit.

Or to merde, if you want to retain the French theme with which this story began.