The world's leading music company - Universal Music Group, has issued a statement on March 8 in regards to the suspension of operations and the closing of Universal Music Group offices in Russia.
Effective immediately, we are suspending all operations in Russia and closing our offices there. We urge an end to the violence in Ukraine as soon as possible. We are adhering to international sanctions and, along with our employees and artists, have been working with groups from a range of countries to support humanitarian relief efforts to bring urgent aid to refugees in the region.
Universal Music Group is home to the most iconic and influential labels & brands in music. With offices in more than 60 territories, Universal Music Group N.V. (“Universal Music Group” or “UMG”) is the world leader in music-based entertainment.
Other music businesses have announced cutting ties with Russia. Live Nation said in their statement "We will not promote concerts in Russia. We will not do business with Russia" and highlights that artists have power and voice to speak out against the war.
Live Nation condemns the Russian war in Ukraine and salutes all musicians who promote peace with their voices.
Streaming platform Spotify has shut down offices in Russia, removed state-promoted content and is monitoring the content available to Russia. The service hasn't been disabled in Russia. In the statement, posted on March 2, Spotify stated:
Our first priority over the past week has been the safety of our employees and to ensure that Spotify continues to serve as an important source of global and regional news at a time when access to information is more important than ever.
All major music companies have raised funds in support to Ukraine, including Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, though these two companies are still running their offices in Russia and haven't announced closing them yet.
If you want to help Ukraine, here are some ways on how you can support Ukrainian nation!
