The largest group of record labels in the recording industry. It is the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations. Universal Music Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of international French media conglomerate Vivendi.

Universal Music Group owns a music publisher, Universal Music Publishing Group, which became the world's largest following the acquisition of BMG Music Publishing in May 2007. Vivendi's headquarters are in Paris, France. The UMG global headquarters are located in Santa Monica & New York City. The New York headquarters deals mainly with Universal Records distribution internationally, while the Santa Monica headquarters oversees all of its legal obligations in the US and Canada.

The Santa Monica headquarters also shares its headquarters with Interscope Records. Other major offices are located in Nashville and Miami; in the UK the group has a number of offices in London and Romford, and in Japan the group has a office in Minato, Tokyo.