Universal Music & Video Distribution Breaks Latin Market Share Record.

Universal Music and Video Distribution (UMVD), the U.S. sales and distribution division of Universal Music Group, made history today by achieving the largest Latin weekly current market share, 40.38%, for week ending May 11, 2003, and a year-to-date overall market share of 35.19% according to SoundScan. UMVD’s Latin weekly market share is more than 23 % larger than its closest competitor. This week’s record-breaking achievement builds upon UMVD’s ongoing success in Latin Music, as their year-to-date market share has increased 81.9% over last year.

Currently, UMVD leads the industry in Latin Music sales with 55% of all the albums sold on the Latin Top 100 chart and holds 7 spots on the Top 10 including the No. 1 spot Los Bukis & Los Temerarios 20 Inolvidables (Fonovisa Records). Also in the top ten are Jose Feliciano Senor Bolero 2 (Universal Music Latino) [No. 2]; Pepe Aguilar Y Tenerte Otra Vez (Univision Records) [No. 4]; Bronco 30 Inolvidables (Fonovisa Records) [No. 5]; Conjunto Primavera Nuestra Historia (Fonovisa Records) [No. 6]; Various Artists Sentimientos A Mi Madre (Fonovisa Records) [No. 7]; Juanes Un Dia Normal (Universal Music Latino/Surco) [No.8].

Additionally, UMVD had a total of 29 Top 50 releases and 48 Top 100 releases on the same chart. Fueling Universal’s success were also the following hits: Industria del Amor 30 Inolvidables 2 (Univision Records); Los Askis Ritmo y Sabor (Disa); German Lizarraga Historia Musical (Disa); David Bisbal Corazon Latino (Universal Music Latino); Jenni Rivera Homenaje a las Grandes (Fonovisa Records); Palomo Situaciones (Disa); and Molotov Dance & Dense Denso (Universal Music Latino/Surco).

“We are blessed to represent the best Latin labels in the business and they have all given us incredible music this year including the No. 1 Latin album for the last five weeks, Los Bukis & Los Temerarios 20 Inolvidables on Fonovisa Records. We look forward to continued great Latin product from all of our label partners for the balance of 2003,” said Jim Urie, President, UMVD.

One of UMVD’s many artist development success stories has been Juanes Un Dia Normal, which has remained on the Latin Top 10 chart for 51 consecutive weeks. The remainder of the year promises to produce more success, as UMVD plans to release albums from the following talented artists Alicia Villareal, Angeles Azules, Banda el Recodo, Conjunto Primavera, Grupo Mania, Luis Fonsi, Paulina Rubio, Pilar Montenegro, Poder del Norte, and Tigres del Norte, among others.