It Looks Like Universal Just Outlawed Streaming Exclusives

Universal Music Group accounted for 38.5 percent of all music sales in 2015, and boasts artist like Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift and the Weeknd.

Which is why their apparent decision to ban their acts from doing streaming exclusives is such a big deal.

Yesterday, industry expert Bob Lefsetz told the Guardian that UMG CEO Lucian Grainge had sent out a email forbidding exclusives because they were diminishing the way music is distributed and consumed.

If this report is true, expect the other labels to follow suit, and put an end to the streaming wars that have heated up over the past year between Apple, Tidal and others.

The last straw for UMG appears to have been Frank Ocean's exclusive deal with Apple.

Lefsetz is of the belief that streaming exclusives harm both the artist and consumer, while only benefiting the streaming service.

He also took a shot at Ocean and his deal with Apple:

"Most people don’t give a crap about the new Frank Ocean album. We’ve got an industry that promotes marginal products that appeal to few and makes them unavailable to most people? That’s hysterical!”