5. Universal Music Group In May 2006, an investigation led by the New York attorney general , found that Universal Music Group bribed radio stations to play songs from Ashlee Simpson , Brian McKnight , Big Tymers , Nick Lachey , Lindsay Lohan and other performers under Universal labels. The company paid $12 million to the state in settlement They are the largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry . And 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.