Taylor Swift and Drake's Music Giant Files for US Stock Market Listing

Universal Music Group (UMG) has filed a confidential statement with the SEC for a potential US stock market listing. The company, which owns rights to music from artists such as Taylor Swift and Drake, did not reveal the size of the planned offering or how much it could raise. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman's hedge fund, Pershing Square, has been pushing for a US listing to improve trading liquidity and boost the company's value.

Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's largest music label, has taken a significant step toward listing its shares on the U.S. stock market by filing a confidential statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The move comes as the company seeks to capitalize on the robust rebound in the U.S. equity markets following a brief lull due to uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump's tariff policies [1].

UMG, which is currently listed on the Euronext exchange in Amsterdam, did not disclose the size of the planned offering or the amount it aims to raise. The company, valued at approximately €49.65 billion ($58.05 billion) based on its Monday closing price on the Dutch exchange, has seen its stock rise by about 10% this year [1].

The push for a U.S. listing is being led by billionaire investor Bill Ackman's hedge fund, Pershing Square, one of the major stockholders in UMG. Ackman has been advocating for the move to improve trading liquidity and boost the company's value. In January, UMG announced plans to pursue a U.S. listing to satisfy an agreement with Pershing Square, following Ackman's resignation from the company's board in May [2].

In March, Bloomberg reported that Pershing Square planned to sell 50 million shares, approximately 2.7% of UMG's outstanding shares, on the Euronext Amsterdam exchange, which was expected to gross between $1.45 billion and $1.51 billion [3]. The filing comes after UMG resisted Ackman's push to move its domicile and delist from Euronext Amsterdam.

The confidential filing allows UMG to keep financial and strategic information private while engaging with regulators and assessing investor appetite ahead of public disclosure. Companies are increasingly opting for U.S. listings to take advantage of the strong equity markets and attract a broader range of investors.

UMG's roster of stars, including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Drake, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and Harry Styles, continues to drive the company's growth and revenue. The potential U.S. listing could provide investors with more opportunities to participate in the success of these artists and the broader music industry.

References:
[1] Reuters. "Universal Music Group confidentially files for U.S. IPO." Money US News. July 21, 2025. https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2025-07-21/universal-music-confidentially-files-for-us-ipo
[2] Bloomberg. "Universal Music Group files confidentially for US listing." July 21, 2025. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-21/universal-music-group-files-confidentially-for-us-listing
[3] Billboard. "UMG U.S. stock listing: Company SEC filing." July 21, 2025. https://www.billboard.com/pro/umg-u-s-stock-listing-company-sec-filing/