Universal Music Christian Group (UMCG) Launches Imago Dei Music Group (iD Music Group) With Pioneering Entertainment Executive Max Siegel

LOS ANGELES, April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Christian Group (UMCG), a division of Universal Music Group Distribution, the award-winning sales and marketing arm of Universal Music Group, has partnered with pioneering entertainment executive Max Siegel to launch Imago Dei Music Group (iD Music Group), a division of Max Siegel Inc. The announcement was made today by Jim Urie, President, Universal Music Group Distribution, Rhoda Lawrence, Vice President of UMCG, and Max Siegel, Chief Executive Officer, iD Music Group.

In the company's first joint venture, UMCG has partnered with Mr. Siegel, an executive with years of experience in virtually every area of the entertainment industry, including sports, music, television and film. iD Music Group was brought to UMCG by Next Plateau's president, Eddie O'Loughlin, who will play a key A & R role.  The label will begin looking for new artists immediately and plans to release their first albums in 2010.

"We're thrilled to be in business with an executive of Max's caliber," stated Mr. Urie. "He is a true renaissance man whose track record of accomplishments speaks for itself. We are delighted to welcome him to the UMGD family."

Max L. Siegel is the former President of Global Operations at Dale Earnhardt Inc., one of the top motor sports franchises in NASCAR. As one of the most influential executives in the entertainment and sports industries, Siegel made history as the highest-ranking African American executive in NASCAR. Siegel oversaw the entire organization including competition, marketing, sales, sponsorship and distribution for all DEI's properties including motor sports teams, licensing, promotion, business development and the Dale Earnhardt Foundation.

An accomplished entertainment executive, attorney, author, conference organizer and television and film producer, he is one of the most sought after persons in the entertainment industry. He is a cum laude graduate from Notre Dame Law School. With more than 15 years of brokering deals and project management, Siegel is known for his sharp and savvy business expertise.

"Lifestyle entertainment has always been a passion of mine," commented Mr. Siegel.  "Aligning iD Music Group with the "best in class" was a priority for launching the label.  We have done just that by partnering with Universal Music Group.  This partnership will allow us to fully integrate music into the lifestyles of people around the world in a unique and positive way."

The former Sony BMG/Zomba Label Group executive held dual positions as Senior Vice President of Zomba Label Group and President of Zomba Gospel. During his tenure at Sony BMG, Siegel helped the company score more No. 1 hits and gold and platinum records than ever before. Siegel served on the executive team that produced top gospel and pop artists including Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, John P. Kee, Vikki Winans, Kelly Price and more. www.maxsiegel.com www.idmusicgrp.com.

Initial releases from iD Music Group will include "Champion," from Darwin Hobbs (June 22) as well as BET "Sunday Best" winner Y'Anna Crawley's debut album (July 13).

About Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD)

UMGD consists of four major divisions: Universal Music Distribution (UMD); Fontana, a worldwide distributor of independent music labels; Vivendi Entertainment, the largest independent DVD distribution company in the US and also a theatrical distributor; and Universal Music Christian Group. It distributes the music from such companies as Universal Motown Republic Group, Island Def Jam Music Group, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, A&M/Octone Records, MCA Nashville, Lost Highway, Mercury Nashville, Verve Music Group, Decca Label Group, Universal Music Latino, Universal Music Enterprises, Hip–O, UTV, Sanctuary Records, Disa, Machete Music, ABKCO, Concord Music Group, Hollywood, Lyric Street, Fonovisa, Walt Disney, Big Machine, VI Music, Sybersound, Hidden Beach and Palm Pictures.  The company also represents a world-famous roster of artists: U2, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Elton John, Bon Jovi, Eminem, Sheryl Crow, 50 Cent, Sting, Jay-Z, Andrea Bocelli, Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, Mary J. Blige, Sugarland, Maroon 5, Rihanna, The Black Eyed Peas, Akon, and Fall Out Boy, and many others.

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry's leading global music publishing operation.

Universal Music Group's record labels include Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal Music Latino, Universal Records South, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalog is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, its new media and technologies division; Bravado, its merchandising company; Twenty–First Artists, its full service management division; and Helter Skelter, its live music agency.  Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

About Max Siegel Inc.

Max Siegel Inc. is a sports, marketing, entertainment, and media holding company.  The brand was developed to meet lifestyle, entertainment and diversity needs in different industries.  The divisions of Max Siegel Inc. include Revolution Racing (sports division), a NASCAR sanctioned, minority owned race team designed to develop minority and female race car drivers; The 909 Group (marketing division) a lifestyle marketing agency; Imago Dei Music Group (entertainment division), an urban inspiration label with a multi-media platform designed to engage, enhance, and expand the lives of people around the world through music and lifestyle entertainment; and in media, Max Siegel Inc. creates literary, television and film properties, including the soon-to-be released BET series, "Changing Lanes," and the HarperCollins book, Know What Makes Them Tick: How to Negotiate Almost Any Situation.   Max Siegel Inc. - working daily to bring about change one industry at a time.  

SOURCE Universal Music Group