Exclusive Update from Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group’s television and film division has recently made significant staff reductions. MD Kelly Sweeney and other high-ranking employees have departed from Mercury Studios, located in London. This studio has been involved in notable projects such as One to One: John & Yoko, American Symphony, and Prince – Sign O’ the Times.
A spokesperson for Mercury Studios has expressed ongoing commitment to the studio, mentioning that “numerous projects are actively in progress, with several exciting announcements anticipated very soon.”
It has been indicated that these upcoming projects will feature collaborations with internationally acclaimed celebrities.
Since its inception in 2020, Mercury Studios, situated in King’s Cross, has focused on producing music documentaries and live concert recordings. Initially, it integrated operations with Eagle Rock Entertainment and was managed by Alice Webb, a former executive at BBC Children’s, who left her position towards the end of last year. At its launch, UMG described Mercury as a “multi-faceted content studio established to develop, produce, and invest in innovative, music-based storytelling.” The studio benefits from Eagle Rock Entertainment’s extensive library, which boasts nearly 2,000 hours of programming and over 800 original documentary titles.
The reduction in Mercury Studios’ workforce comes amid a broader downturn in the documentary and television production sectors, where job cuts have become increasingly routine.
Universal Music Group, known as one of the leading record labels globally, manages a diverse roster of artists including Taylor Swift, Drake, and Billie Eilish.
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