2008 Universal Studios fire

Fire in Los Angeles County, California, U.S. July 2019 2008 Universal Studios fire 2008 6 1 Universal Fire Smoke.jpg A large plume of gray smoke rises from a complex of buildings in a wooded area, seen from slightly above Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, U.S. 34 08 28 N 118 21 02 W region:US-CA inline,title Heated asphalt shingle 0 17 Destruction of three acres of Universal backlot, King Kong Encounter, original master tapes for popular music, and digital TV and film backups. Injury of nine firefighters and an LA County sheriff's deputy. On June 1, 2008, a fire broke out on the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood, an American film studio and theme park in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, California. The fire began when a worker used a blowtorch to warm asphalt shingles that were being applied to a facade. The worker left before checking that all spots had cooled, and as a result, a three-alarm fire broke out. Nine firefighters and a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy sustained minor injuries. The fire was extinguished after 24 hours. Universal Pictures said the fire destroyed a three-acre (3 acre ha on output only) portion of the Universal backlot, including the attraction King Kong Encounter and 40,000 to 50,000 archived digital video and film copies. A 2019 exposé from The New York Times Magazine asserted that the fire also destroyed 118,000 to 175,000 audio master tapes belonging to Universal Music Group (UMG), Universal's former division and NBCUniversal's then-sister company through Vivendi, a shareholder with General Electric until 2009. This included original recordings belonging to some of the best-selling artists worldwide. UMG disputed the report, though the CEO, Lucian Grainge, acknowledged that "the loss of even a single piece of archived material is heartbreaking". Fire On June 1, 2008, a three-alarm fire broke out on the Universal Studios Lot, the backlot of Universal Studios.Rosen Jody The Day the Music Burned: It was the biggest disaster in the history of the music business — and almost nobody knew https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/magazine/universal-fire-master-recordings.html June 11, 2019 The New York Times Magazine June 11, 2019 limited The fire started when a worker was using a blowtorch to warm asphalt shingles being applied to a facade.USH 2008 Fire http://www.thestudiotour.com/wiki/index.php?title=USH_2008_Fire The Studio Tour July 9, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100803040317/http://www.thestudiotour.com/wiki/index.php?title=USH_2008_Fire dead 2010-08-03http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/01/studio.fire/index.html Universal Studios blaze burns sets, video vault September 2, 2024 CNN June 1, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080609232528/http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/01/studio.fire/index.html June 9, 2008 dead Among the structures damaged by the fire were mock New York and New England streets, the King Kong Encounter attraction, the Courthouse Square featured in Back to the Future and the Universal video vault. The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) sent 516 firefighters, as well as two helicopters dropping water. Nine firefighters and a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy sustained minor injuries. The fire took at least 12 hours to extinguish,Safo Nova Blaze Destroys Sections of Universal Studios https://www.npr.org/2008/06/02/91054792/blaze-destroys-sections-of-universal-studios NPR June 2, 2008 September 2, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20110723003733/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91054792 July 23, 2011 live in part because of the low water pressure due to the low capacity of Universal's pipes; firefighters had to tap streams and lakes.Uranga Rachel Orlov Rick Welders' blowtorch ignited studio blaze https://www.dailynews.com/2008/06/02/studio-workers-using-a-blowtorch-accidentally-caused-universal-fire/ Los Angeles Daily News June 2, 2008 September 2, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20080603172957/http://www.dailynews.com/ci_9459582 June 3, 2008 dead limited The fire was extinguished after 24 hours. Universal executives initially said the fire destroyed 40,000 to 50,000 archived digital video and film copies of Universal movies and television shows, some almost a century old, and including the films Knocked Up and Atonement, the NBC series Law & Order, The Office, and Miami Vice, and the CBS series I Love Lucy.https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/us/01cnd-fire.html Large Fire Strikes Universal Studio Lot The New York Times Michael Cieply June 1, 2008 September 2, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20111030035319/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/us/01cnd-fire.html October 30, 2011 livehttp://hosted.ap.org:80/dynamic/stories/S/STUDIO_FIRE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-06-01-21-29-26 Greg Risling Water pressure blamed for Universal Studios damage https://web.archive.org/web/20080602125158/http://hosted.ap.org:80/dynamic/stories/S/STUDIO_FIRE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-06-01-21-29-26 June 2, 2008 Associated Press September 2, 2024http://hosted.ap.org:80/dynamic/stories/S/STUDIO_FIRE?SITE=TXSAE&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Universal studios fire may cost tens of millions September 2, 2024 Ryan Nakashima Associated Press June 3, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080604042150/http://hosted.ap.org:80/dynamic/stories/S/STUDIO_FIRE?SITE=TXSAE&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT June 4, 2008 dead Universal Studios president Ron Meyer told the media that "nothing irreplaceable was lost" and that the company already possessed duplicates of everything that had been destroyed.https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/universal-studios-fire-engulfs-sets-video-vault-king-kong-exhibit-1.734612 Universal Studios fire engulfs sets, video vault, King Kong exhibit CBC.ca June 1, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080602102855/http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2008/06/01/universal-fire.html June 2, 2008 September 2, 2024 dead Universal replaced the King Kong attraction with King Kong: 360 3-D, based on the 2005 King Kong film.Gorman Anna Universal Studios to replace fire-damaged King Kong attraction https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-20-me-kingkong20-story.html Los Angeles Times May 20, 2009 September 2, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20090523145217/http://www.latimes.com:80/news/local/la-me-kingkong20-2009may20,0,5976419.story May 23, 2009 dead limited 2019 New York Times report In June 2019, The New York Times Magazine published an investigative article by freelance journalist Jody Rosen that alleged that the damage was far more serious than originally reported, as Meyer's statement only referred to material owned by Universal Studios. The fire destroyed Building 6197, a warehouse adjoining the King Kong attraction. In addition to more videos, it housed a huge archive containing multiple copies of audio and video recordings, documents ranging from legal papers to liner notes, and packaging materials and artwork belonging to Universal Music Group (UMG).Eggertsen Chris 2020-03-06 Universal Music Staff Memo Details Losses in Fire as Survey Continues https://www.billboard.com/pro/universal-music-fire-masters-lost-staff-memo/ 2022-01-07 Billboard en-US The collection included the catalogues of UMG's West Coast labels including Chess, Decca, MCA, Geffen, Interscope, A&M, Impulse!, and their subsidiary labels. Rosen estimated the individual items lost range from 118,000 to 175,000 album and 45-rpm single master tapes, phonograph master discs, lacquers (also known as acetates), and all the documentation contained in the tape boxes. The article alleged some tapes contained unreleased recordings such as outtakes, alternative versions of released material, and instrumental "submaster" multitracks created for dubbing and mixdown. However, UMG found only one unreleased album potentially affected in the fire, and they located multiple copies of that recording and could still release that album in the future if the artist wishes to. Randy Aronson, manager of the vault at the time, estimates that the masters of as many as 500,000 individual tracks were lost. Rosen argued master recordings are irreplaceable, even if copies exist, because the original recording "contains the record's details in their purest form," citing Andy Zax, a Grammy-nominated producer and writer who works on reissued recordings. UMG stated that even when the original master is available, the company often works from duplicates or digitized versions because the fidelity of the original master has deteriorated from overuse or from chemical interactions over time or for other technical reasons. UMG said it reissues thousands of recordings a year, and each project presents a unique set of challenges to overcome. In each case, UMG's team of experts use the highest fidelity recordings possible. Among the possible losses were the entire AVI Records catalog, all of Decca's masters from the 1930s to the 1950s, most of the original Chess masters, which included artists such as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf, as well as most of John Coltrane's master tapes from his period signed to Impulse! Records. On Twitter, Rosen stated that the Coltrane masters were among the most checked-out Impulse! items in the vault, and a source had told him that the masters for A Love Supreme were likely elsewhere during the fire.Rosen Jody Jody Rosen jodyrosen 1141455655284412424 June 19, 2019 Notice I didn't say all of Coltrane's masters were lost. Trane's material was among the most frequently pulled from the vault; A Love Supreme was likely the most frequently pulled Impulse title. Sources told me they suspected Love Supreme masters were elsewhere when the fire hit. https://t.co/itjwEQHiOt en March 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20211207045216/https://twitter.com/jodyrosen/status/1141455655284412424 December 7, 2021 live Two weeks later, Rosen wrote a follow-up article, listing at least 700 additional artists named in internal UMG documents as possibly affected. Determining which recordings had been destroyed, or how much of an artist's discography had been affected, was impossible, he wrote.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/magazine/universal-music-fire-bands-list-umg.html Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire Rosen Jody June 25, 2019 The New York Times June 25, 2019 limited For example, Rosen said it was difficult to confirm whether the Neil Young recordings listed in the documents were the original master tapes of the albums he recorded for Geffen Records in the 1980s, or session outtakes from those records. Rosen tweeted that the documents also listed several Broadway cast recordings among the tapes destroyed.Rosen Jody Jody Rosen jodyrosen 1144718271335346178 June 28, 2019 Yes there are a bunch of Broadway cast albums in the UMG documents. I'll try to post some details. https://t.co/E0TC8qBcPZ en March 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20211130200517/https://twitter.com/jodyrosen/status/1144718271335346178 November 30, 2021 live Several nonmusical audio recordings were reported as destroyed, including the original recording of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1968 "Remaining Awake During a Great Revolution" sermon delivered at the Washington National Cathedral.Reskinoff Paul Also Lost In the Universal Fire: A Master Recording of One of Martin Luther King's Last Speeches from 1968 https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2019/06/27/universal-studios-fire-martin-luther-king-speech/ Digital Music News 7 August 2019 June 27, 2019 In his second article, Rosen acknowledged he could not definitely state that any master recordings had actually been lost in the fire, stating "It is not possible to assert definitively which masters were burned in the fire, nor can it be said categorically that all of these artists did in fact lose masters. It also cannot be determined exactly how many of the destroyed masters were primary-source originals." Artists' responses Bryan Adams, Semisonic drummer Jacob Slichter, and Counting Crows singer Adam Duritz said they had been told that UMG had misplaced their tapes. In the early 2020s, HBO approached Geffen Records to make a documentary on Counting Crows and the label found all of the masters, confirming they had not been destroyed.https://www.wttsfm.com/wtts-in-conversation-adam-duritz-of-counting-crows-2/ WTTS in Conversation – Adam Duritz of Counting Crows WTTS 2023-05-29 2023-05-29 en-US Pelsor Matt Richard Carpenter told the Times he had been informed about the destruction of his tapes by a UMG employee while he was working on a reissue, and only after Carpenter had made multiple, persistent inquiries. Following the publication of Rosen's articles, several affected musicians posted reactions on social media, with some noting specific tapes that may have been lost.Holson Laura M. Musicians Mourn the Fiery Destruction of Their Recordings: 'I Think They Are Gone Forever' https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/12/us/universal-music-fire-musician-reactions.html The New York Times June 12, 2019 June 12, 2019 limitedColburn Randall Nirvana's Krist Novoselic believes Nevermind masters lost in Universal fire https://www.avclub.com/nirvanas-krist-novoselic-believes-nevermind-masters-los-1835460110 A.V. Club June 12, 2019 July 17, 2019 For instance, singer-songwriter Jill Sobule said she had lost two masters in the fire, including tapes for an unreleased album produced by Joe Jackson,Sobule Jill Jill Sobule jillsobule 1144601830133051394 June 28, 2019 Yep, I lost 2 masters in the fire. I tried for years to get back my unreleased Joe Jackson produced record. Now I understand. So shitty. https://t.co/X29h9I9ZOy en March 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210905085441/https://twitter.com/jillsobule/status/1144601830133051394 September 5, 2021 live but Sobule later said UMG informed her that none of her tapes had been lost, including the unreleased album.Sobule Jill Jill Sobule jillsobule 1149774894512709632 July 12, 2019 I just got an email from Universal saying that my masters did not burn in the fire. I really hope this is true for many others on the list. Thinking I'll put out my unreleased Joe Jackson produced one from 92. #phew en March 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220303234438/https://twitter.com/jillsobule/status/1149774894512709632 March 3, 2022 live Several other artists also contradicted The Times' reporting, stating their recordings had not been affected by the fire. Nirvana said on Twitter that all of their tapes are safeNirvana Nirvana 1223010550981877760 January 30, 2020 26 years ago today, we were in Bob Lang's studio recording "You Know You're Right" – the last song Nirvana would ever record. Neither that tape or any of our other album masters were affected by the @UMG vault fire. https://t.co/8iTFjmtQiw en March 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220304022520/https://twitter.com/nirvana/status/1223010550981877760 March 4, 2022 live as did Sheryl Crow, with UMG confirming, "masters for all of Crow's A&M-released albums survived the fire."Weiner Natalie 2019-07-25 Sheryl Crow on Getting Her Due and Making One Last Album https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/sheryl-crow-new-album-threads-last-album-interview-8523658/ 2022-03-03 Billboard en-US The Canadian band the Tragically Hip reported on their website that The New York Times incorrectly listed them among those who had lost tapes in the fire. Drummer Johnny Fay wrote that all of their material had been relocated to Canada in 2001.2021-06-02 Saskadelphia – The Hip Gift Shop https://thehip.com/pages/saskadelphia 2022-03-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213840/https://thehip.com/pages/saskadelphia June 2, 2021 Kreps Daniel The Tragically Hip Unearth Surprise 'New' Album 'Saskadelphia' https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tragically-hip-surprise-new-album-saskadelphia-1171883/ Rolling Stone 20 May 2021 2021-05-20 Beck posted that his losses were minimal and that none of his master recordings had been lost.Beck Beck beck 1199853670700998656 November 27, 2019 I wanted to clarify some out of context quotes regarding the universal archives fire. Since the time of that interview we have found out that my losses in the fire were minimal. (1/2) https://t.co/lt8jzMjCZv en March 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220304003012/https://twitter.com/beck/status/1199853670700998656 March 4, 2022 live Smash Mouth confirmed their recordings were not destroyed.Smash Mouth Smash Mouth smashmouth 1172170518318829568 September 12, 2019 We would like to thank @UMG @UME @Interscope for securing our master recordings. They just informed us our masters were not destroyed in that very unfortunate fire. #grateful en March 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220303232851/https://twitter.com/smashmouth/status/1172170518318829568 March 3, 2022 live Within two weeks of Rosen's article, five plaintiffs (singer-songwriter Steve Earle, the estates of Tupac Shakur and Tom Petty, and the bands Hole and Soundgarden) filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court against UMG.Sisario Ben Artists Sue Universal Music Group Over Losses in 2008 Fire https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/business/media/universal-music-fire-lawsuit.html The New York Times June 22, 2019 June 21, 2019 limited In their complaint, the plaintiffs claimed UMG never told artists about the effects of the fire and had breached their contracts by failing to properly secure its master tape collection. They further alleged that UMG did not share insurance or legal payouts received as a result of the fire. Every plaintiff except for Tom Petty's ex-wife dropped out of the complaint after UMG provided artists with a list of their recordings in the company's archives.Rosenbaum Claudia 2020-03-24 Steve Earle Drops His Claims Against Universal Music Over 2008 Backlot Fire https://www.billboard.com/pro/steve-earle-drops-claims-against-universal-music-2008-backlot-fire/ 2022-03-03 Billboard en-US On July 17, Universal moved to dismiss the class-action lawsuit.Aswad Jem Universal Music Files Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit From Artists Claiming Fire Damage https://variety.com/2019/music/news/universal-fire-motion-dismiss-soundgarden-hole-tupac-tom-petty-1203270567 Variety July 19, 2019 en July 18, 2019 On August 16, 2019, Hole dropped out of the lawsuit after UMG assured them that the band's masters were not affected by the fire.Universal Music Group: Original Masters for 'Many of the Artists' Named in Class Action Were Not Lost in Fire https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/legal-and-management/8527784/universal-music-fire-original-masters-class-action-not-lost Billboard August 22, 2019 Slightly over a month later, UMG also claimed that Shakur, Earle, and Petty did not lose their masters in the fire, and that an investigation with Soundgarden was still going on.Aswad Jem Universal Music: Four of the Five Artists Who Sued Us Did Not Lose Masters in 2008 Fire https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/universal-music-four-of-the-five-artists-who-sued-us-did-not-lose-masters-in-2008-fire-1203310052 Variety September 3, 2019 en August 22, 2019 Shakur and Earle would also later drop out as plaintiffs after learning their master tapes had not been harmed.Rosenbaum Claudia 2020-03-24 Steve Earle Drops His Claims Against Universal Music Over 2008 Backlot Fire https://www.billboard.com/pro/steve-earle-drops-claims-against-universal-music-2008-backlot-fire/ 2022-03-03 Billboard en-US Five days later, UMG demanded Soundgarden drop the suit, which the label had also moved to dismiss, citing documentary proof that the label had informed the band about the lost masters in 2015 and accusing their lawyer of "[failing] to conduct presuit diligence in your rush to be the first to file."Aswad Jem Universal Music Refutes Claims of Last Artist in Lawsuit Over 2008 Fire, Requests Dismissal https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/universal-music-refutes-soundgarden-lawsuit-claims-2008-fire-dismissal-1203315143/ Variety August 26, 2019 September 16, 2019 The surviving band members declined. "Their arbitrary deadlines have zero force or effect," Howard King, their attorney, told Rolling Stone. "Until UMG reveals what it collected for their litigation claims to extensive damage to master recordings, we cannot accept their belated claim that no damages were actually suffered."Blistein Jon Soundgarden Lawyer Shrugs Off UMG's Request for Band to Drop Vault Fire Lawsuit https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/soundgarden-lawyer-umg-vault-fire-lawsuit-877899/ Rolling Stone August 28, 2019 September 16, 2019 UMG's dismissal motion publicly confirmed that master tapes for Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger album had been destroyed in the fire, and that members of the group had been made aware of the destruction in 2015 while they were working on a remaster of the album that was eventually completed with a backup safety copy. In December 2019, district court judge John Kronstadt ruled that Universal must hand over discovery evidence, and denied the label's request to postpone the delivery.https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/legal-and-management/8545286/universal-music-group-discovery-fire-lawsuit-masters Universal Music Group Can't Halt Discovery in 2008 Masters Fire Lawsuit Billboard December 3, 2019 In March 2020, Soundgarden and the Shakur estate dropped out of the class action against UMG.Cullins Ashley Tupac Shakur Estate, Soundgarden Leave Universal Music Group Fire Class Action https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/legal-and-management/9334717/tupac-shakur-estate-soundgarden-leave-universal-music-fire-class-action Billboard March 13, 2020 March 14, 2020 On March 23, Steve Earle dropped out, leaving Tom Petty's widow as the only remaining plaintiff.https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/legal-and-management/9342053/steve-earle-drops-claims-against-universal-music-2008-backlot-fire Steve Earle Drops His Claims Against Universal Music Over 2008 Backlot Fire Billboard March 24, 2020 July 8, 2021 live https://web.archive.org/web/20200324231836/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/legal-and-management/9342053/steve-earle-drops-claims-against-universal-music-2008-backlot-fire March 24, 2020 The lawsuit was dismissed by Kronstadt on April 6, 2020,Minsker Evan Lawsuit Against Universal Music Over 2008 Warehouse Fire Is Dismissed https://pitchfork.com/news/lawsuit-against-universal-music-over-2008-warehouse-fire-is-dismissed/ Pitchfork April 6, 2020 April 7, 2020 with a refiled complaint dismissed with prejudice on March 29, 2021. After the lawsuit was dismissed, UMG said The Times "has a responsibility to explain why its editors continue to stand behind a story that has been disproven with incontrovertible evidence from both UMG and many of the artists named in the story."Rosenbaum Claudia 2021-03-29 Tom Petty Ex-Wife's Lawsuit Over Universal Music Fire Dismissed Again https://www.billboard.com/pro/universal-music-fire-lawsuit-dismissed-tom-petty-wife/ 2022-03-03 Billboard en-US UMG response Since its publication, UMG has disputed Rosen's article, saying it contained "numerous inaccuracies" and "fundamental misunderstandings of the scope of the incident and affected assets". UMG said it was unable to disclose details due to "constraints".Aswad Jem https://variety.com/2019/music/news/universal-music-disputes-severity-2008-vault-fire-new-york-times-1203239661/ Universal Music Disputes Severity of 2008 Fire Cited in New York Times Article Variety June 11, 2019 June 11, 2019 In a Billboard interview, UMG archivist Patrick Kraus said that several masters of John Coltrane, Muddy Waters, and Ahmad Jamal recordings, plus items from the catalogs of Nashboro Records, Chess Records, and Impulse! Records survived the fire and were still in Universal's archive.Universal Music Group Archivist: Vault Fire Damage 'Surprisingly Overstated,' But Any Loss Is 'Painful for Us' https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/record-labels/8516338/umg-archivist-nyt-article-surprisingly-overstated-but-any Billboard June 19, 2019 June 17, 2019 Rosen responded in his June 25 piece, noting that some of the masters that Kraus had mentioned may have survived the fire because they were being used for remastering projects at the time, or were not the primary source master. Aronson confirmed to Rosen that the vast majority of items in the vault at the time of the fire were original, primary source master recordings. UMG stated the vault, which mostly contained duplicate tapes and not original masters, was a third empty at the time of the fire because the company had already begun transferring assets to its Iron Mountain facility. In an email to staff following the publication of Rosen's story, Lucian Grainge said he was forming a team of researchers to provide artists with definitive information and confirmed that UMG had suffered a serious loss of archival material. Grainge wrote: "While I've been somewhat relieved by early reports from our team that many of the assertions and subsequent speculation are not accurate, one thing is clear: the loss of even a single piece of archived material is heartbreaking."Universal Music Group Chief Lucian Grainge Addresses Vault Fire: 'We Owe Our Artists Transparency' https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8516565/universal-music-group-lucian-grainge-vault-fire-owe-artists-transparency Billboard June 19, 20192019-06-19 Universal boss on 2008 fire: "The loss of even a single piece of archived material is heartbreaking" https://www.nme.com/news/music/universal-boss-on-2008-fire-the-loss-of-even-a-single-piece-of-archived-material-is-heartbreaking-2511371 2022-01-07 NME en-GB He wrote that it was "completely unacceptable" that their artists did not know the details and pledged to deliver "answers". On June 26, Kraus issued a memo to staff which detailed UMG's plan to determine which assets had been affected.Aswad Jem Universal Music's Chief Archivist Explains Company's Post-Fire Artist Outreach Plan (EXCLUSIVE) https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/universal-musics-chief-archivist-explains-companys-post-fire-artist-outreach-plan-exclusive-1203253708/ Variety June 28, 2019 en June 26, 2019 A month after the story broke, Kraus issued an internal note to Universal staff, which claimed that his research at the time had found only 22 original master recordings by five artists had been lost in the fire, and that backup copies had been found for each lost master. He added that UMG had been fielding requests from over 200 artists and their representatives.Despite extensive search, Universal says it's only found 22 'original masters' lost in 2008 fire so far https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/only-22-original-masters-lost-in-2008-fire-says-universal-music-group Music Business Worldwide July 18, 2019 July 18, 2019 Kraus said his team had reviewed over 26,000 assets by 30 artists, of which 424 assets (including 349 audio recordings) might have been lost.Universal Music Group Archivist Issues Statement to Staff About Losses From 2008 Fire https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/8520476/universal-music-group-archivist-issues-statement-to-staff-downplaying-losses-of Billboard July 18, 2019 July 17, 2019 On November 4, 2019, Scott Edelman of Gibson Dunn, an attorney for UMG, told U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt that UMG is the owner of the recordings and that artists' contracts provide for payments through royalties, not insurance claims.Universal Says It Owes Artists Nothing for Fire That Destroyed Masters https://www.courthousenews.com/universal-says-it-owes-artists-nothing-for-fire-that-destroyed-masters/ live April 20, 2022 Courthouse News https://web.archive.org/web/20191105175408/https://www.courthousenews.com/universal-says-it-owes-artists-nothing-for-fire-that-destroyed-masters/ November 5, 2019 A February 2020 court filing by UMG confirmed that master tapes from at least 19 artists had been damaged or destroyed in the fire.Blistein Jon UMG Acknowledges Elton John, Nirvana, Beck Recordings Were Lost or Damaged in Vault Fire https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elton-john-nirvana-beck-recordings-universal-vault-fire-lost-952850/ Rolling Stone 14 February 2020 14 February 2020 The artists whom UMG confirmed were affected are Bryan Adams, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, David Baerwald, Beck, Sheryl Crow, Peter Frampton, Jimmy Eat World, Elton John, Michael McDonald, Nirvana, Les Paul, R.E.M., Slayer, Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, the Surfaris, Suzanne Vega, White Zombie and Y&T. However, Billboard wrote that "UMG says original digital master recordings for Nirvana, Beck, Bryan Adams, Sheryl Crow, Jimmy Eat World, Suzanne Vega, White Zombie and Yesterday & Today were affected, but it has replacements or digital clones of these assets. R.E.M had one song from a soundtrack affected but UMG has copies in the same format."Rosenbaum Claudia 2020-02-14 Universal Music Group Confirms Masters by Soundgarden, Sonic Youth & More Lost in 2008 Fire https://www.billboard.com/pro/universal-soundgarden-nirvana-elton-john-masters-fire/ 2022-04-20 Billboard en-US List of artists affected, according to The New York Times According to The New York Times Magazine, artists whose original master recordings were destroyed in whole or part in the 2008 fire include: yes 15em 38 Special 50 Cent Colonel Abrams Johnny Ace Bryan Adams Nat Adderley Aerosmith Rhett Akins Manny Albam Lorez Alexandria Gary Allan Red Allen Steve Allen Ames Brothers Gene Ammons Bill Anderson John Anderson The Andrews Sisters Lee Andrews & the Hearts Paul Anka Adam Ant Toni Arden Joan Armatrading Louis Armstrong Asia Asleep at the Wheel Audioslave Patti Austin Average White Band Hoyt Axton Albert Ayler Burt Bacharach Joan Baez Razzy Bailey Chet Baker Florence Ballard Hank Ballard Gato Barbieri Baja Marimba Band The Banana Splits Len Barry Count Basie Fontella Bass The Beat Farmers Sidney Bechet Beck Captain Beefheart Archie Bell & the Drells Vincent Bell Bell Biv DeVoe Louie Bellson David Benoit George Benson Berlin Elmer Bernstein Chuck Berry Nuno Bettencourt Stephen Bishop Blackstreet Art Blakey Hal Blaine Bobby "Blue" Bland Mary J. Blige The Blind Boys of Alabama Blink-182 Blues Traveler Eddie Bo Pat Boone Boston Connee Boswell Eddie Boyd Jan Bradley Owen Bradley Oscar Brand Bob Braun Walter Brennan Jackie Brenston Teresa Brewer Edie Brickell & New Bohemians John Brim Willmer "Little Ax" Broadnax Lonnie Brooks Big Bill Broonzy Brothers Johnson Bobby Brown Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Lawrence Brown Les Brown Marion Brown Marshall Brown Mel Brown Michael Brown Dave Brubeck Jimmy Buffett Carol Burnett T-Bone Burnett Dorsey Burnette Johnny Burnette Terry Callier Cab Calloway The Call Glen Campbell Captain & Tennille Captain Sensible Irene Cara Belinda Carlisle Carl Carlton Eric Carmen Hoagy Carmichael Kim Carnes Karen Carpenter Richard Carpenter The Carpenters Barbara Carr Benny Carter Betty Carter Carter Family Peter Case Alvin Cash Rosanne Cash Bobby Charles Ray Charles Chubby Checker Checkmates, Ltd. Cheech & Chong Cher Don Cherry Mark Chesnutt The Chi-Lites Eric Clapton Gene Clark Petula Clark Roy Clark Merry Clayton Jimmy Cliff Patsy Cline Rosemary Clooney Wayne Cochran Joe Cocker Gloria Coleman Ornette Coleman Mitty Collier Jazzbo Collins Judy Collins Colosseum Alice Coltrane John Coltrane Common Cookie and his Cupcakes Barbara Cook Rita Coolidge Stewart Copeland The Corsairs Dave "Baby" Cortez Bill Cosby Don Costa Clifford Coulter Counting Crows Coverdale•Page Warren Covington Deborah Cox James "Sugar Boy" Crawford Crazy Otto Marshall Crenshaw The Crew-Cuts Sonny Criss Bing Crosby Bob Crosby David Crosby Crosby & Nash Sheryl Crow Rodney Crowell The Crusaders The Cuff Links Xavier Cugat Tim Curry The Damned Danny & The Juniors Rodney Dangerfield Bobby Darin Helen Darling David & David Billy Davis Jr. Mac Davis Richard Davis Sammy Davis Jr. Chris de Burgh Lenny Dee Jack DeJohnette The Dells The Del-Vikings Sandy Denny Sugar Pie DeSanto The Desert Rose Band Dennis DeYoung Neil Diamond Bo Diddley Difford & Tilbrook Dillard & Clark The Dixie Hummingbirds Willie Dixon DJ Shadow Fats Domino Jimmy Donley Kenny Dorham Jimmy Dorsey Lee Dorsey Tommy Dorsey Lamont Dozier The Dramatics The Dream Syndicate The Dream Weavers Roy Drusky Jimmy Durante Deanna Durbin Eagles Steve Earle El Chicano Danny Elfman Yvonne Elliman Duke Ellington Cass Elliot Joe Ely John Entwistle Eminem Eric B. & Rakim Gil Evans Paul Evans Betty Everett Don Everly Extreme The Falcons Harold Faltermeyer Donna Fargo Art Farmer Freddy Fender Ferrante & Teicher Fever Tree The 5th Dimension Ella Fitzgerald The Fixx The Flamingos King Floyd The Flying Burrito Brothers John Fogerty Red Foley Eddie Fontaine The Four Aces Four Tops Peter Frampton Franke and the Knockouts Aretha Franklin C. L. Franklin Frazier River The Free Movement Glenn Frey Lefty Frizzell Curtis Fuller Jerry Fuller Lowell Fulson Harvey Fuqua Nelly Furtado Hank Garland Judy Garland Erroll Garner Jimmy Garrison Larry Gatlin Gene Loves Jezebel Barry Gibb Georgia Gibbs Terri Gibbs Dizzy Gillespie Gin Blossoms Tompall Glaser Glass Harp Tom Glazer Whoopi Goldberg Golden Earring Paul Gonsalves Benny Goodman Dexter Gordon Rosco Gordon Eydie Gormé Lesley Gore Teddy Grace Grand Funk Railroad Amy Grant Earl Grant The Grass Roots Dobie Gray Buddy Greco Al Green Keith Green Jack Greene Robert Greenidge Lee Greenwood Patty Griffin Nanci Griffith Dave Grusin Guns N' Roses Buddy Guy Buddy Hackett Charlie Haden Merle Haggard Bill Haley & His Comets Aaron Hall Lani Hall Chico Hamilton George Hamilton IV Vicky Hamilton Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds Marvin Hamlisch Jan Hammer Lionel Hampton John Handy Slim Harpo Richard Harris Freddie Hart Dan Hartman Johnny Hartman Coleman Hawkins Dale Hawkins Richie Havens Roy Haynes Head East Heavy D Bobby Helms Don Henley Clarence "Frogman" Henry Woody Herman Milt Herth John Hiatt Al Hibbler Dan Hicks Monk Higgins Jessie Hill Earl Hines Roger Hodgson Hole Billie Holiday Jennifer Holliday Buddy Holly The Hollywood Flames Eddie Holman John Lee Hooker Stix Hooper Bob Hope Paul Horn Shirley Horn Big Walter Horton Thelma Houston Rebecca Lynn Howard Jan Howard Howlin' Wolf Freddie Hubbard Humble Pie Engelbert Humperdinck Brian Hyland The Impressions The Ink Spots Iron Butterfly Burl Ives Janet Jackson Joe Jackson Milt Jackson Ahmad Jamal Etta James Elmore James James Gang Keith Jarrett Jason & The Scorchers Jawbreaker Garland Jeffreys Beverly Jenkins Gordon Jenkins The Jets Jimmy Eat World Jodeci Johnnie & Joe The Joe Perry Project Elton John J. J. Johnson Al Jolson Booker T. Jones Elvin Jones George Jones Hank Jones Jack Jones Marti Jones Quincy Jones Rickie Lee Jones Tamiko Jones Tom Jones Louis Jordan The Jordanaires Jurassic 5 Bert Kaempfert Kitty Kallen Kalin Twins Bob Kames Kansas Boris Karloff Sammy Kaye K-Ci & JoJo Toby Keith Gene Kelly Chaka Khan Andy Kimhttps://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/bryan-adams-bob-ezrin-dismayed-by-loss-of-work-in-nightmare-universal-fire-1.4483699 https://web.archive.org/web/20190626193835/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/bryan-adams-bob-ezrin-dismayed-by-loss-of-work-in-nightmare-universal-fire-1.4483699 dead June 26, 2019 Bryan Adams, Bob Ezrin dismayed by loss of work in 'nightmare' Universal fire 2023-01-09 CTV June 26, 2019 B.B. King Martin Luther King Jr. Wayne King The Kingsmen The Kingston Trio Roland Kirk Eartha Kitt John Klemmer Klymaxx Baker Knight Chris Knight Gladys Knight & the Pips Krokus Steve Kuhn Joachim Kühn Rolf Kühn Patti LaBelle L.A. Dream Team Frankie Laine Lambert, Hendricks & Ross Denise LaSalle Yusef Lateef Steve Lawrence Lafayette Leake Brenda Lee Laura Lee Leapy Lee Peggy Lee Danni Leigh The Lennon Sisters J.B. Lenoir Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lewis Meade Lux Lewis Ramsey Lewis Liberace Lifehouse Enoch Light The Lightning Seeds Limp Bizkit Lisa Loeb Little Milton Little River Band Little Walter Lobo Nils Lofgren Lone Justice Guy Lombardo Lord Tracy The Louvin Brothers Love Patty Loveless The Lovelites Lyle Lovett Love Unlimited Loretta Lynn L.T.D. Lynyrd Skynyrd Gloria Lynne Moms Mabley Willie Mabon Warner Mack Dave Mackay Miriam Makeba The Mamas and the Papas Melissa Manchester Barbara Mandrell Chuck Mangione Shelly Manne Wade Marcus Mark-Almond Pigmeat Markham Steve Marriott Wink Martindale Groucho Marx Hugh Masekela Dave Mason Jerry Mason Matthews Southern Comfort The Mavericks Robert Maxwell John Mayall Percy Mayfield Lyle Mays Les McCann Delbert McClinton Robert Lee McCollum Marilyn McCoo Van McCoy Jimmy McCracklin Jack McDuff Reba McEntire Gary McFarland Barry McGuire The McGuire Sisters Duff McKagan Maria McKee McKendree Spring Marian McPartland Clyde McPhatter Carmen McRae Jack McVea Meat Loaf John Mellencamp Memphis Slim Sergio Mendes Ethel Merman Pat Metheny Mighty Clouds of Joy Roger Miller Stephanie Mills The Mills Brothers Liza Minnelli Charles Mingus Joni Mitchell Bill Monroe Vaughn Monroe Buddy Montgomery Wes Montgomery The Moody Blues The Moonglows Jane Morgan Russ Morgan Ennio Morricone Mos Def Martin Mull Gerry Mulligan Milton Nascimento Johnny Nash Nazareth Nelson Jimmy Nelson Oliver Nelson Ricky Nelson Aaron Neville Art Neville The Neville Brothers New Edition New Riders of the Purple Sage Olivia Newton-John Night Ranger Leonard Nimoy Nine Inch Nails Nirvana Nitty Gritty Dirt Band No Doubt Ken Nordine Red Norvo Terri Nunn The Oak Ridge Boys Ric Ocasek Phil Ochs Hazel O'Connor Chico O'Farrill Oingo Boingo The O'Jays Spooner Oldham One Flew South Yoko Ono Orleans Jeffrey Osborne The Outfield Pablo Cruise Jackie Paris Leo Parker Junior Parker Ray Parker Jr. Dolly Parton Les Paul Freda Payne Peaches & Herb Pebbles CeCe Peniston The Peppermint Rainbow The Persuasions Bernadette Peters Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers John Phillips Webb Pierce Poco The Pointer Sisters The Police Doc Pomus Jimmy Ponder Iggy Pop Billy Preston Lloyd Price Louis Prima Primus Red Prysock Puddle of Mudd Leroy Pullins The Pussycat Dolls Quarterflash Queen Latifah Sun Ra The Radiants Gerry Rafferty Kenny Rankin The Ray Charles Singers The Ray-O-Vacs The Rays Dewey Redman Della Reese Martha Reeves R.E.M. Debbie Reynolds Emitt Rhodes Busta Rhymes Buddy Rich Emil Richards Dannie Richmond Riders in the Sky Stan Ridgway Sam Rivers Max Roach Howard Roberts Marty Roberts The Roches Chris Rock Tommy Roe Jimmy Rogers Sonny Rollins The Roots Rose Royce Doctor Ross Jackie Ross Rotary Connection Roswell Rudd Rufus Otis Rush Brenda Russell Leon Russell Pee Wee Russell The Russian Jazz Quartet Mitch Ryder Buffy Sainte-Marie Joe Sample Pharoah Sanders The Sandpipers Shirley Scott Tom Scott Dawn Sears Neil Sedaka Jeannie Seely Semisonic Charlie Sexton Tupac Shakur Georgie Shaw Marlena Shaw Archie Shepp Dinah Shore Ben Sidran Silver Apples Shel Silverstein The Simon Sisters Ashlee Simpson The Simpsons Zoot Sims P.F. Sloan Smash Mouth Kate Smith Keely Smith Tab Smith Patty Smyth Snoop Dogg Valaida Snow Jill Sobule Soft Machine Sonic Youth Sonny & Cher The Soul Stirrers Soundgarden Eddie South Southern Culture on the Skids The Sparkletones Spinal Tap The Spokesmen Squeeze Jo Stafford Chris Stamey Joe Stampley Michael Stanley Kay Starr Stealers Wheel Steely Dan Gwen Stefani Steppenwolf Cat Stevens Billy Stewart Sting Sonny Stitt Shane Stockton George Strait Strawberry Alarm Clock Strawbs Steve and Eydie Styx Sublime Sum 41 Yma Sumac Andy Summers The Sundowners Supertramp The Surfaris Sylvia Syms Gábor Szabó The Tams Grady Tate t.A.T.u. Billy Taylor Koko Taylor Charlie Teagarden Temple of the Dog Clark Terry Tesla Sister Rosetta Tharpe Robin Thicke Toots Thielemans B.J. Thomas Irma Thomas Rufus Thomas Hank Thompson Lucky Thompson Big Mama Thornton Three Dog Night The Three Stooges Tiffany Mel Tillis Tommy & the Tom Toms Mel Tormé The Tragically Hip The Trapp Family Singers Ralph Tresvant Ernest Tubb The Tubes Tanya Tucker Tommy Tucker The Tune Weavers Ike Turner Stanley Turrentine Conway Twitty McCoy Tyner Phil Upchurch Michael Utley Leroy Van Dyke Gino Vannelli Van Zant Billy Vaughan Suzanne Vega Veruca Salt The Vibrations Bobby Vinton Voivod Porter Wagoner The Waikikis Rufus Wainwright Rick Wakeman Jerry Jeff Walker The Wallflowers Joe Walsh Wang Chung Clara Ward Warrior Soul War Washboard Sam Was (Not Was) Baby Washington The Watchmen Muddy Waters Jody Watley Johnny "Guitar" Watson The Weavers Ben Webster Weezer We Five George Wein Lenny Welch Lawrence Welk Kitty Wells Mae West Barry White Michael White Slappy White Whitesnake White Zombie The Who Whycliffe Kim Wilde Don Williams Jody Williams John Williams Larry Williams Lenny Williams Leona Williams Paul Williams Roger Williams Sonny Boy Williamson Walter Winchell Kai Winding Johnny Winter Wishbone Ash Jimmy Witherspoon Bobby Womack Lee Ann Womack Phil Woods Wrecks-N-Effect O. V. Wright Bill Wyman Rusty York Faron Young Neil Young Young Black Teenagers Y&T Rob Zombie Subsequent legal documents filed by Universal Music Group in February 2020 cited four additional artists not included in the New York Times list: And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead David Baerwald Michael McDonald Slayer See also Greater Los Angeles Pop music Film 2000s 1914 Lubin vault fire 1937 Fox vault fire, destroyed many of the studio's pre-1932 silent films 1965 MGM vault fire, destroyed many of the studio's silent and early sound films 2008 in music 2008 in the United States List of building or structure fires Myspace, another company involved in a loss of music that also went unreported by the media until 2019 References Category:2008 in American cinema Universal fire, 2008 Universal fire, 2008 Category:Universal Studios Hollywood Universal fire Category:June 2008 in the United States Category:Mass media-related controversies in the United States * Category:2008 controversies in the United States Category:2019 controversies Category:2020 controversies Category:Universal Music Group Category:Warehouse fires in the United States Category:Fires in California Category:Building and structure fires during construction or renovation