UMG And IMI Group Seal Strategic Partnership Including O Beach
*Featured Cover Photo Credit: Ibiza Spotlight / O Beach Ibiza
The hospitality division of UMG (Universal Music Group) is entering the beach club business through a new joint venture with IMI Group, a well-known company that invests in hospitality and lifestyle brands, including O Beach. This move comes as Universal Music expands its global retail presence by opening two UMusic Shop locations in New York and London in December 2025, which aim to improve the fan experience.
Worldwide growth of UMG before the joint venture with IMI Group
In 2023, UMG opened its flagship store in Tokyo’s Harajuku district, followed by its second store globally in July 2025, located inside the UMusic Hotel in Madrid. The new venture, UMusic Beach Clubs & Lifestyle, is a collaboration between UMG’s hospitality branch, UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle, and IMI Group. IMI has over ten years of experience running O Beach, a popular daytime venue in Ibiza and Dubai.
According to an article from Music Business Worldwide that mentioned the exciting news, this joint venture will maintain the existing O Beach locations to become part of the new company while keeping their current names. The article also stated that UMusic and IMI plan to create a “new music-themed beach club concept” for future locations in the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East.
Ongoing plans for the site of this project
The joint venture between UMG and IMI Group is currently working on choosing the site for their first project. This venture will also feature artist collaborations, live shows, digital features, and special events called “curated pop-up moments” at each location, as stated in their announcement on March 11. Expansion will be done carefully, with the current leadership from O Beach moving into the new venture to ensure a smooth transition into new markets.
Previously, UMG announced its plans to expand UMusic Hotels across Europe, the United States, and Latin America. Initially, they planned to open the first three locations in Atlanta, Georgia; Biloxi, Mississippi; and Orlando, Florida, through a partnership with Dakia U-Ventures. Ultimately, the first location became Madrid. UMG launched the UMusic Hotels brand in October 2020, during a challenging time for the global hospitality industry, demonstrating its commitment to innovation and resilience.
