Photo Credit: Penn 2 by Vornado Realty Trust
Universal Music Group (UMG) has officially announced the leasing of new office space at Penn 2, Vornado Realty Trust’s recently completed office tower along Seventh Avenue in The Penn District, one of the busiest hubs in the city.
The building will serve as the headquarters of labels Def Jam Recordings, Island Records, Mercury Records, and Republic Records—all part of the Republic Collective—as well as Bravado, UMG’s merch company, and Verve Label Group. The building will also serve as the East Coast offices for leading global music publisher Universal Music Publishing Group as well as several UMG corporate functions.
UMG will occupy the entire fourth through seventh floors of Penn 2 as part of a 22-year lease. The company will also occupy a ground-floor space along Seventh Avenue for a future premium retail experience dedicated to serving music superfans in the heart of Manhattan, and a private lobby on 33rd Street. The lobby will feature a visitor center and direct elevator access to its floors. In addition, UMG will have the ability to showcase its artists on a large-scale LED signage within The Penn District.
The new production facilities will bolster UMG’s global network of the world’s leading recording studios that already includes the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, Capitol Studios in LA, and East Iris Studios in Nashville.
“UMG’s relocation of its New York offices to the new Penn 2 Tower reflects our vision and ambition,” said Boyd Muir, UMG’s Chief Operating Officer. “Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and literally adjacent to Madison Square Garden, one of music’s most storied venues where so many of our artists perform to a packed house, Penn 2 will serve as an ideal nexus for our employees, artists, and songwriters. Beyond office space, Penn 2 will house music studios and retail spaces, featuring a range of artist merchandise and exclusive products. We look forward to working with the team at Vornado as we work towards a 2027 move in date.”
“We are delighted to welcome Universal Music Group to The Penn District, which has firmly established itself as the epicenter of Manhattan’s new West Side,” added Glen Weiss, Executive Vice President, Office Leasing & Co-Head of Real Estate at Vornado Realty Trust. “Universal Music’s commitment to Penn 2 is further evidence of the district’s appeal to the world’s most iconic brands in business, lifestyle, and entertainment.”
The building also features 72,000 square feet of outdoor green spaces; The Perch, a rooftop glass pavilion and event space that opens onto a lushly landscaped 17,000 square-foot private green space available to all tenants; and a 280-seat Town Hall suspended above Plaza33. Penn 2 is also the headquarters for Madison Square Garden and Major League Soccer.
The Penn District campus is situated directly above North America’s most accessible and active mass transit hub. A total of 15 subway lines, along with Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit, PATH, and Amtrak all converge in the district. They will be joined by Metro-North commuters beginning in 2027.
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