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Lucian Grainge

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Sir
Lucian Grainge
CBE
Grainge at the Hollywood State of the Entertainment Industry convention in 2018
Born
Lucian Charles Grainge

(1960-02-29) 29 February 1960 (age 64)
London, England
Occupation(s)Businessman, record executive
Years active1978–present
TitleCEO of Universal Music Group
Spouse
Caroline Grainge
​
(m. 2002)​
Children3, including Elliot

Sir Lucian Charles Grainge CBE (born 29 February 1960) is a British record executive who has served as chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Universal Music Group since 2010.[1][2][3] Beginning as an A&R staffer in the late 1970s, Grainge has worked in the music industry his entire career.[4] Billboard magazine named him the most powerful person in the music business on four occasions in the 2010s, and was named the inaugural Executive of the Decade in 2020.[5][6]

Early life and career

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Born Lucian Charles to parents Cecil and Marion Grainge, he grew up in a Jewish family in North London.[7][8]

His older brother was Nigel Grainge, the founder of Ensign Records which was bought by Jack Wells CEO.[9]

Grainge left Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School for Boys at the age of 18, and began working as a runner at MPC, a talent scout company in 1978.[4] After contacting several record label bosses, he was offered a job by Maurice Oberstein, chairman of CBS Records, working at publishing company April Music's A&R department. His first signing was The Psychedelic Furs. In 1982, he became the director of RCA Music Publishing. Two years later he became an A&R director for MCA Records. He set up PolyGram Music Publishing in 1986 and joined Polydor as general manager of A&R and business affairs in 1993. He was promoted to managing director of Polydor in 1997.[10]

Universal Music Group

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Grainge became the chairman of the UK division of the Universal Music Group, and then in 2005 of Universal Music Group International. He served in this position until 2010. On 1 January 2011 he became CEO of Universal Music Group, and then chairman on 9 March 2011, succeeding Doug Morris.[11]

Within his first year as chairman & CEO of Universal, the company acquired EMI's Recorded Music operations.[12] Grainge argued that selling to Universal was the only way to improve EMI, for the benefit of the entire industry.[13] UMG subsequently attempted to revitalise former EMI labels including Capitol Records and Virgin Records.[14] Commenting on the EMI acquisition, BuzzFeed commented that "Grainge will go down as the master architect of what is likely to be the last big deal in the music business".[13]

As chairman and Chief Executive of Universal, Grainge has also sought to increase the group's international digital expansion via distribution partnerships with technology companies, including Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Tencent, and YouTube.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Grainge led the 2017 multi-year global license agreement between UMG and Spotify.[22]

Grainge led the acquisition of Bravado, then part of Sanctuary, and transformed it into UMG's entertainment merchandising and brand management division, Bravado. The company represents artists including Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and Kanye West, and has formed partnerships with retailers including Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Selfridge's.[23][24][25][26]

Grainge also oversaw the expansion of classical labels Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Classics, and agreed a global strategic partnership with entertainment company Live Nation.[27]

In 2017, UMG was worth $22 billion, triple what it was worth when Grainge took over at the company.[28] In July 2018, JPMorgan said that UMG could be worth as much as $40 billion[29] and then increased the valuation to $50 billion in 2019.[30]

In 2015, Vivendi announced that Grainge had agreed to extend his tenure as UMG's chairman and CEO until at least 2020, stating he was key to its strategy.[31] Under his management, UMG experienced growth in annual revenue, digital recorded music revenue and EBITDA.[32] Grainge successfully floated UMG into its IPO in 2021.[33]

Personal life

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In 1993, Grainge's first wife, Samantha Berg, experienced complications while giving birth to their son Elliot, and fell into a coma from which she never recovered.[34][35] She died in England in 2007.[35] Elliot Grainge is founder and CEO of independent record label 10K Projects.[36]

In 2002, Grainge married his second wife, Caroline.[37] Their daughter Alice was born in 2001. Grainge is also stepfather to Caroline's daughter from a previous marriage, Betsy.[38][39] In November 2012 Grainge and his wife reportedly paid US$13 million for a house in Pacific Palisades.[40] They had previously leased a Brentwood home from the owner of Rhino Entertainment.[40]

In March 2020, Grainge was admitted to intensive care for a month in Los Angeles after contracting COVID-19, subsequently fully recovering.[34]

In 2024, Lucian Grainge was named in a lawsuit concerning alleged misconduct by others at events hosted by Sean "Diddy" Combs. Universal Music Group and Grainge strongly denied any wrongdoing, describing their involvement in the claims as "offensively false." On May 13, 2024, the accuser's attorney requested the claims against UMG and Grainge be withdrawn, admitting there was "no legal basis for the claims."[41][42][43]

Honours and awards

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In 2008, Grainge received the Music Industry Trusts' Award, which recognises the world's most successful music executives. The award was presented by members of U2, and Take That performed at the ceremony.

Grainge was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to the creative industries.[44] In 2012, he was appointed a British Business Ambassador by the UK Prime Minister David Cameron.[45][46] He was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to British business and inward investment.[47] He was inaugurated to appointment to the Order of the British Empire and Knight Bachelor on 29 November 2016.[48]

In 2013, he received the Humanitarian Award from The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. That same year, UMG was honoured with a SAG-AFTRA American Scene Award, recognising the company's commitment to diversity as exemplified by its "entire catalog and roster of artists."[49] In 2014, he was awarded the President's Merit Award ("Icon Award") by the Grammy Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the music industry.[50][51] In 2015, he received the Spirit of Life Award from the City of Hope, awarded for outstanding achievements in business and dedication to philanthropic causes.[52]

Grainge serves on the board of Northeastern University.[53]

In 2015, Grainge was featured in Amy, a documentary film depicting the life and death of British singer Amy Winehouse.

In October 2016, Variety presented Grainge with its 2016 Empowerment Award for overseeing a "noticeable shift in the demographics of the industry leader’s C-suites" with women occupying some of the highest executive positions at Universal Music Group.[54]

In May 2017, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity announced that Grainge would be honored as the 2017 Media Person of the Year, the first music executive to receive this honour.[55] Philip Thomas, CEO of Ascential Events, organizers of Cannes Lions, praised his "bold investments in music and technology that helped return the industry to growth, while continuing to foster an environment that puts artists first".[56]

In June 2018, Grainge was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the Howie Richmond Hitmaker award. At the ceremony, Ariana Grande performed in his honor and Grainge was inducted by The Weeknd.[57]

He was awarded an honorary doctorate of music by the Berklee College of Music in May 2016[58] and an honorary doctorate of global commerce by Northeastern University in May 2017.[59]

In March 2019, Grainge received a PTTOW! Icon Award, which "honors trailblazers in their industries who have had an impact on culture around the world."[60]

In September 2019, Grainge received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Peter Gabriel.[61][62]

In 2020, Billboard named Grainge as the first-ever Executive of the Decade after he topped the magazine's "Power 100" list as the most powerful person in the music business in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019.[5][6] He is the only person to ever hold that distinction more than once and for consecutive years.[2][63][64] He was subsequently named No. 1 on the list for 2022 and 2023 for a record six times.[65]

Irving Azoff called him "'the great hope for the music business'" and Jimmy Lovine commented that Grainge "is working to restore [a] spirit of risk-taking and innovation" by being "'willing and open to entrepreneurship and that kind of thing the record industry has gotten depleted of.'"[66] An interview feature in Billboard described Grainge as "a fierce and tireless advocate for the recorded-music business".[67] In 2013, CNET wrote that "Grainge is positioning Universal to lead the pack" of major labels in their embracing of new digital opportunities.[68] A 2014 front-page Los Angeles Times profile said that "if anyone can save the music business, it might be Grainge."[66]

In January 2020, Grainge was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with UMG artists including Beck, Justin Bieber, Birdman, Lewis Capaldi, Tori Kelly, Sam Smith, and Hailee Steinfeld in attendance. Shawn Mendes and Lionel Richie were the ceremony's featured presenters. Ellen K of KOST Radio Morning Show host, the emcee of the event, said, "I've never seen so many stars show up to a Walk of Fame ceremony before."[69]

References

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  1. ^ "Pre-GRAMMY Gala To Honor Lucian Grainge". Grammy.com. 30 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Lucian Grainge: The 2015 Billboard Power 100". Billboard.
  3. ^ "Lucian Grainge Tops Billboard's 2015 Power 100 List". FMQB.
  4. ^ a b "New Boss for Universal Music, Lady Gaga Record Label". Time. 3 March 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010.
  5. ^ a b Marks, Craig. "Billboard Power 100's New No. 1: Universal Music Group's Lucian Grainge". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Lucian Grainge of Universal Music Group: Executive of the Decade". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Sir Lucian Grainge: 'We must keep listening to new ideas through young ears.'". 15 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Inside the Music Industry's High-Stakes A.I. Experiments". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Nigel Grainge". The Times. London. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  10. ^ "The Rise of Lucian Grainge | Billboard.biz". Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  11. ^ "Universal Music Group". Universalmusic.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  12. ^ "EMI Publishing Goes to Sony, Label to Universal | Billboard". Billboard.biz. 11 November 2011. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  13. ^ a b "How Universal Music CEO Lucian Grainge Became The Most Powerful Man in Music". Buzzfeed. 8 April 2014.
  14. ^ "Universal Music CEO Lucian Grainge Says He'll 'Double A&R Investment' at Capitol, Virgin". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Apple Signs Deal With Universal Music Group for iCloud, Major Publishers Also on Board | Billboard". Billboard.biz. 2 June 2011. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Universal Music Group Launching Spotify Playlist Service for U.S. Fans | Billboard". Billboard.biz. 27 July 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Sky Group". Archived from the original on 1 October 2010.
  18. ^ "Universal Music Group". Universalmusic.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Universal Music Group". Universalmusic.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Vodafone and Universal Music Group International sign strategic partn…". Archived from the original on 5 February 2013.
  21. ^ "UMG Signs 'Idol' Deal with 19 Entertainment | Billboard.biz". www.billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  22. ^ "SPOTIFY AND UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCE GLOBAL, MULTI-YEAR LICENSE AGREEMENT - UMG". UMG. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  23. ^ Allen, Katie (3 August 2007). "Universal buys troubled Sanctuary for £44.5m". the Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  24. ^ Safronova, Valeriya (25 July 2017). "Maestros of the Concert Merchandise Movement". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  25. ^ Lockwood, Lisa (4 January 2018). "Bloomingdale's Teams With Universal Music Group and Bravado for Major Retail Promotion". WWD. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  26. ^ Randhawa, Kiran (8 May 2018). "A Rolling Stones pop-up shop is coming to Selfridges". Evening Standard. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  27. ^ "Universal Music Group". Universalmusic.com. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  28. ^ Parisi, Paula (27 April 2017). "Universal Music Group's Value Triples to $22 Billion Under Lucian Grainge". Variety. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  29. ^ Steigrad, Alexandra (31 July 2018). "Universal Music Group won't go public". New York Post. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  30. ^ "Universal Music Group valuation hits $50bn – as Vivendi seeks 'half dozen' investment bank partners". Music Business Worldwide. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  31. ^ "Vivendi: Five-year development plan for Universal Music Group – Lucian Grainge committed to UMG and Vivendi at least until 2020 | Vivendi". www.vivendi.com. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  32. ^ "Lucian Grainge signs new deal with Universal Music Group - Music Business Worldwide". 31 July 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  33. ^ "Universal Music's Shares Soar 36.5% at First Day of Trading's Close". Variety. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  34. ^ a b Nicolaou, Anna; Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew (16 September 2021). "The last mogul: an interview with Universal Music's Lucian Grainge". Financial Times. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  35. ^ a b Trakin, Roy (25 January 2014). "Lucian Grainge to Be Honored at Clive Davis Grammy Gala: 6 Things to Know About the UMG Chief". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  36. ^ Trakin, Roy (4 December 2019). "Elliot Grainge, Son of Music Industry Titan Lucian Grainge, Is Forging His Own Path". Variety. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  37. ^ "Grammys: This Is the Man Behind All Five Album of the Year Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Universal's Sir Lucian Grainge Honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame". celebrityaccess.com. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  39. ^ Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew; Nicolaou, Anna (16 September 2021). "The last mogul: an interview with Universal Music's Lucian Grainge". Financial Times. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  40. ^ a b David, Mark (7 August 2013). "South Park's Trey Parker Buys Big Brentwood Digs". Variety. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  41. ^ "Sean 'Diddy' Combs sexual harassment suit includes notable music industry names". Los Angeles Times. 28 February 2024.
  42. ^ "UMG and Lucian Grainge Blast Lawyer For Adding Them to Diddy Sex Abuse Lawsuit: 'Recklessly False'". Billboard. 28 March 2024.
  43. ^ "Diddy Accuser Drops UMG & Lucian Grainge From Abuse Lawsuit: 'No Legal Basis for the Claims'". Billboard. 14 May 2024.
  44. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  45. ^ "City Spy: Lucian Grainge is selling UK to Hollywood". London Evening Standard. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  46. ^ Spanier, Gideon (8 February 2013). "Lucian Grainge: Banging the drum for the UK in LA". The Independent. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  47. ^ "No. 61608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2016. p. B2.
  48. ^ "Universal Music Chairman Lucian Grainge Knighted By Prince William". Billboard. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  49. ^ "SAG-AFTRA Announces American Scene Award Recipients". SAG-AFTRA One Union.
  50. ^ "Pre-GRAMMY Gala To Honor Lucian Grainge". GRAMMY.com. 30 April 2017.
  51. ^ "Lucian Grainge Receives Icon Award at Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Gala As Music Industry Looks On". Billboard.
  52. ^ "Lucian Grainge to Receive City of Hope Spirit of Life Award". Billboard.
  53. ^ "Members of the Corporation 2013–2014". Northeastern University.
  54. ^ Barker, Andrew (11 October 2016). "Universal Music Group's Lucian Grainge Serves as a Champion of Female Leadership". Variety. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  55. ^ "Sir Lucian Grainge named Cannes Lions Media Person of the Year 2017". Canneslions.com. Retrieved 22 May 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  56. ^ Iasimone, Ashley. "Sir Lucian Grainge, UMG Chairman & CEO, Named Cannes Lions Media Person of the Year". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  57. ^ Duffy, Thom. "Universal's Lucian Grainge Honored By Songwriters Hall of Fame: Read His Acceptance Speech". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  58. ^ By  Allen Bush (7 May 2016). "Rita Moreno, the Isley Brothers, Lucian Grainge, Milton Nascimento Honored at Commencement | Berklee College of Music". Berklee.edu. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  59. ^ "Northeastern announces 2017 honorary degree recipients". News @ Northeastern. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  60. ^ "HITS Daily Double : Rumor Mill - PTTOW! DECLARES GRAINGE AN ICON". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  61. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  62. ^ "2019 Summit Highlights Photo: Singer, songwriter and humanitarian Peter Gabriel presenting the Golden Plate Award to Sir Lucian Grainge, the Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, during the 53rd International Achievement Summit in New York City". American Academy of Achievement.
  63. ^ "Billboard Reveals the 2013 Power 100". Billboard.
  64. ^ Staff. "No. 1: Lucian Grainge | Power 100". Billboard. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  65. ^ "Billboard Power 100 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  66. ^ a b "Can this man save the music business?". Los Angeles Times. 8 March 2014.
  67. ^ "Billboard Power 100: Lucian Grainge Q&A". Billboard.
  68. ^ "Crank it up: Russell Simmons, Universal Music launch label – on YouTube". CNET.
  69. ^ "Universal Music CEO Lucian Grainge Toasted by Shawn Mendes & More at Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
[edit]
Preceded by Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Universal Music Group
1 January 2011 to Present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
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