Lucian Grainge

Sir Lucian Grainge
Birth name Lucian Charles Grainge
Born (1960-02-29) 29 February 1960
London, England
Occupation(s) Chairman & chief executive officer, Universal Music Group
Years active 1982–present
Labels Universal Music Group

Sir Lucian Charles Grainge CBE (born 29 February 1960)[1] is the chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Music Group. Over the course of his career, he has been instrumental in the careers of artists such as Amy Winehouse, ABBA, Eurythmics, Rihanna, Sam Smith, Take That, Psychedelic Furs, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Jamie Cullum and Andrea Bocelli.[2][3][4] Grainge has worked in the music business for his entire career.[5] In 2013, 2015, and 2016, he topped Billboard Magazine’s “Power 100” list as the most powerful person in the music business, the only person to ever hold that distinction three times and the first to earn that position for consecutive years.[3][6][7]

Irving Azoff called him "'the great hope for the music business'" and Jimmy Iovine 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.'"[8]

In an interview with Grainge, Billboard wrote: “If “power” means moving markets or greenlighting massive spends, Universal Music Group chairman Lucian Grainge demonstrated a staggering penchant for it when UMG completed its $1.9 billion acquisition of EMI’s recorded-music assets in September 2012. Grainge is a fierce and tireless advocate for the recorded-music business."[9] In 2013, CNET wrote that “Grainge is positioning Universal to lead the pack” of major labels in their embracing of new digital opportunities.[10] A 2014 front-page LA Times profile of Grainge said that "if anyone can save the music business, it might be Grainge."[8] In 2015, Billboard wrote, “in the age of Spotify, YouTube and Shazam, Grainge is positioned to tackle his business' overriding priority: win fair compensation for artists, and take full ownership of content that other parties have been profiting from.”[3]

Early life and career

Lucian Grainge grew up in north London. Grainge worked his way up in the London music scene after leaving Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School for Boys at the age of 18, when he began working as a runner at a talent scout company called MPC.[5] After calling several record label heads from the Music Week directory, he got through to Maurice Oberstein, the chairman of CBC Records, who hired him for 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 GM of A&R and business affairs in 1993. He was promoted to managing director of Polydor in 1997, and had success with acts including Boyzone and the Lighthouse Family.[11] Since becoming chairman and Chief Executive of Universal Music in 2011, Grainge has overseen a strategy to increase Universal's digital distribution, international expansion and market leadership in both recorded music and publishing. Best-selling artists signed to Universal Music in recent years have included Drake, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Post Malone, Katy Perry, and Maroon 5.[12]

Universal Music Group

Grainge became the chairman of the UK division of the Universal Music Group and later became chairman of Universal Music Group International in 2005. He served in this position until 2010. On 1 January 2011 he became CEO of the Universal Music Group and later became chairman on 9 March 2011. He succeeded Doug Morris who served as chairman and CEO since 1995.[13]

Grainge has been influential in Universal Music Group's international digital expansion by pioneering distribution models with a wide range of technology partners, including Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Tencent, and YouTube.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Grainge led the 2017 multi-year global license agreement between UMG and Spotify. Following the deal, Grainge was praised by Spotify Chairman & CEO Daniel Ek for his leadership and for delivering "on the promise of the new music economy for all the people who make music and all the people who love it."[21]

Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube, said Grainge's deal with the platform "can drive more value to the industry, break and support more artists and deliver an incredible music experience to fans around the world."[22][23]

Grainge led the acquisition of Bravado, then part of Sanctuary, and transformed it into UMG’s entertainment merchandising and brand management division, Bravado, which has since been at the forefront of elevating concert merchandise with special campaigns and limited editions collections. The company represents artists such as Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and Kanye West, and has partnered with retailers including Barneys, Bloomingdale’s and Selfridge’s.[24][25][26][27]

Grainge also oversaw expansion for flagship classical labels Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Classics. He also put together the global strategic partnership with entertainment company Live Nation.[28]

Within his first year as chairman & CEO of Universal, he led the company in acquiring EMI's Recorded Music operations.[29] In doing so he argued that selling to Universal was the only way to make EMI better and thus lift the entire industry.[30] He made the revitalisation of former EMI labels such as Capitol Records and Virgin Records a key part of his strategy.[31] As a result of the EMI acquisition, "Grainge will go down as the master architect of what is likely to be the last big deal in the music business."[30]

In the EMI deal, UMG acquired the Beatles catalogue. UMG's merchandising division, Bravado, subsequently secured North American merchandising for the band.[32] UMG is now creating a "unified marketing strategy for the music and associated products of the most influential and beloved band in the history of music."[33] The wisdom of the acquisition was further illustrated by the quick success of the revitalized Capitol Music Group.[34] In 2015, Capitol earned all the major Grammy Awards for the year, with Sam Smith receiving Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year awards and Beck winning Album of the Year.[35]

Under Grainge's leadership, UMG has broken several records, becoming the first company in the US to have nine of the top 10 songs on the digital charts, according to SoundScan,[36] and weeks later, becoming the first company to hold all 10 of the top 10 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[37] In Nielsen's 2018 US Music Mid-Year report, UMG made history with eight of the Top 10 Artists, including all of the top five, as well as all the top eight artists ranked by on-demand audio streams.[38] In 2017, Grainge was credited with tripling the value of UMG to $22 billion.[39] In July 2018, JPMorgan said that UMG could be worth as much as $40 billion.[40]

In 2015, Grainge was featured in a documentary film that depicts the life and death of late British singer Amy Winehouse, entitled Amy, which was released theatrically in July.

In 2015, Vivendi announced that Grainge agreed to extend his tenure as UMG’s chairman and CEO until at least 2020, stating he was key to its strategy.[41] Under his leadership, UMG experienced growth in annual revenue, digital recorded music revenue and EBITDA.[42]

In 2018, UMG announced a strategic expansion in Africa, opening an office in Abidjan to oversee French-speaking Africa, and also unveiling a Universal Music Nigeria office in Lagos to focus on signing local artists and taking them global.[43][44]

Personal life

In January 1993, Grainge married his first wife, attorney Samantha Berg. That November, she experienced complications while giving birth to their son Elliot, and fell into a coma from which she never recovered.[45] She died in England in 2007.[46]

In 2002 Grainge married his second wife, Caroline. Their daughter Alice was born in 2001. In November 2012 Grainge and his wife reportedly paid 13 million USD for a house in Pacific Palisades. They had previously leased a Brentwood home from the owner of Rhino Entertainment.[47]

His older brother was Nigel Grainge, the founder of Ensign Records.[48]

Industry honours and other achievements

In 2008, Grainge was honoured with the prestigious Music Industry Trusts’ Award, which recognises the world’s most influential and successful executives in music. Members of U2 presented him with the award, and other acts he was associated with, like Take That, performed.

Grainge was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to the creative industries.[49] In 2012, UK Prime Minister David Cameron appointed him as a British Business Ambassador.[50] He was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to British business and inward investment.[51] He was inaugurated to appointment to the Order of the British Empire and Knight Bachelor by Prince William on November 29, 2016.[52]

Grainge is a Trustee of The American Friends of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. http://www.royalfoundation.com/contact-us/

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."[53] 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.[54][55] In 2015, he will receive the Spirit of Life Award from the City of Hope, recognizing his outstanding achievements in business and his dedication to philanthropic causes.[56]

Grainge serves on the boards of Lionsgate and Northeastern University.[57][58]

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.[59]

In May 2017 the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity announced that Grainge would be honored as the 2017 Media Person of the Year. He is the first music executive to be recognized since the award was launched in 1999.[60] Philip Thomas, CEO of Ascential Events, organizers of Cannes Lions, recognized his "...bold investments in music and technology that helped return the industry to growth, while continuing to foster an environment that puts artists first."[61]

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.[62]

He was awarded an honorary doctorate of music by the Berklee College of Music in May 2016[63] and an honorary doctorate of global commerce by Northeastern University in May 2017.[64]

References

  1. ↑ "Debrett's - The trusted source on British social skills, etiquette and style-Debrett's". Debretts.com. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  2. ↑ "Pre-GRAMMY Gala To Honor Lucian Grainge". Grammy.com.
  3. 1 2 3 "Lucian Grainge: The 2015 Billboard Power 100". Billboard.
  4. ↑ "Lucian Grainge Tops Billboard's 2015 Power 100 List". FMQB.
  5. 1 2 "New Boss for Universal Music, Lady Gaga Record Label – TIME". Time. 3 March 2010.
  6. ↑ "Billboard Reveals the 2013 Power 100". Billboard.
  7. ↑ Staff. "No. 1: Lucian Grainge | Power 100". Billboard. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Can this man save the music business?". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ↑ "Billboard Power 100: Lucian Grainge Q&A". Billboard.
  10. ↑ "Crank it up: Russell Simmons, Universal Music launch label – on YouTube". CNET.
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  12. ↑ Schneider, Marc. "Vivendi Plans to Sell Up to Half of Universal Music Group, Rules Out IPO". Billboard. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "Universal Music Group". Universalmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  14. ↑ "Apple Signs Deal With Universal Music Group for iCloud, Major Publishers Also on Board | Billboard". Billboard.biz. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  15. ↑ "Universal Music Group Launching Spotify Playlist Service for U.S. Fans | Billboard". Billboard.biz. 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ "Universal Music Group". Universalmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  18. ↑ "Universal Music Group". Universalmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  19. ↑
  20. ↑
  21. ↑ "SPOTIFY AND UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCE GLOBAL, MULTI-YEAR LICENSE AGREEMENT - UMG". UMG. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  22. ↑ Paine, Andre. "YouTube and Universal Music Group strike global deal". Music Week. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  23. ↑ Lockwood, Lisa (4 January 2018). "Bloomingdale's Teams With Universal Music Group and Bravado for Major Retail Promotion". WWD. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  24. ↑ Allen, Katie (3 August 2007). "Universal buys troubled Sanctuary for £44.5m". the Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  25. ↑ Safronova, Valeriya. "Maestros of the Concert Merchandise Movement". NY Times. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  26. ↑ Lockwood, Lisa (4 January 2018). "Bloomingdale's Teams With Universal Music Group and Bravado for Major Retail Promotion". WWD. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  27. ↑ Randhawa, Kiran. "A Rolling Stones pop-up shop is coming to Selfridges". Evening Standard. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  28. ↑ "Universal Music Group". Universalmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  29. ↑ "EMI Publishing Goes to Sony, Label to Universal | Billboard". Billboard.biz. 2011-11-11. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  30. 1 2 "How Universal Music CEO Lucian Grainge Became The Most Powerful Man in Music". Buzzfeed.
  31. ↑ "Universal Music CEO Lucian Grainge Says He'll 'Double A&R Investment' at Capitol, Virgin". Billboard.
  32. ↑ Atkinson, Claire. "The Fabric Four". New York Post.
  33. ↑ "The Beatles and Bravado Come Together". Universal Music Group.
  34. ↑ "A revitalized Capitol Records forges a new path forward". Los Angeles Times.
  35. ↑ "Grammy Awards bring gold to revitalized Capitol Records". Los Angeles Times.
  36. ↑ "UMG Sets Record With Nine of Top 10 Digital Singles". FMQB.
  37. ↑ Atkinson, Claire. "Universal a perfect 10 on Billboard 100". New York Post.
  38. ↑ "Rumor Mill - IT'S GOOD TO BE KING—BETTER THAN EVER, IN FACT". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  39. ↑ Parisi, Paula (27 April 2017). "Universal Music Group's Value Triples to $22 Billion Under Lucian Grainge". Variety. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  40. ↑ Steigrad, Alexandra (31 July 2018). "Universal Music Group won't go public". New York Post. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  41. ↑ "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 2015-09-21.
  42. ↑ "Lucian Grainge signs new deal with Universal Music Group - Music Business Worldwide". Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  43. ↑ "Universal Music to boost its investment in Africa". Music In Africa. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  44. ↑ Adegoke, Yinka. "The world's biggest music company is setting its sights on Africa". Quartz Africa. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  45. ↑ "Take That in concert.... for 13-year-old's birthday party". Daily Mail. London. 2 December 2006.
  46. ↑ "Join Ancestry". Search.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  47. ↑ "The Real Estalker: South Park's Trey Parker Buys Big Brentwood Digs". Realestalker.blogspot.com. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  48. ↑ "Nigel Grainge | Register". Thetimes.co.uk. 2017-06-17. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  49. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  50. ↑ "2015 creative fusion award recipient". BritWeek.
  51. ↑ "No. 61608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2016. p. B2.
  52. ↑ "Universal Music Chairman Lucian Grainge Knighted By Prince William". Billboard. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  53. ↑ "SAG-AFTRA Announces American Scene Award Recipients". SAG-AFTRA One Union.
  54. ↑ "Pre-GRAMMY Gala To Honor Lucian Grainge". GRAMMY.com.
  55. ↑ "Lucian Grainge Receives Icon Award at Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Gala As Music Industry Looks On". Billboard.
  56. ↑ "Lucian Grainge to Receive City of Hope Spirit of Life Award". Billboard.
  57. ↑ Ingham, Tim (14 September 2016). "Lucian Grainge is now a Director at Lionsgate (and still boss of UMG) - Music Business Worldwide". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  58. ↑ "Members of the Corporation 2013–2014". Northeastern University.
  59. ↑ Barker, Andrew (11 October 2016). "Universal Music Group's Lucian Grainge Serves as a Champion of Female Leadership". Variety. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  60. ↑ "Sir Lucian Grainge named Cannes Lions Media Person of the Year 2017". Canneslions.com. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  61. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley. "Sir Lucian Grainge, UMG Chairman & CEO, Named Cannes Lions Media Person of the Year". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  62. ↑ Duffy, Thom. "Universal's Lucian Grainge Honored By Songwriters Hall of Fame: Read His Acceptance Speech". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  63. ↑ By  Allen Bush (2016-05-07). "Rita Moreno, the Isley Brothers, Lucian Grainge, Milton Nascimento Honored at Commencement | Berklee College of Music". Berklee.edu. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  64. ↑ "Northeastern announces 2017 honorary degree recipients". News @ Northeastern. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
Preceded by
Doug Morris		 Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Universal Music Group
1 January 2011 to Present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
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