Lucian Grainge

Chairman and CEO, Universal Music Group
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Sir Lucian Grainge has spent his entire career in the music industry and has signed and worked with many worldwide stars, including ABBA, Jay Z, Elton John, Katy Perry, Queen, Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, Sam Smith, U2, and Amy Winehouse, among many others. During the span of four decades, he not only pioneered new approaches to the signing and development of the world’s most successful recording artists and songwriters, but he also consistently championed the development of innovative business models and partnerships with a wide range of technology and media partners around the world. He has transformed Universal Music Group (UMG) into the most successful company in the history of the music industry, both competitively and financially, and his vision and leadership is widely recognized as having returned the entire industry to growth after years of decline. In 2011, he led UMG’s successful acquisition of the recorded music assets of the legendary British music company EMI, revitalizing its iconic Capitol Records, and, in the process, further strengthening UMG’s position as the global leader in music. A native of London, Sir Lucian was bestowed with a knighthood in 2016 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours list for accomplishments in the music industry and leadership through its challenging times, contributions to British business and inward investment, as well as his development of innovative business models, technology and media partnerships that have expanded UMG’s global presence.