MBW’s Music Business UK Awards took place tonight (4th November) in Covent Garden, celebrating the best of what the UK music business has to offer.
The first major honor of the night went to Jody Garson, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), who received the International Executive of the Year award sponsored by PRS for Music.
The evening’s International Executive Awards recognized non-British corporate leaders who have substantially promoted excellence and success in British and Irish music over the past 12 months.
Gerson was selected as the winner by a panel of senior talent managers enrolled in Music Business Worldwide’s MBW+ tier.
Speaking to a packed De Vere Grand Connaught Room ballroom, Gerson paid tribute to the British and Irish musicians who “shaped” her “early memories”, from the Beatles to Petula Clarke, the Hollies and the Rolling Stones. She also praised Bob Geldof’s work at Live Aid, which Mr Gerson said demonstrated “the true unifying power of music”.
“British and Irish songwriters form a large part of UMPG’s foundation and include many iconic songwriters and artists such as Elton John, Bernie Taupin, The Clash, Mark Knopfler, The Cure, Joy Division, New Order, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Annie Lennox and the Bee Gees,” Mr Garson said.
Mr Gerson also acknowledged former UMPG UK MD Mike McCormack, his successor David Gray and the wider UMPG UK team.
“I want every songwriter in the UK and Ireland to hear this. I’m on your side. I wake up every day with an overriding mission: to protect human songwriters. I will never waver on that.”
Jody Garson
Elsewhere in his speech, the UMPG boss took the opportunity to address the challenges faced by songwriters amid the rapid rise of AI, saying: “The job of a music publisher is a constant battle to ensure songs are valued and songwriters are compensated appropriately.”
Gerson added: “I want every songwriter in the UK and Ireland to hear this: I’m on your side. I wake up every day with the most important mission of all: protecting the human songwriter. I will never waver on that.”
A condensed version of Gerson’s full speech can be read below.
Thank you, Tim, and also to the artist and songwriter managers who selected me for this honor.
My love for British and Irish music began when I first heard the Beatles. Indeed, it started as a high school girl’s unrequited love. When I was in first grade, I vividly remember announcing to all my friends that I was marrying Paul McCartney.
But soon Beatles songs began to find their way into my soul. And they never left.
As some of you may know, I grew up in the nightclub industry, sitting ringside and watching some of the greatest entertainers of our time from an early age.
When I learned that I would receive this award, I thought of two people: Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. Both performed in nightclubs in the early 1970s. I remember they were both wearing tuxedos and had really long sideburns.
At the time, I was too young to understand why women were throwing “knickers” (I guess that’s what they call them?) on stage during Tom’s performance. And I thought it was really weird that he would use it to wipe his forehead and then throw his sweat-soaked clothes back into the audience. “Wowwww,” young Jody Garson thought.
I remember the first time I saw To Sir With Love. I still get emotional when I hear Lulu sing, “Those school days of telling stories and biting your nails are over…” What lyrics, what a song.
British music shaped my earliest memories: The Beatles’ ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’, Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’, The Hollies’ ‘Bus Stop’ and The Stones’ ‘Satisfaction’. And in the 70s, the Bee Gees, Elton John, Queen, Eric Clapton, Traffic. 80s: U2, Pet Shop Boys, The Clash, The Police, Eurythmics, Wham!
The music you fell in love with in your formative years stays with you forever, and a lot of my music came from your side of the Atlantic.
I recently watched the Live Aid documentary and was reminded of Bob Geldof’s passion for doing the right thing and how that day demonstrated the true unifying power of music. I have great respect for Bob and all the British and Irish artists who took part in that historic event. Truly the greatest thing the music industry has ever done for the world.
British and Irish songwriters form a large part of UMPG’s foundation, including iconic songwriters and artists such as Elton John, Bernie Taupin, The Clash, Mark Knopfler, The Cure, Joy Division, New Order, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Annie Lennox and the Bee Gees.
In fact, when I first joined UMPG, some of the most successful artists on our global roster were signing out of our UK office, including Adele, Mumford & Sons, Coldplay, Kid Harpoon and Florence Welch.
All of their contracts were closed when I joined, and I’m proud that all of their contracts are still with us.
When Mike McCormack decided to step down as MD after leading the UK office with such distinction, I knew we needed someone who could respect his legacy and accelerate it. Only one person could play the role of Mike. Yes, he was…American.
Listen, I’ve had to hear about cricket from Mike for years. I think you can play American football.
Indeed, there is no better champion of British and Irish music than David Gray, who has a deep love and understanding of music. But if he starts doing a British accent, please let me know. That’s never OK.
Thank you, David, and thank you to the members of the wonderful British team who are here tonight, Rob Morris, Tom Foster, and to Pete Symonds, Maddie Gardiner, and Colette Goodfellow, who are very deserving candidates.
We would also like to thank two extraordinary London-based leaders: Tash Baldwin, who runs Global Classics, Jazz & Screen, and Jane Carter, who heads production music.
UMPG will continue to sign British and Irish songwriters locally and support them globally.
The job of music publishers is a constant battle to ensure songs are valued and songwriters are compensated appropriately, whether through streaming or emerging digital platforms, especially with the rise of AI.
AI is evolving at breakneck speed. It is important to remain open to the possibilities that new technologies bring and channel them into meaningful and creative innovations.
At the same time, AI can and should support the work of writers and publishers. That means we can collect more efficiently, track infringement more accurately, and help protect the rights of the talented people who create the music we love.
But I want all British and Irish songwriters to hear this: I’m on your side. I wake up every day with the most important mission of all: protecting human songwriters. I will never waver on that point.
I am deeply grateful for this honor. I am in the service of British and Irish music and will continue to do so.
thank you.world music business
