If Anyone Cannes, Grainge Can

Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Universal Music Group (UMG), will be honored as the 2017 Media Person of the Year during the upcoming Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The Media Person of the Year award recognizes innovators who have shaped the future of media and Grainge is the first music executive to be recognized since the award was launched in 1999. Grainge will receive his major award on Wednesday, June 21 at a ceremony in Cannes, France.

Philip Thomas, CEO of Ascential Events, organizers of Cannes Lions, said, “Through creative drive, passion and outstanding leadership, Sir Lucian has made bold investments in music and technology that helped return the industry to growth, while continuing to foster an environment that puts artists first. During his tenure, Grainge has transformed Universal Music Group into a world leader in music-based entertainment and we’re delighted to honour him as this year’s Media Person of the Year.”

Grainge commented, “While today’s music industry is virtually unrecognizable from the business I started in, one thing that hasn’t changed is that great artists and great music remain at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to demonstrate how traditional media businesses can reinvent themselves in the age of streaming, leverage new technologies and work closely with brand partners to develop exciting opportunities for artists, labels and fans. On behalf of everyone at UMG and all of our recording artists and songwriters, we’re very thankful to Cannes Lions for this honor.”