UMG Head Grainge Hospitalized With COVID-19
• RAMP is still awaiting independent confirmation, but Variety is reporting that Universal Music Chairman & CEO Lucian Grainge has been hospitalized after testing positive for coronavirus. He is reportedly receiving treatment at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, sources said.
The Variety story states, “Word of Grainge’s illness has rattled West Coast power players who attended his 60th birthday celebration on Feb. 29 in Palm Springs.” Some of those high profile attendees reportedly included Apple CEO Tim Cook and SVP Eddie Cue, veteran manager Irving Azoff and many others. The event was held at La Quinta’s swanky Madison Club, a private enclave that is home (at least part-time) to residents like Kris Jenner and other assorted Kardashians, Rande Gerber & Cindy Crawford, Sylvester Stallone, Scooter Braun, Ray Romano and Alan Smolinsky, one of the owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
UMG’s Santa Monica HQ was shut down late Friday after an unidentified employee — now believed to be Grainge — tested positive for COVID-19. All staffers were directed to leave the buildings on Colorado Avenue “in an orderly manner,” although the discovery was made toward the end of the day and a source told Variety that most of the staff had either left for the weekend or were already working from home. RAMP has learned that management already had planned to close the offices this week and have everyone telecommute. Stand by for further updates.
