SANTA MONICA, January 28, 2026 — Sir Lucian Grainge has been named No. 1 on Billboard’s 2026 Power 100 List, marking the eighth time he’s held the top spot and solidifying his influence over the modern music industry.
A Decade of Dominance: Grainge & Gerson Honored
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Billboard’s 2026 Power 100 list recognizes the industry’s most influential figures, with Universal Music Group executives taking center stage.
- Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of UMG, secured the No. 1 position on Billboard’s 2026 Power 100 list.
- Jody Gerson, Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), was named Executive of the Decade.
- This is Grainge’s eighth time topping the Billboard Power 100, a record in the industry.
- Billboard highlighted Grainge’s impact on streaming and his efforts to improve royalty payouts for artists.
- Gerson was lauded for tripling UMPG’s revenue and championing songwriters’ rights.
Alongside Grainge’s recognition, Jody Gerson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of UMPG, received the prestigious title of Executive of the Decade. Gerson, featured on the cover of the print issue, is only the second executive to receive this honor, following Grainge in 2020.
Billboard’s assessment of Grainge’s leadership emphasized his pivotal role in shaping the streaming era. “More than any other music executive, he has shaped the modern streaming business — first by encouraging and helping to define competition…and more recently by pushing services to improve payouts to rights holders with an “artist-centric” royalty model,” the publication stated. His influence also extends to navigating the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence within the music industry.
Gerson’s Transformative Leadership at UMPG
Gerson’s recognition as Executive of the Decade acknowledges her transformative leadership at UMPG since 2015. Billboard noted that she “reigned as the most powerful woman in the music business — while tripling UMPG’s revenue and championing songwriters and the value of music at every opportunity.” Her approach is characterized by integrity, respect for her team, and a commitment to advocating for songwriters’ interests.
The accolades didn’t stop with Grainge and Gerson. Several other UMG executives were also recognized on Billboard’s 2026 Power List, including Michele Anthony, Executive Vice President; Matt Ellis, Chief Financial Officer; Jeffrey Harleston, General Counsel, Executive Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs; Boyd Muir, Chief Operating Officer; Michael Nash, Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Officer; and Will Tanous, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer.
Broad Recognition Across UMG Divisions
UMPG also saw recognition for Marc Cimino, Chief Operating Officer; Alexandra Lioutikoff, President, Latin America And U.S. Latin; and Troy Tomlinson, Chairman and CEO Universal Music Publishing Nashville.
Further highlighting UMG’s widespread influence, Billboard also acknowledged leaders from its various labels and business units, including Monte Lipman and Avery Lipman of Republic Collective; John Janick and Steve Berman of Interscope Capitol; Tom March of Capitol Music Group; Tunji Balogun of Def Jam Recordings; Justin Eshak and Imran Majid of Island Records; Jim Roppo and Wendy Goldstein of Republic Records; Ben Adelson of Mercury Records; Mike Harris of MCA; Jesus Lopez of Universal Music Latin and Iberian Peninsula; Bruce Resnikoff of Universal Music Enterprises; JT Myers and Nat Pastor of Virgin Music Group; and Jacqueline Saturn of Virgin Music Label & Artist Services, among others.
This broad representation underscores UMG’s comprehensive leadership across all facets of the music industry—from recorded music and publishing to digital strategy and distribution—reinforcing the company’s vision and impact on the global music landscape.
