Warner/Chappell CEO & Chairman Jon Platt was honored on Saturday (Feb 18) with a special award at Atlanta’s Morehouse College.
The executive received the Candle Award in Music, Business, and Entertainment at the establishment, which was celebrating its 150th anniversary celebration.
The Candle Award is reserved for non-alumni of the college in recognition of their outstanding leadership and service to society.
Previous recipients have included Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier, Oprah Winfrey, August Wilson, and Louis Gossett, Jr.
Platt was honored alongside fellow 2017 Candle Award recipients, filmmaker Tyler Perry and Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Usher.
The trio held a discussion in front of students before the ceremony entitled “Reflections of Excellence”.
“There is no one more deserving of this award than Jon, who inspires his songwriters, his team, and his colleagues in the industry and beyond with his extraordinary wisdom, mentorship, creativity and passion.”
Proceeds from the occasion went to the Morehouse College Scholarship Fund.
An internal memo from Warner Music Group CEO Steve Cooper, sent on Friday (Feb 17) and obtained by MBW, explained: “For a century and a half, Morehouse College has been a nexus of African-American excellence and achievement, emphasizing the intellectual and character development of its students.
“Among its alumni are icons such as Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Edwin Moses, and many others.
“This weekend will be a celebration of the incredible leaders who have impacted the lives of Morehouse students and the world. There is no one more deserving of this award than Jon, who inspires his songwriters, his team, and his colleagues in the industry and beyond with his extraordinary wisdom, mentorship, creativity and passion.
“We’re so proud to have Jon in our WMG family, and thrilled to see him join such illustrious company with this outstanding honor.”
