Lucian Grainge tops Billboard’s Power 100 list

February 8, 2015

Universal Music chief Lucian Grainge has taken the top spot on on Billboard‘s annual Power 100 list for the second time.

The US title’s rankings are said to reflect ‘the ability to make significant deals happen, and to increase a company’s footprint as the industry shifts and braces for an uncertain future’.

British exec Grainge is the first person to twice appear at No. 1 on the Billboard ranking. The first time was in 2013, after Universal Music Group completed its acquisition of EMI.

“It has been nothing less than a privilege to be able to spend my life working with and on behalf of great artists and the music they create,” Grainge said.

“For if power is to be found anywhere, that power is found, and exclusively resides, in the music of our artists. I’m so proud of our many executives who were recognized for their contributions.”

Universal Music Group had more executives than any other company on Billboard’s 2015 power ranking, accounting for 13.7% of the list.

There were no women in the Top 10. Universal Music’s Michele Anthony and Boy Muir shared the No.12 spot, while the highest-placed sole woman is Citi’s Senior VP of Global Entertainment, Jennifer Breithaupt.