Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala
The 2025 edition of Clive Davis’ annual Pre-Grammy Gala — held Feb. 1 at The Beverly Hilton — had special meaning this year. The star-studded soiree transitioned into a fundraiser while celebrating a special milestone. “This year marks the 50th anniversary of this incredible night, but this one is a little different,” said Harvey Mason […]
Following a feel-good performance from Post Malone who sang “Sunflower,” which he called “my only good song,” Sir Lucian Grainge introduced the 2025 Industry Icon, Jody Gerson – but not before acknowledging the tragedy Los Angeles has just endured. “The wildfires this past month have inflicted enormous levels of suffering and loss upon way too many people, including many of our colleagues and artists and songwriters. Let’s take this moment to remind ourselves that, as a community, we must remain united in our resolve to help bring relief to those who have been affected…But even as we begin to recover from this tragedy, we must not fail to celebrate those things in life that deserve celebration. They provide the inspiration for the better future we envision and will build together…So, tonight, it is my privilege, and, indeed, it is my great pleasure, to introduce and celebrate Jody Gerson, a true industry icon who rightly deserves celebration.”
And after sharing just some of her career highlights across the past three decades — during which she’s championed artists including Adele, Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and more — Gerson herself took to the stage to reflect and rejoice in her many successes, starting with the first time she successfully snuck into this exact party years ago. “When I finally did receive my first official invite to attend, it was a big moment in my career,” she recalled.” I remember it well; It was the year Alicia Keys released her debut album, Songs in A Minor, and, Clive, I was so happy to share in its success with you.” She then shouted out the work she and Keys continue to do together through their foundation, She Is the Music, which increases the number of women working in the music business.
Gerson went on to share that when Harvey Mason Jr. called with the news of her honor, she was “stunned.” She thought back to being a “precocious little girl” who would hang at her father and grandfather’s New Jersey club where everyone from Sinatra to Diana Ross and the Supremes would perform. “I spent a lot of time at the club, often backstage, watching the artists and musicians before they went on stage. I studied them…I saw how my dad dealt with them. I watched everything, missed nothing, and definitely saw more than I should have. After all, it was the 70s…Even at that young age, I knew that I wanted a career in the music business.”
“But I want my impact to reach beyond the boundaries of the music business,” she continued, sharing that she recently joined the board of the non-profit Project Healthy Minds, which makes mental health services more easily accessible. She noted that in conjunction with material losses from the wildfires, “there is an unprecedented toll on the mental health of many who live here. We are anxious. Many of us are depressed and traumatized and we feel out of control. What is happening in Los Angeles now is reflective of what is going on in our country as a whole. We have a mental health crisis that must be dealt with…But by normalizing the pursuit of mental health care, we should applaud iconic artists like Billie Eilish, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Chappel Roan and so many more who have helped to lessen the stigma surrounding mental health care and made it ok for many to seek help for the first time.”
Despite all the good Gerson has done for the music community and beyond, she concluded by saying her greatest joy is being a mom. “My mom always said that I could have it all, and I do: An incredible career and a wonderful family.” (Her daughter was later heard saying, “I’m so proud of you.”)
But before stepping off stage, Gerson brought the focus back to the evening’s main mission: to help a hurting community heal. “Music can brighten even our darkest days, and we surely need artists to bring light into the world,” she said. “Now, more than ever.”
Jody Gerson, chairman/CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), is set to receive the 2025 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons honor at The Recording Academy and Clive Davis‘ annual Pre-Grammy Gala, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, the night before the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. This is the 50th anniversary of the high-profile event.
Gerson is just the third woman to receive the honor, following Debra L. Lee (2017), then-chairman/CEO of BET Networks, and Julie Greenwald (2023), then-Atlantic Music Group chairman/CEO, who received the award in tandem with Craig Kallman, Atlantic Records chairman/CEO.
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“Jody is an inspirational leader who champions integrity and inclusivity in everything she does and is a revolutionary executive,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “She has opened doors for and propelled the careers of many of the world’s greatest songwriters, while simultaneously serving as one of the biggest advocates for women in music. We are thrilled to host an extraordinary evening that not only celebrates her remarkable impact but also marks the gala’s incredible 50-year milestone.”
“Jody Gerson is one of the music industry’s most illustrious leaders and I am thrilled that she will be this year’s Salute to Industry Icons honoree,” added Davis. “Jody’s longtime trailblazing commitment to supporting songwriters across the music spectrum as well as her tireless dedication to advocacy, diversity and equality in the music business are exemplary. Artists and the industry at large are fortunate to have a leader with such tremendous insight and passion at the helm.”
Davis originated the pre-Grammy Gala in 1976 when he was looking for a way to celebrate the success of Barry Manilow’s “Mandy,” Arista Records’ first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 (and its first Grammy record of the year nominee).
Since joining UMPG in 2015, Gerson has transformed the company into a global powerhouse that owns and administers more than five million copyrights. She leads a global company with 48 offices in 40 countries and more than 850 employees. She made history as the first female chairman of a global music company and the first woman to be named CEO of a major music publisher.
Gerson is a member of Universal Music Group’s (UMG’s) executive management board.
Gerson ranked No. 14 on Billboard’s 2024 Power 100 list. Kristin Robinson, Billboard’s senior writer (publishing), led her essay about Gerson by saying, “As UMPG’s CEO, a National Music Publishers’ Association board member and co-founder of She Is the Music, an organization committed to empowering female creators, Gerson is one of the most trusted voices in music publishing.”
That was backed up with hard facts. From 2013 to 2023, UMPG’s U.S. revenue grew from $900 million to more than $1.9 billion. In that same time frame, the company narrowed the revenue gap between it and market leader Sony Music Publishing from $400 million to $188.5 million.
Gerson received a Primetime Emmy nod in 2021 as an executive producer of HBO’s The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, which was nominated for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special. A year ago, she received a Grammy nod as one of the video producers for 2Pac’s Dear Mama, which was nominated for best music film.
Gerson has signed and works with many of the world’s biggest music stars, including Adele, Bee Gees, Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lana Del Rey, Ariana Grande, Coldplay, Drake, Billie Eilish, H.E.R., Elton John, Alicia Keys, Steve Lacy, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, Maren Morris, the Prince estate, Rosalia, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, SZA and The Weeknd. She also led UMPG’s acquisitions of the hit-studded catalogs of Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and Sting, among others.
As a champion for women in music and an advocate for education, Gerson co-founded the global nonprofit She Is The Music. She also serves on boards for the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the National Music Publishers Association, New Roads School and Project Healthy Minds.
Gerson jointly oversees Polygram Entertainment, a film and TV development and production division of UMG that produces feature-length films and music-centric series. In 2024 alone, she served as executive producer on a broad array of projects, including Music Box: Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary; The Beach Boys; STAX: Soulsville, U.S.A.; and Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It. Other recent projects that Gerson executive produced include the aforementioned The Bee Gees: How to Mend a Broken Heart and HBO’s Music Box series. Among her and Polygram’s many projects in development are documentaries on Bernie Taupin and Prince.
In January 2020, Gerson became the first woman and first music publishing executive to be named Billboard’s executive of the year on its annual Power 100 list. She is the recipient of numerous other honors, including Billboard‘s Power Players’ Choice Award; Variety’s Hitmakers Executive of the Year; Billboard‘s 2015 Executive of the Year for its Women in Music issue; Rolling Stone’s “Future 25”; Variety’s Power of Women L.A.; and the 2016 March of Dimes Inspiring Woman of the Year.
The invitation-only Pre-Grammy Gala is sponsored by Hilton, Mastercard and IBM.
Jon Platt, Sony Music Publishing chairman/CEO, was last year’s Grammy Salute to Industry Icons honoree.
Here’s a complete list of previous honorees at the pre-Grammy Gala.
2005: Ahmet Ertegun
2006: Mo Ostin
2007: Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss
2008: Berry Gordy
2009: Clive Davis
2010: David Geffen
2011: Doug Morris
2012: Sir Richard Branson
2013: Antonio “L.A.” Reid
2014: Sir Lucian Grainge
2015: Martin Bandier
2016: Irving Azoff
2017: Debra L. Lee
2018: Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter
2019: Clarence Avant
2020: Sean “Diddy” Combs
2022: Rob Stringer
2023: Julie Greenwald & Craig Kallman
2024: Jon Platt
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