UMG Awarded ‘Ukraine Peace Prize’ Recognizing Humanitarian Efforts

Universal Music Group has been awarded the Ukraine Peace Prize, a recognition bestowed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for the music firm’s wartime help and humanitarian aid efforts within the area.

At a ceremony at UMG’s Belgium headquarters in Brussels, Olha Stefanishyna (pictured at left), Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, offered the award to Frank Briegmann, UMG’s chairman and CEO of Central Europe (pictured at proper).

“[UMG] was one of many first to help Ukraine and be a part of the sanctions towards Russia,” mentioned Stefanishyna. “UMG is the primary music firm on the planet to obtain such an award. Because the starting of the full-scale invasion, Common Music has confirmed that they’re true associates of Ukraine and leisure/tradition sphere shouldn’t stand apart the struggle.”

Based on the label, their help spanned quite a few NGOs, starting from the World Central Kitchen to the Worldwide Crimson Cross, Worldwide Rescue Committee, Worldwide Medical Corps and CARE.

In addition they helped to create charity concert events that helped fundraise for aid efforts. UMG labels Decca Classics and Deutsche Grammophon partnered with New York’s Metropolitan Opera to launch “A Live performance for Ukraine”, an album recorded dwell on the Met with proceeds going to charities supporting aid efforts in Ukraine. And UMG artists additionally raked in tens of millions of {dollars} on the Berlin charity live performance “Sound of Peace,” together with Sarah Connor, Rea Garvey and David Garrett.

Different recipients of the Prize embody Microsoft, Google and Amazon, nonetheless, UMG is the primary music firm to be awarded the Prize.

+ Ellie Goulding will obtain the BMI President’s Award on the 2022 BMI London Awards for her “exemplary contributions to the artwork of music and songwriting,” in keeping with a press announcement.

As well as, singer-songwriter and producer Tems will obtain the BMI Affect Award, a recognition given to a songwriter, producer or composer for his or her “ground-breaking artistry, artistic imaginative and prescient and impression on the way forward for music.” Tems joins earlier honorees Raye and Arlo Parks.

The non-public occasion will return to London’s Savoy Lodge on Oct. 3, and will probably be hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill, and Shirin Foroutan, BMI VP of artistic, Europe. The Million-Air awards, track of the 12 months, and awards for pop, dance, movie, tv and cable tv music can even be offered all through the night.

+ Elle Cameron-Kaufman, daughter of the late Howard Kaufman (who managed the Eagles, Aerosmith and Stevie Nicks), has introduced the launch of her new Los Angeles-based label Elle Data. The unbiased label is partnering with TikTok’s new platform SoundOn for distribution.

Based on a press launch, Elle Data will function a launching pad for brand spanking new artists seeking to set up a profession past going viral.

“The objective is to signal and develop an artist’s first breakout hits, however not lock them all the way down to long-term contracts. With a concentrate on breaking singles efficiently and artist growth, the label’s objective is to present artists a basis to see their final visions via, with out trapping them in contracts for years,” continues the discharge.

“Loads of my friends are targeted on methods to go viral or methods to capitalize on one thing that’s going viral,” mentioned Cameron-Kaufman. “We need to assist launch the subsequent technology of superstars and provides them the very best probabilities of success early on. There’s a lot noise within the business proper now. So many artists, however there’s solely a handful of stars. We wish to break artists who will make an actual impression and have an enduring legacy.”

Along with Elle Data, Cameron beforehand held the place of pop curator and strategist at UMG the place she labored alongside the entire firm’s labels. One of many extra notable tasks she spearheaded was the launch of Taylor Swift’s album chapters for “Folklore,” “Evermore,” and “Fearless (Taylor’s Model).”

+ Brooklyn’s HDBeenDope has signed a label take care of Roc Nation. In saying the signing, the hip-hop artist launched a free verse titled “Paper Planes” which was produced by Dizzy Banko, and a video directed by Erikson Corniel. Within the visible, HD is proven working in his dwelling studio then making his solution to Roc Nation’s New York headquarters.

“I’m a author and artist from Brooklyn signed to Hov,” mentioned HDBeenDope of the corporate run by Jay-Z. “These of you who love hip hop like I do perceive how particular that’s. I’d like to let you know it simply occurred out of nowhere however the reality is the intent has been constant via and thru. I feel they name that serendipity,” HDBeenDope mentioned. “I’m right here for legacy, dwelling within the now and creating for the long run. That’s what I’m about, that’s what Roc is about. That’s what we’re about.”