Jody Gerson

Jody Gerson
Nationality United States
Ethnicity Jewish
Education B.A. Northwestern University
Occupation Music industry executive
Religion Judaism
Spouse(s) divorced
Children 3

Jody Gerson is an American music industry executive who is currently Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group.[1] Upon assuming the role on January 1, 2015, Gerson became the first female to run a major music publishing company.[2] On December 3, 2015, Gerson was named 'Executive of the Year' by Billboard Magazine in its Women in Music 2015 issue.[3]

Career

Gerson grew up in the Philadelphia area, where her father owned several nightclubs whose performers included artists like Frank Sinatra and Diana Ross.[3] She began her career in music publishing at Chappell Music shortly after graduating from Northwestern University,[4] where she started out making tape copies.[3] After six years at Chappell, she moved to EMI Music Publishing to run the company’s east coast office[1] before shifting to head up the company’s west coast publishing division in 1991. In January 2008, Gerson left EMI to become US Co-President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.[4] Since joining Universal Music Publishing Group, Gerson has signed artists including Ariana Grande, Halsey, Tobias Jesso Jr, and Post Malone, among others.[3]

Gerson has signed many successful songwriters throughout her career in music publishing, including Lady Gaga, Norah Jones, Odd Future, Jermaine Dupri, and a then 15-year-old Alicia Keys. Gerson has also played an instrumental role in the careers of Enrique Iglesias, Pharrell Williams, Mac Miller, Pitbull, RedOne, Dallas Austin, and Jeff Bhasker, among others.[1]

In addition to her work in music, Gerson produced the movies Drumline and ATL. Drumline is currently being adapted for Broadway. She is also executive producer of VH1's Drumline 2.[1] She is a board member of the National Music Publishers Association.[5]

Personal life

Gerson is divorced and has three children: Julian (1994), Luke (2002), and Daisy (2004).[3] She is Jewish and is a member of Nashuva, founded by Rabbi Naomi Levy.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Jody Gerson Named Head of Universal Music Publishing Group". Billboard. 2014-08-01. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  2. ↑ "Sony/ATV executive Jody Gerson named UMPG chairman and CEO". LA Times. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Halperin, Shirley "Women in Music 2015: Jody Gerson Named Executive of the Year" Billboard Magazine. December 3, 2015
  4. 1 2
  5. ↑ "NMPA". NMPA. 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  6. ↑ Gensler, Andy and Halperin, Shirley "Houses of the Holy: Where the Music Biz Celebrates the Jewish High Holidays" Billboard Magazine. September 23, 2014
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