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BIZ SALUTES STRINGER AT MITS GALA IN LONDON

An array of music-biz dignitaries rolled up to Grosvenor House on London’s Park Lane Monday evening to see Sony Music boss Rob Stringer receive the Music Industry Trusts Award. There was much laughter, and the booze flowed like water over Niagara Falls.

Sony U.K. chief Jason Iley hosted the evening, which drew 1,100 attendees; industry veteran David Munns (now Chairman of MITS charity Nordoff Robbins) gave a short but funny speech that touched on the fine charitable work MITS is engaged in; and Stringer himself delivered a delightful if slightly rambling address punctuated by multiple mentions of Glastonbury and remembrances of booze-ups at local pubs with his crew.

Video tributes from Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Adele, Sade and others took the piss out of Rob. Musical performers included Harry Styles, George Ezra, Camila Cabello and show-closers Jeff Lynne and ELO.

Sony U.K. past and present turned out in force; past award recipient Simon Cowell looked buff and beautiful—and as funny and charming as ever. David Joseph, Jonathan Dickins, Harry Magee and Muff Winwood also represented. U.S.-based luminaries in attendance included Doug Morris, Kevin Kelleher, Julie Swidler, Dennis Kooker, Peter Edge, Sylvia Rhone, Joel Klaiman, Mark Williams, Ian Montone, Brandon Creed, Jeffrey Azoff and plenty more besides. New head of Epic promo Rick Sackheim and his beautiful bride, Michele Harrison of Monotone, did a drive-by on their way to Amsterdam for some more partying.

But the evening was decidedly British, with a host of British rock acts and others from Stringer's glory years at Sony U.K. in attendance. Other talent included early Stringer signing Manic Street Preachers, The Script, London Grammar, Hozier, Mark Ronson, Paddy McAloon, Damon Hill, Laura Whitmore, Gary Kemp, Paloma Faith, Bring Me the Horizon, Andy Fletcher, Steve Norman, Ian Broudie and Kirsty Young.

Astonishingly enough, though, there was no Max Lousada, who many Brits thought used a Sony offer to advance his cause in Len Land. U.K. rumor has Max moving to L.A. in two years if he can find the right replacement to head up the U.K. Stay tuned to Radio 2 for details.

A big afterparty at the trendy Metropolitan hotel followed, replete with punch and cookies.

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