HOUSE OF JODY TAKES ITS FIRST-EVER ASCAP POP PUBCO OF THE YEAR

Jody Gerson and Team UMPG celebrate the pubbery's first-ever ASCAP Pop Publisher of the Year award, shortly before Gerson, clad in purple, launched into a dazzing medley of Prince hits, with choreography by Evan Lamberg.

The pubco took 22 Most Performed Songs plaques (including "Bad and Boujee," "Body Like a Back Road," "Can't Stop the Feeling," "Sorry Not Sorry," "Side to Side," "Starboy" and plenty more), Songwriter of the Year for Steve Mac (who co-wrote Song of the Year "Shape of You" and Most Streamed Song for "Despacito," featuring Justin Bieber.

In her remarks, Gerson hailed her global team and the writers in the room, and drew big cheers with her support for legislation. "Let's take an important moment," she said, "to thank everyone who has worked so tirelessly and come together in one unified voice on the Music Modernization Act—Beth, Paul [Williams] and the staff at ASCAP; the NMPA and David Israelite; the teams at the other PROs; the songwriter groups; the RIAA and label groups; and even our digital partners. We still have a ways to go, but this is what we are all fighting for everyday: making sure songwriters get paid fairly. This is a truly historic moment."

Seen preparing to set this caption to music are (l-r) Ed Arrow, JW Beekman, Linda Newmark, James Supreme, Abbey Ennis, Sterling Simms, Lillia Parsa, ASCAP’s Beth Matthews, Gerson, David Gray, Marc Cimino, Lamberg, Kevin Cady, Walter Jones, John Reston, Marni Condro, Luke McGrellis and Jamie Diamond. (Not pictured but very much there: Taylor Testa).