SIR LUCIAN'S SHOWCASE SHINES
They expected rain on Saturday, but the sun came out just prior to Sir Lucian Grainge’s annual UMG Artist Showcase for a heavy room of gatekeepers at The ROW DTLA. There wasn’t much fanfare, and the Knight-in-Charge kept his opening remarks to a minimum, preferring to let the music—and movies—do the talking.
Grainge cited “another record-setting year” as he acknowledged his many partners in music and filmed entertainment, setting up a sizzle reel.
UMG EVP Michele Anthony, noting the participation of UMPG Chairman Jody Gerson and an array of filmmakers and producers, underscored the importance of the company’s proactive role in making documentaries, features, TV shows and other material rather than “just licensing our content.” Trailers for projects about The Bee Gees, The Go-Go's, the history of the mixtape, the hip-hop culture doc Ice Cold and more punctuated the proceedings, with additional titles (including the hotly anticipated Motown doc and Ron Howard’s Pavarotti movie, set to be touted on the Grammys) promised for 2019-20.
10 Summers/Interscope’s Ella Mai was the leadoff music artist; the lineup also included Def Jam’s YG (who admitted he hesitated before deciding to perform “Fuck Donald Trump,” but didn’t meet much resistance to that message) and 2 Chainz; BMLG’s Midland (who summoned some honky-tonk energy); Quality Control/Motown/Capitol’s Lil Baby; YG Ent/Interscope’s K-Pop femmes BLACKPINK; Universal Latin superstar J Balvin (who got the crowd on their feet with “Mi Gente”); Lava/Republic rockers Greta Van Fleet; and, as a show-ending surprise, Republic superstar Post Malone. Post was in troubadour mode, strumming an acoustic and showing his alternative-rock side.
Grainge sat up front, with TDE boss Top Dawg at his right hand, as schmoozers schmoozed all around—including top players at the labels and pub division and highly influential radio and streaming partners.
Then it was time to hop in the Uber and prepare for the next wave of Grammy-week goodness.
Top left: Sir Lucian, Joie Manda, Ella Mai John Janick and Steve Berman; Top right: LG and Michele Anthony with Darcus Beese, Eric Wong, Nick Jonas and friends; above, clockwise from upper left: Jody Gerson and Shawn Mendes; LG and J Balvin, Sir Lucian with Steve Barnett and Frank Marshall; with Anthony, Monte and Avery Lipman, Jason Flom and Greta Van Fleet; with Bruce Resnikoff and The Go-Go's; with 2 Chainz; Paul Rosenberg and YG; Naim McNair, Jacqueline Saturn and Ethiopia Habtemariam; Midland; Post Malone.
