"It's lovely to have all of you here," effuses Universal U.K. chief David Joseph to a coterie of company dignitaries on the occasion of the BRIT Awards, at which UMG picked up an armload of gongs, "but I'm not sure we have enough tea biscuits for everyone. Let me just nip down to the shop." Shortly after  this photo was snapped, Republic topper Monte Lipman asked company overlord Sir Lucian Grainge what number you call to get knighted. Seen just before it started snowing in L.A. are (l-r) Central Europe boss/Deutsche Grammophon head Frank Briegmann, Joseph, UMG EVP Michele Anthony, Lipman, Sir Grainge, UMPG Chairman Jody Gerson and Universal Japan ruler Naoshi Fujikura.

Photo: Carsten Windhorst.