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Jody Gerson
2023
Universal Music Publishing Group Chairman and CEO
ICMP’s membership voted to honour Jody Gerson with The Ralph Peer Award, which was conferred at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios 10 July 2023.
One of the industry’s most accomplished executives, Jody Gerson is Chairman and CEO of UMPG, as well as a member of Universal Music Group’s Executive Management Board. She made history as the first female chairman of a global music company and the first woman to be named CEO of a major music publisher. Since joining UMPG in 2015, Gerson has transformed the business into a global home for songwriters with annual revenues of $1.8 billion, more than doubling the company’s revenue.
Gerson has signed and works with the world’s biggest superstars, including Elton John, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Adele, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, SZA, Rosalia, Drake, Steve Lacy, Alicia Keys, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Ariana Grande, H.E.R., Maren Morris, the Bee Gees, Prince, and more. She also led UMPG’s historic acquisitions of the catalogues of Bob Dylan, Sting, Neil Diamond and others. A champion for women in music and a passionate advocate for education, Gerson co-founded the global non-profit She Is The Music, and serves on boards of directors of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the National Music Publishers Association, among others.
See our promo video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKnIlgzm3cI
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Misa Wantanabe
2018
Founder Watanabe Music Publishing Japan.
Chairwoman of the Watanabe Production Group - which today comprises ten multimedia companies and two Foundations - Misa Watanabe has been atop the industry for decades.
In 1962 she founded Watanabe Music Publishing - the first company in Japan to offer full copyright administration services for every music title in the country.
Misa was instrumental in breaking Queen in Japan and oversaw licensing of David Bowie, Deep Purple and Les Misérables.
She also serves as Director Emeritus of the Music Publishers’ Association of Japan (MPAJ).
She is admired and respected for her wisdom, leadership and passion in advancing the interests of songwriters.
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MIDEM
2016
Marché International du Disque et de l'Édition Musicale
The ICMP Board unanimously nominated leading music trade fair MIDEM to receive this special honourary Award.
It was conferred in acknowledgement of its 50 years of building a unique platform which has continually united and promoted all players from across the music ecosystem – both big and small.
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Irwin Z. Robinson
2015
President & CEO EMI Music Publishing Worldwide. President Chappell/Intersong Music Group.
Robinson was selected from nominees submitted by ICMP member organisations in over 70 countries and honoured for his lifelong outstanding achievements.
Irwin Robinson is recognised as a visionary in the field of music publishing.
He served on the National Music Publishers’ Association Board for over 40 years and for 30 as its Chairman.
He has been a vigorous participant in numerous negotiations and initiatives, which have improved conditions for songwriters and for independent and major publishers.
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Ralph Peer II
2013
Executive Chair, peermusic.
NMPA Vice President and Board Director.
Lifetime Director and past President, Country Music Association.
Director, ASCAP.
ICMP Founder and President d’Honneur.
Ralph Peer II, Executive Chair of peermusic, received the inaugural ICMP Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Publishing in a surprise ceremony in Washington D.C. attended by senior industry executives from over 20 countries.
Mr. Peer, a longstanding Director on many industry Boards including The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) and ICMP, was unanimously awarded by ICMP’s Board and global membership in light of his accomplishments in the international music community.
Ralph Peer II directs the world’s largest independent music publishing company, with 38 offices in 31 countries and owning or administering over 1 million copyrights. He has been at the forefront of every major issue to face the music publishing business for 50 years.
Much like his celebrated father, Ralph Peer II has constantly been in the vanguard of technological change - heralding the internet as the "tool of the future" in 1990, establishing the company’s website a couple of years later and pioneering online e-music sales.
A founder of ICMP, respected and admired, he continues to play a crucial role in making our industry a truly global, strong and cohesive force.