Dickon Stainer appointed Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK

24 September 2024 - Press release

Universal Music Group Chairman & CEO Sir Lucian Grainge announced today that Dickon Stainer has been appointed Chairman & CEO of Universal Music UK.

In his new role, Stainer is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of Universal Music UK.  The following divisions, including Island EMI Label Group, Polydor Label Group, Decca Records, the recently formed Audience and Media Division, as well as Abbey Road Studios, will report to him. For the last 10 years, Stainer served as President & CEO of Universal Music Group’s (UMG) Global Classics and Jazz division splitting his time between London and New York.

Upon assuming this new role leading the UK company, he will also continue in the capacity of Chairman of Global Classics & Jazz.  Announcements regarding new leadership roles and internal promotions in these businesses will be made shortly.

“Dickon has embraced an expansive musical worldview throughout his career, taking artists from a wide variety of genres and bringing them to audiences globally,” said Grainge.  “He not only has deep experience in leveraging our worldwide organization on behalf of our artists, but a track record that includes global commercial and creative artist successes and countless awards in many countries.”

“I would also like to thank David Joseph for his many contributions.  He leaves with our gratitude.”

Stainer said, “It is an honour to be asked by Sir Lucian Grainge to lead Universal Music UK. The depth of talent that we have at the company, coupled with our remarkable roster of artists, gives me tremendous confidence in what we can achieve together. Having worked in both the international and domestic divisions of UMG, I know how central the UK is to the global music industry – a vital repertoire source that provides the world with great artists and great music. I can’t wait to get started.”

Stainer has enjoyed great success on the global stage, consistently championing a generation of international talent, evidenced most recently by the GRAMMY® wins for Jon Batiste for Album of the Year in 2022, and Samara Joy for Best New Artist in 2023.

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Dear Colleagues:

I'm pleased to share with you the following announcement that our colleague Dickon Stainer has been appointed Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK. As you know, Dickon is currently the President and CEO of our Global Classics & Jazz division where he has been splitting his time between London and New York.  Dickon not only brings years of experience working within UMG's global network of labels and companies, but also a progressive and global view of music and genres that has garnered worldwide commercial artist successes, as well as numerous Grammys and countless other creative accolades.

You can read more about today's announcement in the following press release.

Please join me in congratulating Dickon on this well-deserved appointment.

Lucian


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It is an honour to be asked by Sir Lucian to lead Universal Music in the UK. Our company is unique, all our artists and all of you, and it's been pivotal to the creation and success of the most enduring music, both here and around the world.

I also want to thank David Joseph, who has led the UK company with such distinction and care.

There is a reason that we are market leaders at Universal Music; we enable artists to build and define their careers in music like no other organisation.  Furthermore, the UK company, with its remarkable label culture, has a dynamic place at the forefront of the world music stage.

We have an incredible opportunity right now in the UK to be a galvanising force in a new era of global discovery, bringing artists and fans even closer together.

In the next few days, I will be coming to visit as many of you as I can, to hear from you, and begin to talk about our future strategy for success.

There is so much talent and commitment everywhere in this building, and I am supremely excited for us to grab the moment together and write a new chapter in the history of this powerhouse company.

Dickon