Jody Gerson
American music executive
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jody Gerson (born 1961 in Philadelphia)[1] is the chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group.[2] Upon assuming the role on January 1, 2015, Gerson became the first female CEO of a major music publisher[3] and first chairwoman of a global music company.[4] Gerson serves on the Executive Management Board for Universal Music Group.[5] She was named Executive of the Decade on the Billboard Power 100 in 2026.[6]
Jody Gerson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 (age 64–65) |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts Northwestern University, The Baldwin School |
| Occupations | Chairman and Chief executive officer of Universal Music Publishing Group, American music executive |
| Children | 3 |
Career
Gerson was raised in a Jewish family[7][8] in the Philadelphia area, where her father owned several nightclubs including the Latin Casino[9] whose performers included artists like Frank Sinatra and Diana Ross.[10] She began her career in music publishing at Chappell Music shortly after graduating from Northwestern University,[11] where she started out making tape copies.[10] After six years at Chappell, she moved to EMI Music Publishing to run the company's east coast office[2] before shifting to head up the company's west coast publishing division in 1991. In January 2008, Gerson left EMI to become US Co-President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.[11]
In 2015, Gerson joined Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) as chairman and CEO. Under her leadership,[12] Gerson has led the signing of artists and songwriters including the Bee Gees,[13][14] Elton John,[15][14] Carly Simon,[16] Bruce Springsteen,[17] Prince,[18] Taylor Swift,[19] Drake, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Steve Lacy, The Weeknd,[20] Billie Eilish,[21] Rosalía,[22] Alicia Keys,[23] Coldplay,[14] Justin Bieber,[14] Jack White,[24] SZA,[14] Quavo,[9] Ariana Grande, H.E.R.,[14] Harry Styles, Jeff Bhasker, Maren Morris,[25] Tierra Whack,[9] Halsey, Demi Lovato, Shawn Mendes, Tobias Jesso Jr., Travis Scott, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Maroon 5, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Post Malone.[10]
Gerson also led UMPG's acquisitions of the catalogs of Sting, Neil Diamond, Frank Zappa and others.[20] In 2016, she negotiated a deal for UMPG to be the exclusive worldwide publishing administrator for Prince's entire song catalog.[18]
In 2020, Gerson led UMPG's purchase of Bob Dylan's entire songwriting catalog, considered to be the biggest acquisition ever of a single act's publishing rights.[26]
Previous to tenure at UMPG,[27] Gerson signed songwriters, including Lady Gaga, Norah Jones, Odd Future, Jermaine Dupri, and a then 15-year-old Alicia Keys. Gerson has also played an instrumental role in the careers of Enrique Iglesias, Pharrell Williams, Mac Miller, Pitbull, RedOne, and Dallas Austin, among others.[2]
In addition to her work in music, Gerson produced the movies Drumline and ATL. Drumline is currently being adapted for Broadway. She is also executive producer of VH1's Drumline 2.[2] Gerson executive produced the Emmy-nominated documentary The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, as well as HBO's Music Box series, and Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.[28]
Charitable work
Gerson co-founded the global nonprofit She Is The Music. She serves on boards of directors of USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The National Music Publishers' Association and Project Healthy Minds.[20]
Recognition
On December 3, 2015, Gerson was named 'Executive of the Year' by Billboard Magazine in its Women in Music 2015 issue.[10] In 2016 she was named "Inspiring Woman of the Year" by the March of Dimes, and named to the Variety Power of Women L.A. list.[29][30] She has appeared on the Billboard Power 100 every year from 2016 to 2026,[31] and on the Variety 500 every year from 2017-2024. In 2020, Gerson was named by Billboard as "Executive of the Year", becoming the first music publisher and first woman to receive this honor.[32] Gerson received the Abe Olman Publisher Award at the 51st annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner.[33] In 2026, she was named Executive of the Decade on the Billboard Power 100.[6]
In May 2023, Gerson received the ICMP Ralph Peer II Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Music Publishing.[34] Gerson has appeared on the Variety 500,[35] and Rolling Stone's Future 25.[36]
Personal life
Gerson is divorced from Seth Swirsky and has three children.[10]