Jody Gerson

Jody Gerson is Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group and a member of Universal Music Group’s Executive Management Board. One of the industry’s most respected and accomplished executives, Gerson 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 company into a true music publisher and the industry’s best global home to songwriters. Under her leadership, UMPG has surpassed $2 billion dollars in business – tripling revenue and substantially increasing profit.

A respected creative authority, Gerson has signed and works with the world’s biggest superstars including Elton John, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Adele, SZA, Rosalia, Drake, Steve Lacy, Alicia Keys, Lana Del Rey, Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Ariana Grande, H.E.R., Maren Morris, the Bee Gees, Prince, and more. She also led UMPG’s historic catalog acquisitions of Bob Dylan, Sting, Neil Diamond and others.

A champion for women in music and advocate for education, Gerson cofounded the global nonprofit She Is The Music. She also serves on Boards for the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the National Music Publishers Association and New Roads School.

In January 2020, Gerson made history as the first woman and first music publishing executive to be named Billboard’s ‘Executive of the Year’ for the most coveted Power 100 list. She has also been received numerous prestigious honors, including Billboard's Power 100 annually placing within the top ten; Billboard Power Players’ Choice Award; Variety’s Hitmakers Executive of the Year; Billboard's 2015 Executive of the Year for their Women In Music issue; Rolling Stone’s ‘Future 25’; Variety’s Power of Women L.A.; The 2016 March of Dimes Inspiring Woman of the Year; and more.

Additionally, Gerson jointly oversees Polygram Entertainment, a film and television development and production division of UMG which has produced award-winning projects including The Bee Gees: How to Mend a Broken Heart (HBO and HBO’s Music Box series – both of which Gerson executive produced – as well as Dear Mama (FX). Gerson also produced feature films ‘Drumline’ and ‘ATL.’