Universal Music International top man Lucian Grainge was honoured at the Music Industry Trust's annual dinner in London last night, which was nice. For him. Universal signed artists like Mika, Take That, Razorlight and some good ones too (only joking) were in attendance at the charity bash to give their support to their label's big boss. Grainge's big boss, meanwhile, that Doug Morris fella, was also there.
But it was one of Grainge's biggest bands, U2, who actually presented the prize. According to Billboard, Bono joked about his band's failure to release a new album this year, saying that, despite that fact, Grainge always provided "cuddles" for the band "when we get stressed out and we haven't got the hits and we missed Christmas".
Accepting the prize, Grainge said: "This recognition is an honour, and I'm delighted to be able to share it with the many artists, colleagues and friends who have been at the centre of my professional and personal life for the past 30 years. I'm proud that music is the only industry I have ever worked in. Music has given me opportunity and fulfilment beyond measure, and I'm grateful for that".
The annual MIT dinner, sponsored this time by Nokia, Ingenious Media, PPL and PRS, is staged in support of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy and the BRIT School, who will receive over half a million from the event this year.