MUMBAI : Universal Music Group (UMG), announced that Billboard magazine has named Michele Anthony as the music industry's top female executive for 2014 and eight additional executives from the UMG family to Billboard's 10th annual Women in Music list. More UMG-affiliated executives were named to this year's list than any other company. Michele Anthony is the first UMG executive named to the top spot on the list that is compiled each year as part of Billboard's Power Player series.

"This year's Women in Music list reflects the fact that UMG's executives represent the most creative, versatile and hard-working team in our industry," said UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge. "We very much appreciate Billboard's recognition and its continuing efforts highlighting the leadership and contributions of women in music. I, along with the rest of our UMG family, congratulate Michele and all of our honorees for their impressive achievements in helping to make UMG the home to music's leading artists, innovators and entrepreneurs."

Anthony said, "As someone who literally grew up in the music business and has committed her career to building businesses from a love of music, I am deeply honored by this recognition. This award is a testament to three things: those who helped foster my passion for this business from my earliest days; the incredible women who went before me who fearlessly changed the landscape of music and the world; and the exceptional leadership team at UMG with whom I have been privileged to work with this year and who made this year's accomplishments possible. Thank you, Lucian and UMG, for this opportunity. I am grateful that passion, persistence and belief in what we do is still the best formula for success."

In addition, Billboard will honor seven artists, four affiliated with UMG, at their Women in Music event on December 12th.  Honorees include Woman of the Year, Taylor Swift (Big Machine), the first artist to receive the award twice in its eight-year history, as well as Iggy Azalea (Def Jam), Jessie J (Lava) and Ariana Grande (Republic).  

The full list of UMG-affiliated honorees include:
 
·Michele Anthony, EVP U.S. Recorded Music for UMG;

· Sandi Spika Borchetta, SVP Creative for Big Machine;

·Candace Berry, EVP and GM, UMGD;

·Jody Gerson, incoming Chairman and CEO of UMPG;

·Ethiopia Habtemariam, President of Urban Music/Co-Head of Creative, UMPG and President, Motown Records;

·Michelle Jubelirer, EVP, Capitol Music Group (CMG);

·Amanda Marks, Global Head of Digital Accounts for UMG;

·Alex Patsavas, Chop Shop Records;

·Brenda Romano, President, Promotions for Interscope Geffen A&M;

·Taylor Swift (Big Machine) - Woman of the Year;

·Iggy Azalea (Def Jam) - Chart Topper Award;

·Jessie J (Lava) - Powerhouse Award;

·Ariana Grande (Republic) - Rising Star Award

Billboard joins a growing list of publications to recognize the strength of UMG's extraordinary leadership. In October, Variety magazine honored Anthony along with Jody Gerson and Michelle Jubelirer, in their Women's Impact Report, making UMG the only music company with executives named to the prestigious list of leaders in the entertainment industry.