LOS ANGELES (AP) - Universal Music Group celebrated its domination on the charts with an event featuring its top acts, including Robin Thicke and Lorde.
The music corporation, the parent company to labels like Interscope, Def Jam and Republic Records, held an ultra-exclusive brunch honoring Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge at Lure in Los Angeles.
Thicke closed the event with a rich performance of “Dreamworld” and he put the crowd into a party mood when he sang “Blurred Lines,” which is nominated for record of the year at Sunday’s Grammy Awards.
The 36-year-old crooner told the nearly 300 people in the audience that he has been “signed to Universal since I was 16 years.”
“Thanks to everyone for all the hard work and the amazing success,” added Thicke, who has won Grammys for writing songs for Usher and Jennifer Hudson.
Lorde, whose “Royals” will compete with “Blurred Lines” for top record, sang her No. 1 hit and new Top 10 hit, “Team,” in her signature black. “Royals” is also nominated for song of the year.
At one point last year, UMG held all 10 spots on the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Artists on its labels include Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry and Imagine Dragons - nominees for major awards at the Grammys. Eminem, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Drake and Lady Gaga are also signed to UMG.
R&B-pop singer Ariana Grande was a vocal powerhouse when she performed two songs, including the multi-platinum success “The Way” and the ballad “Tattooed Heart.” Country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves, a best new artist nominee, impressed, as did Aloe Blacc, the voice behind the Avicii hit “Wake Me Up.”
“If it wasn’t for music, I didn’t know what I’d do. I don’t know what you would do either,” Blacc said to laughs from the crowd of music industry workers.
Other performers included Latin dynamo Juanes, pop-rock band Neon Trees, gospel singer Tye Tribbett and electronic DJ-producer Zedd, who debuted a new song called “Find You,” featuring Matthew Koma and Miriam Bryant.
The event also featured some of the label’s rising stars, including English rocker Jake Bugg, progressive R&B singer Jhene Aiko, alternative singer BANKS and recent “The Voice” winner Tessanne Chin.
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Follow Mesfin Fekadu at twitter.com/MusicMesfin
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https://www.universalmusic.com/
https://www.grammy.com
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