NEW YORK, February 23, 2017 – UJA-Federation of New York, celebrating their centennial anniversary, has named Universal Music Group Executive Vice President Michele Anthony as its Music Visionary of the Year. As the first woman to receive this award as a solo honoree, UJA will honor Ms. Anthony for her exceptional professional accomplishments and commitment to philanthropy at the annual Music Visionary of the Year Award Luncheon on June 14, 2017.

“Michele is a standout talent in the music industry – a champion for artists, with extraordinary business acumen and incredible vision, she creates new and innovative opportunities for Universal Music and its artists. We are particularly proud to honor Michele because she pairs that with her longstanding and deep commitment to philanthropy. She is an inspiration,” said Daniel Glass, Founder of Glassnote Entertainment Group and Vice Chair of UJA.

Said Ms. Anthony, “Music continues to serve as a powerful force in society and culture. I’m so proud to have worked with incredible artists that have impacted fans and left an indelible mark on the world. Doing good through organizations such as UJA and helping artists bring their music to a global audience are two of my greatest passions. I’m humbled to be recognized by UJA and honored to receive this award.”

The Music Visionary Luncheon, a must-attend event for the music industry for over 15 years, attracts more than 600 top executives and an A-list roster of talent every year. Past performers include Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Adele, Mariah Carey, Jay Z, HAIM, Jennifer Hudson and many more.

Funds raised at the event are shared across various UJA efforts, ranging from its Music for Youth initiative, which enables and supports quality children’s music education programming, to its annual campaign, which supports the most vulnerable in our community.

With a career in the music industry spanning more than 35 years, Ms. Anthony has an unparalleled depth of experience on both the label and artist sides of the industry. She serves on the Executive Management Board for Universal Music Group (UMG) and helps with the daily management of the labels and the company’s operations. She oversees UMG’s U.S. Commercial Services Division, which includes sales, college marketing, Insights, fan and consumer engagement, as well as content strategy, operations and partnerships. She also oversees UMG’s global brand partnerships and live events, working with the company’s labels to maximize commercial and strategic opportunities to establish new revenue streams, form alliances with third parties and create a variety of special projects. Additionally, she jointly oversees UMG’s film, television and theatrical projects along with Universal Music Publishing Group Chairman and CEO Jody Gerson as well as streaming marketing with UMG’s EVP of Marketing Andrew Kronfeld. Ms. Anthony is also responsible for the company’s Canadian operations and Universal Music Enterprises, UMG’s catalog division.

Before joining Universal Music Group, Ms. Anthony founded 7H Entertainment, a consulting and management firm whose clients included Pearl Jam, Black Sabbath & Ozzy Osbourne, Prince, Björk and Soundgarden. Prior to 7H Entertainment, Ms. Anthony served as the President and COO of Sony Music U.S. during a distinguished 17-year tenure at the company.

In addition, Ms. Anthony works closely with the Global Poverty Project (GPP) – an organization that strives to end global poverty based on the UN’s eight Millennium Development Goals. She chairs the Global Citizen Tickets Initiative, a campaign whereby major artists donate concert tickets that are earned when users take specified actions to end global poverty, and is an advisor for GPP’s Annual Central Park Global Citizen Festival, which last year featured Pearl Jam, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar and Demi Lovato. Prior to her work with GPP, Ms. Anthony served on the board of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Ms. Anthony is an outspoken advocate for women’s rights, supporting various initiatives including co-chairing fundraisers for Hedgebrook, a nonprofit retreat for female writers, with their Creative Advisory Board Co-Chair, Gloria Steinem, and various pro-choice organizations.

ABOUT UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK

For 100 years, UJA-Federation has inspired New Yorkers to act on their values and invest in our community for the biggest impact. Through UJA-Federation, more than 50,000 donors address issues that matter most to them, pooling their resources to care for Jews everywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds, respond to crises close to home and far away, and shape our Jewish future. Working with nearly 100 nonprofit partners, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations, UJA-Federation is the world’s leading local philanthropy; our reach extends from New York to Israel to more than 70 other countries around the world, touching 4.5 million people each year. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website at www.ujafedny.org.

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