Universal Music Group’s annual Grammy week showcase on Saturday was a starry, familial get-together of all of the tastemakers and breakers behind the company’s brightest achievements from the past year.
Prior to performances from Kim Petras and Sam Smith, Feid, Samara Joy, Glorilla, Muni Long and more, attendees stopped by the media lounge where UMG’s chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge greeted each and every artist that came through the doors, and stopped to take a photo with signees from rising acts like Ice Spice and Sabrina Carpenter to superstars like Niall Horan and Billie Eilish.
Petras kicked off the showcase with her latest release “brrr,” which is said to be a part of her upcoming record due to be released later this year via Republic Records. She was later joined by Sam Smith for a performance of their Grammy-nominated, and chart-topping hit “Unholy.”
Eilish accepted the amplifier award for her work in sustainability, namely for her “Happier Than Ever” tour which encouraged fans to engage in climate action and support nonprofit causes like the Pledge with Support + Feed, which encouraged fans to consume more plant-based meals.
“Everyone in this room we can all do our part,” Eilish said in her acceptance speech, thanking the room and Grainge for acknowledging her work before adding, “I know a lot of you guys have money in your pockets…maybe use it for good things.”
Three documentaries were previewed including “Love to Love You,” a film about Donna Summer that arrives on HBO in May, along with Jon Batiste’s “American Symphony,” and the Paul McCartney doc “Man on the Run.” Elsewhere in the evening, fresh faces like Glorilla and Muni Long delivered electrifying performances that ushered the audience to get on their feet; best new artist nominee Joy converted the hall into a jazz club with a performance of “Sweet Pumpkin;” Columbia was repped by reggaeton star Feid and Lauren Spencer Smith sang an intimate rendition of her song “Fingers Crossed.”
Elton John introduced Stephen Sanchez by reminiscing on the moment he first discovered the singer-songwriter’s Hot 100-charting single “Until I Found You,” while he was scouting artists for his radio show “Rocket Hour.”
“I just thought this sounds…a bit like Ricky Nelson, it’s a bit pastiche but it’s fresh, it’s new — will radio play it? And radio did play it.”
Shania Twain closed out the show with a medley of classic hits like “Still the One” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much” along with tracks from her new album, “Queen of Me.” She said she’d woken up with a cold and her voice was a bit challenged by it, but she said her lower alto register was “kinda sexy!”
Take a look at some of the attendees in PvNew‘s photo studio below.
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Sam Smith
Image Credit: Michael Buckner for PvNew New Jersey-born pop artist Natalie Jane hit the photo studio after mingling with her UMG label-mates.
