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Jason Iley Honoured with the Music Industry Trusts Award for his Contribution to British Music Industry
Chairman and CEO of Sony Music UK & Ireland Jason Iley MBE received this year’s Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS) at an event on Monday 4th November at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London, in support of two vital UK music charities: The BRIT Trust, which is a core funder of The BRIT School, and music therapy charity Nordoff & Robbins.
The accolade was presented to Jason by artist and friend Paloma Faith, who described him as “the most caring record exec I’ve ever come across”. While Oscar and Grammy-winning producer, DJ, and songwriter Mark Ronson collaborated with JACOTÉNE to perform multi-platinum hits including Uptown Funk, Valerie, and Nothing Breaks Like a Heart. Cat Burns performed double-platinum hit Go with The BRIT School choir and Jake Bugg, who Jason has worked with throughout his career, took to the stage to sing Trouble Town and Lightning Bolt.
Artists came together to honour Iley including Calvin Harris, Jade, George Ezra, Perrie, Rag’n’Bone Man, Tom Grennan and Joy Crookes. During on-screen tributes, many artists sent their congratulations to Jason, including Mariah Carey, Bono, P!nk, Robbie Williams, Brandon Flowers, Bob Geldof, Arcade Fire, Chase & Status, Rita Ora, Richard Curtis and more.
Accepting his award, Jason Iley MBE told the packed-out room “We’re all in this business because we love music, and music shaped my life and childhood, and that was down to my very special dad. We didn’t have much when we were younger, and my dad somehow managed to buy the best sound systems, whether in the house or the car, growing up endlessly listening to Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd and U2, all of which I’ve been fortunate enough to work with since. If it wasn’t for you Dad, I would have never got into music.
Throughout my career, I’ve been lucky to work with the most brilliant people and the best mentors in Rob, Lucian and Jay-Z and too many artists to mention. I’m especially grateful to Rob [Stringer] who has been the constant throughout my career, as a friend and an ally and as someone who’s always had my back.
I wanted to say the biggest thank you to Nordoff and Robbins and the BRITS Trust for all of the meaningful work that they do. It is genuinely changing people’s lives. But I think it’s best summed up by one of the team who put it very simply “We see ability, not disability.”
When I look over my career, it’s been pretty crazy to witness the evolution of our industry, and it’s so exciting to see because there are no signs of slowing down. If the past few years, or even months, have taught us anything, it is that you never know what’s around the corner. What motivates and excites me the most is watching the new generation of artists, the talented executives and the entrepreneurs who are coming through right now, who are going to be the stars and leaders of our future. I care deeply about my artists and executives. I believe we are only as good as the team we work with. And the real reason I’m on stage tonight is I’ve been fortunate enough to work with so many fantastic artists and passionate executives over the years. I really feel like the luckiest man in the world doing what I do, and it is really beyond any expectation to receive tonight’s MITS Award. I feel truly honoured, grateful and thankful. This is a night I will never forget. Thank you all again.”
Jason joins the ranks of previous MITS recipients including Sir Elton John, Annie Lennox OBE, Kylie Minogue, Rob Stringer CBE, Emma Banks, and Bernie Taupin, Sir Lucian Grainge, Michael Eavis CBE, Pete Tong MBE, Roger Daltrey CBE, Jamal Edwards MBE, and last year’s recipient, live music agent Lucy Dickins.
In a career spanning three decades, Jason has consistently championed new talent and has worked with some of the biggest names in music. Jason has been Chairman at Sony Music UK for 10 years, making him the longest-serving Chairman in the British company’s history. In October 2020, Jason was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his contributions to music and charity. He also served as Chairman of the BRITs Committee, shaping the BRIT Awards from 2017 to 2019.