Highlights from the 2026 Billboard Power 100 Event

Pusha T, Mariah Carey, and more music industry stars celebrate top executives

Jan. 29, 2026 at 3:15pm

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The 2026 Billboard Power 100 event in West Hollywood, California honored top music industry figures, including Jody Gerson as Executive of the Decade, Alex DePersia as Breakthrough Executive of the Year, and Lucian Grainge as the Power 100 No. 1. Other notable attendees and honorees included Pusha T, Mariah Carey, Janelle Lopez Genzink, PlaqueBoyMax, and Sharon Osbourne.

Why it matters

The Billboard Power 100 event is a prestigious annual gathering that recognizes the most influential executives in the music industry. The event highlights the key players shaping the business and provides insight into the current state and future direction of the music landscape.

The details

At the event, Pusha T presented his manager Alex DePersia with the Breakthrough Executive of the Year award, praising her creativity, instincts, and hustle. Mariah Carey also took the stage to pay tribute to Jody Gerson, Billboard's Executive of the Decade, recalling an early moment in her career when she almost sold her publishing rights for $5,000 before Gerson stepped in to protect her. Other honorees included Lucian Grainge as Power 100 No. 1, Janelle Lopez Genzink as Executive of the Year, PlaqueBoyMax as the Disruptor Award recipient, and Sharon Osbourne as the Visionary Award honoree.

  • The 2026 Billboard Power 100 event took place on Wednesday night.

The players

Pusha T

A rapper who is part of the duo Clipse and was on hand to present an award to his manager.

Mariah Carey

A popular singer who paid tribute to Jody Gerson, Billboard's Executive of the Decade.

Jody Gerson

The CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group and Billboard's Executive of the Decade.

Alex DePersia

Pusha T's manager and Billboard's Breakthrough Executive of the Year.

Lucian Grainge

The Power 100 No. 1 honoree.

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What they’re saying

“I've always been impressed with Alex's creativity, her instincts, her strategic thinking and her all-out hustle. Alex has always been tapped in.”

— Pusha T

“I almost sold my publishing when I was 18 years old, for $5,000. We remember some of the songs in the catalog, right? But I was just thinking: If I had someone like Jody there to protect me, it never would've gotten that far.”

— Mariah Carey

What’s next

Pusha T is scheduled to perform at the 2026 Grammy Awards on Sunday, where his rap duo Clipse is nominated for five awards, including album of the year.

The takeaway

The Billboard Power 100 event highlights the influential executives shaping the music industry, providing insight into the current state and future direction of the business. The event's honorees, such as Jody Gerson and Alex DePersia, demonstrate the importance of strong leadership and artist advocacy in the ever-evolving music landscape.