Music industry titan Berry Gordy's legacy honored through the creation of the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship, a joint venture between Universal Music Group and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
**Universal Music Group Establishes Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship at UCLA**
Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced the establishment of the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. The endowed scholarship, launched in 2025 through a partnership between UMG and The UCLA Foundation, aims to support high-potential students enrolled in UCLA’s Music Industry Program.
Each year, one student demonstrating exceptional promise and financial need will be named a Berry Gordy Scholar. The scholarship offers financial assistance for tuition, housing, and other educational expenses, providing a vital lifeline for students pursuing careers in the music industry.
The scholarship honours the legacy of Berry Gordy, the legendary founder of Motown Records and a pioneer in the music industry. The recipient will play an active role in the UCLA Berry Gordy Music Industry Center – a hub launched in 2024 dedicated to research, teaching, community engagement, and career development related to the evolving global music business.
UMG’s Chairman & CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge, emphasised that the scholarship is designed to invest in a new generation of creative leaders and changemakers who will advance innovation in the music industry, reflecting Berry Gordy's enduring influence. Berry Gordy himself has expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity this scholarship creates for students to prepare for impactful music careers and to continue using music as a force for cultural connection and positive change.
The scholarship aligns with UMG’s ongoing Sounds of the Future campaign, which seeks to honour the impact of Black music on the past and present. The campaign was further highlighted through an immersive art installation at UMG’s Santa Monica headquarters, curated in partnership with BLK MKT Vintage. The installation explored the continuum of Black music through the lens of sampling, showcasing how generations of UMG artists have borrowed, transformed, and echoed one another's genius.
In addition to the scholarship, UMG has deepened its investment in grassroots institutions, extending donations to Roots of Music in New Orleans and Girls Make Beats in Los Angeles. These initiatives reflect UMG’s commitment to fostering the next generation of music industry leaders and promoting diversity and inclusion within the industry.
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music offers a vibrant interdisciplinary education that prizes music performance and scholarship. With over 40 ensembles performing music from around the world, students are encouraged to engage with a wide range of musical styles and traditions. The school prepares students for twenty-first century music careers, emphasising active engagement in the greater Los Angeles community.
The Global Impact Team at Universal Music Group drives positive impact across the company, industry, and local communities in which UMG operates. The Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship is a testament to UMG’s dedication to investing in the future of the music industry and nurturing the next generation of creative leaders.
[1] UCLA Newsroom. (2025). Universal Music Group Establishes Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Retrieved from
[2] The Hollywood Reporter. (2025). Universal Music Group Launches Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship at UCLA. Retrieved from
[3] Billboard. (2025). Universal Music Group Announces Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship at UCLA. Retrieved from
- This scholarship, launched by Universal Music Group in 2025, named the Berry Gordy Music Industry Scholarship, is part of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music's lifelong-learning environment, offering online-education and entertainment during the student's pursuit of education-and-self-development in the music industry.
- The recipient of the scholarship will not only receive financial aid towards tuition, housing, and other expenses but will also partake in the UCLA Berry Gordy Music Industry Center, engaging in research, teaching, community engagement, and career development, showcasing the importance of lifelong-learning in the music industry.
- By investing in key music industry programs like the Berry Gordy Scholarship and supporting grassroots institutions such as Roots of Music and Girls Make Beats, Universal Music Group lives up to its commitment to promoting education-and-self-development, entertainment, and diversity in the music sector, furthering the legacy of legendary music icon Berry Gordy.
