The music mogul was admitted to the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center in mid-March, two weeks after he celebrated his 60th birthday with a lavish Madison Club party.

• Apr 7, 2020

AceShowbiz - Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge is "at home and recuperating", three weeks after he was hospitalised with a "severe" case of COVID-19.

The music mogul hit headlines in mid-March when he was admitted to the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, just two weeks after celebrating his 60th birthday with a lavish Madison Club party in Palm Springs, California, where guests included Apple boss Tim Cook and famed music manager Irving Azoff.

Grainge has since broken his silence to reveal he is back home in a personal memo sent out to company staff on Monday (April 06), revealing that while he is expected to make a full recovery, the coronavirus is no joke.

"I contracted COVID-19 and was one of the 20% whose symptoms were severe," he explained, as he encouraged employees to follow official medical guidelines carefully.

"Take it from someone who's been there: this thing is not just some bad flu. It's as serious as it gets. As serious for the young and strong as it is for the old and infirm," he wrote.

"Wherever you are in the world, take this pandemic as seriously as it deserves to be taken. Listen to and obey the guidance of your public health authorities."

Grainge also made a point to thank "those on the front line of this crisis" who played key roles in his recovery.

"I will never be able to thank them enough," he continued. "And the first responders and all the other essential workers putting their lives on the line out there for all of us - they are heroes, justly entitled to our deepest respect and gratitude."

The UMG boss goes on to thank staffmembers, branding them "the greatest team the music world has ever brought together", as he urged everyone to "please take good care".

Signing off, he concluded, "Remember: one day this will all be behind us. And I hope that day comes soon, because, honestly, I can't wait until we're all back in the office together. In the meantime, I'll see you on Zoom (video conferencing app)."

Grainge is one of the more than 1.3 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with the death toll continuing to climb past 72,600 on Monday.