External counsel engaged for harassment & sexism claims at Sony Music Australia
Sydney Morning Herald‘s Nathanael Cooper—who broke the news of Sony Music global’s investigation into harassment claims within its Australian offshoot—has published a further update.
As reported today by Cooper for SMH, Sony Music’s corporate New York headquarters has expanded its investigation into allegations of discrimination, bullying and harassment within Sony Music Australia and engaged an Australian-based external counsel.
Among the many claims, last week’s report detailed multiple occasions where Sony Music Australia allegedly made pregnant women and new mothers redundant, only to re-name their roles and hire new employees.
The confidential investigation was launched by Sony Music’s global head of human resources Andrew Davis after a complaint was made by a staff member at the Sydney office.
Now, SMH reports the company has engaged an external counsel from Australia, independent of Sony Music Australia, to conduct the investigation on Sony’s behalf.
SMH obtained a memo sent to staff by Andrew Davis about the investigation, which also urged staff to raise any concerns via an anonymous hotline.
“I want to reiterate that Sony Music does not tolerate harassment, bullying or discrimination in any part of the company,” Davis wrote. “We take seriously and look into all allegations brought to us and have been looking into recent complaints. Given our ongoing inquiries, we are limited in what we can share at this time.
“That said, we are committed to ensuring your workplace is safe and free from unacceptable behaviour.”
When initial complaints were made, Davis was contacting former and current staff members directly. Now, after those staff members encouraged their colleagues to speak up, more complaints are being forwarded to the new external counsel for its investigation.
SMH‘s report noted that there is “widespread speculation” that Sony Music Australia and New Zealand chief executive Denis Handlin might leave the company. The exec celebrated his 50th year with Sony in May. However, as noted by Cooper in his report, “the publication isn’t suggesting Mr Handlin is accused of any wrongdoing or is involved or implicated in any of the allegations being investigated”.
The revelations follow the firing of Tony Glover, former vice-president of commercial music at Sony Music Australia, whose three-decade career ended after a weeks-long investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour back in April.
“It was common knowledge not to be alone with Tony when he was drunk, I never put myself in a position where I was alone with him,” one woman, who was managed by Glover, told SMH.
A former staff member claims that she raised concerns about Glover’s behaviour but they were dismissed.
Another former staff member, who is involved in the current investigation, told SMH she was “nervous that a local counsel has been appointed to head up the investigation”.
“This is a global issue for Sony Music, it always has been. Sony Music needs to commit to positive change on a global level, they need to stay accountable and focus every effort into supporting victims.”
SMH‘s Nathanael Cooper said a spokeswoman for Sony Music in the US declined to comment for his current story.
This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.
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