Review into sexual harassment and systemic discrimination in Australian music industry invites input

A “broad cultural review” into ‘sexual harm, sexual harassment and systemic discrimination’ in the Australian music industry is underway with the chosen consultants Alex Shehadie and Sam Turner obtaining information from a range of individuals including record labels, publishers, artists, artist managers, agents, festival and production staff.

Announced, under the auspices of Support Act, before Christmas, the National Music Industry Review, will deliver recommendations to companies in the Australian industry, in order to “ensure (the) music industry has a safe, respectful and inclusive culture”.

Shehadie and Turner, selected after a tender process by a temporary working group formed after a meeting in May 2021 about sexual assault in the country’s music industry advise that the Review “will not investigate any individual incident but will … be an opportunity for people to share their stories, have their voices heard, and propose ideas on how the industry can be a safer, more inclusive and respectful workplace”.

Their work will be comprised of: a national survey; a confidential online written submissions process; focus groups across a range of areas and demographics; and confidential one-on-one interviews.

Commenting on the review, Hannah Pehi, Warner Music Australasia’s Head of People and Culture, added: “An important step in resetting our industry as a whole is to understand all the factors that have led us to where we are today.

“We welcome the opportunity to support change and will do all we can to help shape a better future for the Australian music industry.”

In In January last year, Warner Music fired senior A&R executive Scott Maclachlan following an internal investigation into alleged sexual harassment.

Another senior executive in the business, Tony Glover, was fired by Sony Music in April following an independent investigation linked to allegations of sexual harassment and bullying. Glover initially denied these allegations.

In June, Sony Music Australia parted ways with its long-time Chief Executive and Chairman, Denis Handlin, who has been accused by multiple employees of fostering a toxic workplace culture, and of workplace bullying. Handlin has not been accused of any sexual harassment or assault.

In July, Universal Music Australia’s President, George Ash, informed his company that UMG was launching its own independent investigation into workplace culture following anonymised allegations of impropriety at the firm.

Ash wrote in an email to staff “as the leader of this company I take full responsibility for creating a respectful workplace culture for everyone.

“With respect to my own behaviour, it is particularly painful to realise now that what I intended as jokes were unacceptable comments that made some of you uncomfortable.”

In December last year, Mushroom Group announced it was parting ways with live business Harbour Agency after an investigation was launched into the latter firm linked to claims from former Harbour Agency staff on past management behaviour and workplace culture.

The Music Industry Review is being supported by two Australian collecting societies - APRA AMCOS and PPCA - as well as record industry trade group ARIA, and music industry charity Support Act.

The final report will not name individuals nor alleged perpetrators.

Shehadie and Turner plan to complete their work in June 2022.

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Image courtesy of Creative Victoria.