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MOTTOLA STARTING OWN LABEL, LEAVES SONY MUSIC POST

Longtime Sony Music Head Will Launch New Record Company with Negotiations Already Underway for Distribution

January 9, 2003
It’s the end of the Mottola era at Sony…and the beginning of a new one.

After 14 years on the job, Sony Music Entertainment Chairman/CEO Thomas D. Mottola has stepped down from his post to launch a new label.

Negotiations are already underway for Sony to distribute the as-yet-unnamed new company.

After Sony acquired then-CBS Records in 1988 and replaced Walter Yetnikoff with Mottola just two years later, Thomas D. transformed the music group into a true powerhouse, earning the biggest sales numbers in its illustrious history. Last year, Sony Music finished with 15.67% of the U.S. music market, placing it third among the five major music companies.

Mottola organized one of the industry's strongest, long-standing management teams, headed by such execs as SME’s Michele Anthony, Mel Ilberman and international head Robert Bowlin, Columbia’s Don Ienner and Epic’s Dave Glew (expected to step down later this year) and Polly Anthony. During his decade-plus-long reign, he also revitalized the publishing division and expanded SME into gospel, children’s entertainment and audio and video programming.

The industry vet was instrumental in helping launch such artists as Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Pearl Jam, Maxwell and John Mayer, while continuing to build the careers of superstars Celine Dion, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Dixie Chicks, Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson and Tony Bennett.

Before joining Sony, Mottola was a highly successful manager as founder and President of Champion Entertainment, where his clients included superstars Hall & Oates, John Mellencamp and Carly Simon.

According to sources, a replacement for Mottola will be announced within the next 24-48 hours. The new chief will reportedly be someone from outside the traditional record business, "with a strong financial background."

That appointment will come from Sony Corp. President/COO Howard Stringer, to whom the new exec will report. The 60-year-old Stringer is directly in charge of all U.S. operations for the Tokyo-based media giant.

Sony Music reps could not be reached for comment.
[This message was edited Thu Jan 9 16:36:37 PST 2003 by SpcMs]

He got Canned.He has been out pretty much since 2000.but in Corperate World things play out a bit longer.alot of acting&Role-Play.Tommy will have too Find some New Tony Soprano Money now.truth be told the Blessing&Curse of Him was His association with Mariah Carey.You gotta be careful how you mix Busines&Pleasure.Sony has been riding on Catelog more so than taken care of Business.Michael Jackson got Issues&trips alot but He was on the Money about this Cat.

I think Mottola is pretty well respected in the music world. Look at all the backing he got when Michael Jackson accused him of being a racist. I would be suprised if they forced him out.

I think when he starts his own label (which is going to owned by Sony) he could get a pretty good roster of talent on it. I think he is one of the few label big wigs that understands about artist development.

Anyone remember that rumor a few weeks back that Prince was dealing with Tommy to get his movies and concerts on DVD out? I wonder if any of this connected...probably not, but its still interesting.


[This message was edited Thu Jan 9 17:52:28 PST 2003 by Pagey]

Has anyone seen E!'s interview with Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey???

They both made it seem like he was just so easy to get to to make their debut album. It almost seemed like a joke...

I heard Tommy was very very devilish

Tommy is only as Good as the MOB Money He gets.He is a Hustler who had the Right Money&the timing.but Tommy is a Laughing Stock now.He really thought He was a "MADE MAN"".

rdhull said:

rdhull hes devil-licious!

Christopher said:

rdhull said:

eheh
i see i wasnt the only one who caught that conan o brian skit...hilarious!

Christopher said:

lol that computerized mouth pasted onto his face

rdhull said:

ROFL...i have that on video tape i watch it from time to time and laugh...esp that devilish part. lol

FUUUCK!

I just posted this on the GD forum! OOPS! Like, 5 hours 2 late!!!

Sorry!

U Know that this has got 2 do with MJ coz he threatened an enron scandal on sony music! he has wanted mottola out in fact last year he said "Tommy Mottola will be TERMINATED", many mj insiders have said that this is just the beginning and that the mottolas "friends" will now disappear in2 the shadows. The truth will come out and i cant wait!

Good, I'm glad. The guy has always given me the creeps.

someone should ask hall and oates what they truly feel about TM i bet you will not get a nice reply they started his career and he left them for dead

Voltron88 said:

Darryl Hall on Behind the music on VH! said one thing I'll give Tommy is that He was Full of Energy but Darryl's Eye's gave it away.they Know how Tommy Rolled&operated.He split on them right after they Peaked&Never looked back.

I ain't surprised. TM forced out 3 of the biggest acts that made SONY billions...George Michael, Mariah Carey and MJ who he personally tried to destroy (with all those nasty leaks to the press prior to the release of Invincible and afterwards etc...even MJ hater Roger Friedman supported that claim!) especially when he branded Tommy the devil (say what u will about MJ but he was on the money when he said that because of TM's shady tatics over the years). Even The Dixie Chicks had problems with him (eg. they filed a lawsuit saying that they were beining ripped off and at the last minute dropped it when he gave into their demands). Ever since TM took over the reins that company has gone down the toilet and everyone from Ricky Martin, Will Smith to Celine Dion's follow-up albums BOMBED while Jamiorqal is threatening to leave and Jermaine Durpi has left for better pastures..Mottola isn't respected in the industry but FEARED that is why some artists didn't support MJ...cause they are scared that they would become outsiders for speaking out...and because unfortunately most record labels have adopted the same approach like Tommy...artists are meat to be used up and thrown out while keeping the best bits (their assests)...how do you explain the increasing numbers of greatest hits packages (which are constantly re-issued) that SONY is releasing...cause they know that it makes them money since they own the master recordings! Plus they haven't got anyone of substance on that label know and that is why they are pushing no-talent crap like J-Hoe and her rocks down our throats and sadly this trend is gonna continue. The bottom line is this, the industry has been a cesspool for decades so I don't think this bit of news is gonna change things for the better unless people like MJ, Prince etc band together and form a union which represents and protects artists...because separate faction groups DON'T work!
[This message was edited Fri Jan 10 15:14:41 PST 2003 by fonkywonder]

i have 2 say this is the best news in the music industry in ages! Mottola can go fuck himself now! I mean the guy was a walkin nitemare 4 sony music! he practically destroyed all their top acts lets list em:

1 george michael gone
2 mariah carey gone
3 celine dion album bombed not 2 happy
4 ricky martin non existent enrique has taken over
5 jamiroquai v mad at sony has quit music industry
6 dixie chix and v mad 4 a while
7 michael jackson gone decided 2 set up new label by himself

with gm, mc, cd and mj ur talkin like way over half a billion album sales its crazy!

he should have been fired in 97!

oh i 4got 2 mention all those who dont know!

new mj album out b4 summer, it includes some of the duets he did with freddie mercury b4 he died and some other duets including lauryn hill and lenny (yes they do exist) there is also talk of him adding some songs 2 the matrix 2 soundtrack good mj times are on the way!!!

FunkyBrotha said:

I'm not so sure about that. Some people say that, Tommy Boy gone, Jackson will stay.

BlueNote

BlueNote said:

It's a possibility, yes, but nothing is set in stone. We know talks between MJ and Sony are just about finished. Before the protests they weren't even returning his calls. Before the protests, Mottola was steadily charming the Japanese into renewing his contract early. AFTER the protests... the media slag MJ off even more, but negotiations start between them and Mottola's negotiations get put on halt. Smart guy.

Ellie said:

I mean, it's quit interessting that MJs negotiations are about to be finished with Sony and then Sony fires Tommy Boy.



This post is from an "insider", he was very reliable about all the stuff that happened last year and in 2001, so maybe he is right and MJ leaves.

BlueNote

Ah, the ever reliable LookingThroughTheWindows

You know he made his debut appearance over at the board I moderate at Dotmusic He's clashed with a few people recently, but I still luv him!

I just want his wife.



Any Thalia fans out there?

http://www.thalia.com/home.php?audio=no

PurpleJedi said:

I just saw her video tonight "I want you" for the first time-I like the song--no brainer, catchy pop with a lil kick from FAT Joe--but I swear she looks exactly like Mariah!! Well ok, not exactly but she had the early 90s curly Mariah hair-do going-I swear I thought I was watching the video for "Emotions." And she was showing her cleavage! Can't believe Tommy allowed that!

PurpleJedi said:

Woah :O

Hold up- Thailia is his wife???



I swear I learn something new everyday

From the title

"Tommy Mottola: Out"

I thought it meant he was gay! D'oh!!

(Or he's an England cricketer!)