Universal Music Australia — update on major shake-up at top Sydney record label

Speculation has ramped-up over a potential shake-up of operations at a leading Australian record label, which is under scrutiny amid reports several high-ranking executives have left the business.

Industry speculation has ramped-up after Universal Music Australia boss George Ash called his executive team into an emergency meeting at 5pm Monday.

It came days after Confidential detailed a potential major-shake up at one of the three top record labels in Australia.

On Monday, Ash used the platform to play down talk of changes at the label, which oversees the careers of artists including Dean Lewis, Tame Impala, Troye Sivan, Hilltop Hoods and Vera Blue.

Earlier this month, Confidential reported that industry chatter was in overdrive over the internal structures at Universal Music Australia, which comes months after Sony Music Australia boss Denis Handlin was ousted from his post.

More broadly, the music business here and internationally is under increasing pressure to tackle issues around diversity, gender and workplace bullying.

Singer Brian McFadden with Universal Music CEO George Ash in Sydney.

Universal Music head office in the US is believed to be looking at the operations here in Australia.

Several top executives have left the business over recent months, including one high profile female just last week.

Former Sony Music Australia boss Denis Handlin and Universal Music’s George Ash.

In August, Ash announced an investigation into workplace culture at the company after a number of allegations were levelled at the label.

Regarding an incident in which he was involved, Ash reportedly said in a statement: “I had a complaint recently raised against myself around a joke I made in a Zoom meeting. It was insensitive, and that went through the appropriate processes and I apologised to everyone in the company who was impacted by it.”

Universal is the biggest record company in the world in terms of market share.

Its international artist roster includes the likes of Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Lady Gaga, Sam Smith and Kendrick Lamar on its books.

Originally published as Universal Music Australia — update on major shake-up at top Sydney record label