Former Sony Music CEO Denis Handlin stripped of ARIA ‘icon award’
The ARIA board on Friday resolved to withdraw an ‘industry icon’ award presented to Denis Handlin by Molly Meldrum in 2014, but did not say why it was revoked.
Former Sony Music Australia chief executive Denis Handlin has been stripped of a lifetime achievement award presented to him seven years ago by the country’s peak recorded music body.
In a statement, the Australian Recording Industry Association said it had “today resolved to withdraw the ARIA award made to Denis Handlin”.
It did not specify why the award – the ARIA Industry Icon Award presented to Mr Handlin by Molly Meldrum in 2014 – had been withdrawn.
Mr Handlin was the second person to receive the prize, following prominent industry figure Michael Gudinski in 2013.
Mr Handlin had been – from 1999 to 2008 and from 2010 to 2021 – the chairman of the ARIA board.
He was removed as managing director and chief executive of Sony Music Australia on June 21, which resulted in his departure from the board of the peak industry body.
The ABC’s Four Corners program this week reported that Mr Handlin had been accused – in an internal 1998 report – of being often drunk, humiliating staff and having employees followed by private detectives.
Despite the allegations, Mr Handlin was only briefly suspended by Sony before being reinstated as chief executive.
ARIA’s statement on Friday followed a decision by Queensland industry body, QMusic, to withdraw a separate award presented to him in 2020.
In a statement on Tuesday, QMusic said: “Last night’s harrowing Four Corners investigative report laid bare the undeniable fact that the culture at Sony Music Australia during Denis Handlin’s tenure came with significant human cost.
“Following ongoing reports of systemic bullying, discrimination, and misconduct under Handlin’s leadership, we cannot let QMusic’s acknowledgment and celebration of his career stand.
“Toxic workplaces, be they in the office, boardroom, on stage or behind, have no future in Australian music.
“We cannot, and should not accept nor celebrate. this kind of culture.
“The future of music must be one that is safe, supportive, and equitable for all.”
The Australian reported in June that Mr Handlin was so angry that one of Sony’s biggest stars, Amy Shark, had neglected to thank him for one of her four ARIA Award wins in 2018 that he stormed out of the ceremony and left her in tears.
Shark returned to the label’s office the following day to apologise.
Mr Handlin has repeatedly declined to comment on the allegations. He did not respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Others to have left Sony this year include Mr Handlin’s son Pat – the vice-president of A&R – and Mark Stebnicki, the company’s senior vice-president of strategy and human resources.
