While the recording industry has long maintained a glossy public image, Sony Music Australia faced a significant corporate reckoning in June 2021 when the company launched an internal investigation into allegations of toxic workplace culture. The probe followed the sudden departure of Denis Handlin, the company’s longtime chairman and CEO who had spent nearly five decades at the helm, amid mounting claims that he had fostered an environment marred by misconduct.
Sony’s polished veneer shattered when toxic workplace allegations prompted an investigation following CEO Denis Handlin’s abrupt exit.
The investigation was prompted by numerous reports of bullying, harassment, discrimination, and inappropriate behavior toward staff members, suggesting systemic issues rather than isolated incidents. Sony Music’s global headquarters in the United States confirmed the investigation, acknowledging the gravity of the situation that had been brewing for years within the ANZ branch. The anonymous Instagram account Beneath The Glass Ceiling played a pivotal role in bringing these allegations to light, publishing real experiences from employees who had previously remained silent.
Prior to Handlin’s exit, the company had already terminated Tony Glover, executive vice-president of commercial music, in April 2021 following allegations of bullying and harassment. This action demonstrated that even high-ranking executives would face consequences for misconduct, though critics argued that more thorough accountability measures were needed throughout the organization. Some employees noted that the toxic environment directly affected their ability to secure sync licensing deals for artists, hampering a potentially lucrative revenue stream. The scandal has forced many artists to reconsider their promotional strategies as they navigate working with a label under scrutiny.
The Sony Music controversy exists within a broader industry reckoning, as evidenced by Universal Music Australia launching a similar workplace misconduct investigation in early 2024. Major studies like “Workplace and Sexual Harassment” and “Raising Their Voices” have documented widespread sexual harm and discrimination across ANZ music workplaces, fueling demands for structural reform. Dr. Crabtree’s Workplace and Sexual Harassment report provided crucial evidence of the systemic issues plaguing the music industry. A previous KPMG internal survey conducted 18 months prior had already identified a toxic workplace environment at Universal Music.
Industry organizations such as SoundCheck Aotearoa in New Zealand have emerged to advocate for safer, more equitable conditions. The Sony investigation has become a watershed moment in Australian music history, pressuring executives across the industry to confront power imbalances and implement meaningful cultural changes.
As investigations continue, the once-glamorous façade of the recording industry continues to crack, revealing the troubling realities many employees have faced for decades.
