Sony Music Australia has terminated a veteran executive after an investigation found he had engaged in misconduct with staff.
Tony Glover, a longstanding staffer who most recently served as vice president of commercial music at the music giant’s affiliate in Sydney, was dismissed last Thursday (April 8) following a months-long independent probe.
The story was broken over the weekend by the Sydney Morning Herald.
According to the article, the investigation was launched in February after a staff member made an initial complaint. Several employees are said to have accused Glover of bullying and harassment.
“Upon receiving complaints of alleged inappropriate behavior, a Senior Counsel was immediately engaged to independently investigate the allegations,” a Sony Music Australia spokesperson told the SMH.
“Following completion of the investigation, the company acted on the findings. Sony Music Australia can confirm that Tony Glover has been dismissed with immediate effect.”
When asked to supply a statement, a spokesperson for Sony Music directed Billboard to the SMH report and declined to comment further.
Glover denies the accusations, telling the broadsheet: “There’s me and there’s the complainants and I guess the amount of complainants outweighed my word.” He continued, “I had never been sanctioned before, (the investigation) was a complete surprise. I think I am a decent person, a loyal person.”
Glover had risen through the ranks since joining company in February 1991 as promotions manager in Adelaide. In 2008, he was appointed as GM, commercial music group and in July 2012 was appointed to also oversee Parade Management as GM, commercial music group & Parade Management, with responsibility for compilations, special projects, country, kids and classical releases. He was promoted again to a broader role in 2015.
The harassment allegations come as a #MeToo-inspired movement has created ripples in the Australasian music industry in recent months.
Earlier this year, Warner Music dismissed Scott Maclachlan, the former senior vice president for A&R at the label’s Australasia office — who is best known for discovering singer-songwriter Lorde — over sexual harassment allegations involving a co-worker.
Separately, Paul McKessar, the award-winning former manager of Benee and The Naked and Famous, was let go by his employer CRS Music after his years-long harmful behavior was exposed.
