Cultura Voice

Los Angeles is abuzz with the countdown to the Grammys this Sunday (January 26). But dominant within these conversations is a slice of drama worthy of its own Hollywood production: an ousted female CEO locked in a vicious public battle with a male-dominated institution over her dismissal, her allegations of villainy… and, of course, the money she’ll receive for her exit. That female CEO is Deborah Dugan, the former boss of Bono’s Red, who was named Chief Exec and President of the Recording Academy as recently as August last year. Significantly, Dugan was the first woman to head the Academy in its history. She was hired following fierce criticism of the Grammy-running org over its diversity and inclusion practices – particularly pertaining to gender. Since January 16, when Dugan was placed on administrative leave by the Academy’s bosses, all hell has broken loose: Embrace Of The Serpent (Soundtrack) on Apple Music The now-acting CEO of the Recording Academy, Harvey Maso...

Entertainment One has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of UK-based Audio Network Limited (Audio Network) – a production music specialist and one of the world’s largest independent creators and publishers of original music for use in film, television, advertising and digital media. The buyout is being valued at approximately US $215 million. The announcement was made today (April 11) by eOne’s President and CEO Darren Throop, with Global President, Music Chris Taylor, and alongside Audio Network’s Founder & Chairman Andrew Sunnucks and CEO Robb Smith. Audio Network, with nine offices worldwide, boasts an expansive catalogue of over 150,000 fully-owned tracks, in addition to relationships with more than 1,000 composers, singer-songwriters and emerging commercial artists. Entertainment One says this talent will ‘benefit from [eOne’s] rich traditional record label services and extensive film, television and brand capabilities’. It adds: ‘The addition o...