I.B. BAD ON THE NEW SMEI

The finalizing of Sony’s acquisition of BMG has wonderers wondering what the executive hierarchy of the newly named Sony Music Entertainment Inc. will look like a year from now, when the dust has settled and Rolf Schmidt-Holtz’s current deal is up.

While the conventional wisdom has the former Bertelsmann executive stepping down at that point, most believe the various label heads—Barry Weiss, Rob Stringer, Steve Barnett, Rick Rubin and Charlie Walk—are on solid footing.

In terms of ultimate oversight, some are asking if SME will report to Sony Corp. bigwig Rob Wiesenthal, who brought the immensely successful music executive Marty Bandier to Sony/ATV, though the pubbery was never a part of Sony BMG.

Meanwhile, Andy Lack, another major figure in the failed joint venture, is still walking the halls of 550 Madison, strange as it seems, as his future status remains unknown.