SONY MUSIC AFTERMATH:
THE INDUSTRY REACTS

Irving Azoff, manager: "I know Andrew Lack very well, and I know he will get along well with the talent at Sony. I think he is going to bring a fresher look at the business. He is not saddled with thoughts of the way the business used to be. He is not the type of guy who will go in there and fire 800 people. As far as Tommy is concerned, I’m sure his presence through his new venture will continue to be felt throughout the industry. I’m not sure that Lack even knows what HITS is, so he’ll probably never even see this article."

Fred Davis, attorney: "The bad news is that the most seasoned executive of our time will no longer be running one of the great flagship companies. He may hold the record for running a corporation longer than anyone else in the modern music era. That’s a lifetime achievement I hope he’s very proud of. As experienced and professional as Andrew Lack may be, we can only hope that he gives the utmost respect to the music executives at Sony, and allows the music to breathe and the executives to carry forth their vision."

Andy Gould, manager, The Firm: "I’ve always said the record industry has had no respect for the past and a fear of the future. Tommy Mottola has done a great job for the past 15 years. In looking to the future, by bringing in someone new and different, maybe it can stop us from becoming the airline industry, which is an industry that in five years has managed to lose everything it made in the previous 80."

Jim Guerinot, manager: "I’ve never looked at my business as being contingent on what goes on at the corporate level of the record industry. I’ve never relied on any positive or negative news coming out of the corporate office to determine how to handle my clients’ careers. My clients are in business to work for themselves, not the record company. Recording is only one aspect of their careers. On a personal level, I’m gonna miss Tommy, and it was a real sad day when I found out that he was moving on."

Hilary Rosen, RIAA Chairman/CEO: "When it comes to Tommy Mottola, you have to look at the total package of accomplishments, and his are exceptional. Even in the last year, in terms of anti-piracy and eductation campaigns, Tommy has been a real leader who understood what was happening. He clearly articulated the changes that the industry is confronting. But like all things, it’s hard to turn the Titanic around in a creek; you get impatient with the pace of oncoming change. At Sony, they need to find a vehicle that can connect music to the people, and if Andrew Lack can bring a new perspective to that, great. He gets points for enthusiasm, and new energy is always good."

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Chairman/CEO BMG (in the L.A. Times): "Welcome and congratulations to him. Obviously, TV guys are taking over the music world."