WMG DENIES ARTIST ROLE IN COOK'S EXIT

In the wake of Ben Cook's exit as chief of Atlantic U.K. (see related story below), Warner Music Group is denying rumors circulating in the press that artist Stormzy demanded Cook's ouster and even threatened to leave the label if the exec remained.

"That’s simply not true," says a WMG rep. "No artists were involved in our decision-making."

Cook's departure from the company has been tied to an incident in which a photograph (since deleted) surfaced on Facebook of a 2012 party; the label exec was said to be in blackface as part of a Run-DMC costume. An internal disciplinary proceeding ensued.

All reports about Stormzy's supposed role in the matter have been alleged; the artist has made no public statement about it.