Remember what happened to Moe Greene?
Today Hits Magazine reported that former Sony North America chairman Don Ienner has been added to Lucian Grainge’s executive stable at Universal Music in the form of a consultancy. The item goes on to speculate that Donnie along with Jason Flom and Tom Whalley, “both of whom are currently operating within Monte Lipman’s Universal Republic”, could possibly play a role in the “retooled” EMI.
Grainge has been locked in meetings for the last couple of weeks obviously figuring out just what he wants to do with EMI. Everyone knows that UMG will have to divest itself of some assets–in France, for instance, the combined UMG/EMI would control something like 60% of the market and EU regulators are likely to frown upon that. My sources tell me that the also-ran WMG and Lyor Cohen–the Moe Greene of the music business–are doing everything they can to blow up the UMG/EMI deal. I really don’t think that Grainge has anything to worry about since he’s infinitely smarter than any Warner knucklehead and is just as tough as Lyor. In fact, he just may be the prodigal third Kray twin.
Who knows what Grainge is planning for EMI, but I find the Ienner association interesting. I know that I’ve been pretty rough on Donnie in the past, but I have to confess that he was successful at Sony. I don’t necessarily mean to diss Roger Faxon, but the betting is that he will go with EMI Music Publishing. He served his purpose as CEO of the music group by bringing stability to the company and tidying it up for sale (like I always said, he reminds me of Mitt Romney). But when I think about it, Don Ienner is just the kind of record guy that could revitalize EMI. He’s had some recent success with Hot Chelle Rae and I would imagine that he’s learned a lot from his unceremonious departure from Sony and is a different type of executive. He definitely has an energy and enthusiasm for the business and a genuine love of music that EMI could certainly benefit from. Ienner, like Lucian, is very competitive, and together I’m sure that they would delight in kicking some septuagenarian ass.
The worm keeps turning.
© 2011, Wayne Rosso. All rights reserved.
