Amy Shark Was Left “Devastated” After Sony Boss Reportedly Lost It Over Her Speech At The ARIAs
Denis Handlin was apparently "incensed" that Shark had forgotten to thank him in one of her acceptance speeches.
Amy Shark was reportedly left “devastated” backstage at the 2018 ARIA Awards after her label boss, recently ousted Sony Music Australia CEO Denis Handlin, became “incensed” that she had forgotten to thank him in one of her acceptance speeches.
Yesterday, The Australian reported that Handlin became furious after the omission, which occurred during her speech for Album of the Year (she had thanked him in two speeches earlier that night).
Sources told The Australian that Handlin was visibly “incensed” after she finished her speech, and he allegedly issued two demands to fellow Sony staffers: to refilm the entire speech and to tell Shark about her mistake.
“Amy was due on stage with Keith Urban in four minutes, so it was never going to happen — there was never going to be a reshoot,” one source told the paper. Another source said the request was simply “insane”, and that everyone in the wider industry would have noticed if that had happened.
Shark was reportedly told of the issue after her performance with Urban — she was “devastated” and “upset”, as she “respected [Handlin] greatly”.
Handlin had “stormed out” of the awards, and he and Shark apparently had a conversation at Sony’s after-party — a photo of the two of them was posted to socials a couple of days after the event:
I tried for years to convince a record label to sign me. Finally wore them down! We have now won 6 Arias in 2 years! @SonyMusicAU and @WonderlickEnt I love you so much and thank you Denis Handlin for believing in me ?????? pic.twitter.com/AcNxgDVvgZ
— Amy Shark (@amyshark) November 30, 2018
The day following the awards, The Australian revealed she arrived at the Sony Music offices in Sydney to “make an apology in the company’s boardroom”.
The story comes just days after Handlin was removed as CEO of Sony Music Australia, amid an investigation into the label’s workplace culture. His son, vice president of A&R, Pat Handlin, and the company’s head of human resources, Mark Stebnicki, were also stood down this week.
These changes to the structure of the organisation follow the dismissal of music executive Tony Glover, who was stood down in April of this year. Glover had been accused of inappropriate behaviour during his time at the label — allegations he denies.
Music Junkee has contacted Sony Music Australia for comment.