![]() |
Paul McKessar |
Alison Mau, senior journalist and #metoonz editor at Stuff, wrote this important piece in the Sunday Star Times, it's a must read: "Music industry professionals demand change after speaking out about its dark side". (warning: SA)
"Young music professionals and artists are demanding change in an industry they say is rife with sexual harassment and exploitation.A months-long Stuff investigation has uncovered allegations by women and non-binary people of harassment by male artists, international acts and executives - and has prompted an extraordinary admission and apology from one of the industry’s best-known names..."
The two music managers highlighted for their behaviour in the article are Paul McKessar (CRS Management, who list Benee, Brooke Fraser, Mala as clients and he's also former head of Flying Nun Records) and Lorde's former manager Scott McLachlan, who made the admission and apology mentioned above.
"Maclachlan confirmed he lost his position as Senior Vice President at Warner Australasia and was banned from Warner Music’s Australian offices and gigs, after the company commissioned a sexual harassment investigation in 2018.
"A former employee at the Auckland-based management company he founded, Saiko Management, said Maclachlan also sexually harassed and emotionally manipulated her while she worked for him. Maclachlan has admitted her claims are true.
"Three years after his business relationship with Lorde ended in 2015, UK-born Maclachlan was plucked from Saiko Management to take the role of Senior Vice President of A&R at Warner Music Australasia. He retained a role at Saiko, but the Warner job - split between Sydney and Auckland - made headlines in the music press.
"Within five months, Maclachlan had been banned from the music giant’s Australian offices after an external investigation into a sexual harassment complaint.
"Maclachlan was demoted but stayed with the company as an A & R specialist in Auckland. Stuff understands privacy requirements meant few Warner New Zealand employees were told of the investigation, or its outcome."
On Sunday night Warner Music NZ decided to fire Mclachlan.
"…. Plows claimed McKessar broke off the relationship after being questioned by his partner - but that he was “really upset” when Plows wanted to end the business relationship as a result.
“He said it would be really embarrassing and it would look bad for his career and no-one would know why we’d left.”
via Stuff: "Campbell Smith, McKessar’s business partner at management company CRS, also posted a statement to Instagram on Monday, saying the company had not met standards “to provide a safe environment to our clients”.
Campbell Smith did not respond to multiple requests for comment. His post on Instagram said the company would “engage independent advisors to help us strengthen our company culture and refine policy and processes to ensure that we do always meet this (safety) standard”.
Mckessar posted an apology on his Instagram and returned a music award from 2020 for best manager (Benee) given out by the MMF (Music Managers Forum). No word if McLachlan will return his awards from MMF for best international manager from 2014 and 2015.
The first time I met Scott MacLachlan he basically told me I was done as an artist - that was 15 years ago. Wrong. This shit right here though - NOT ACCEPTABLE. Do fucking better. Don't be afraid to come forward. Real talk.
— DJ Sir-Vere (O.N.Z.M) (@djsirvere) January 24, 2021
https://t.co/Cq7YGPrdwb