Now, here's a fun one. According to the New York Times, the Bertelsmann execs who make up half the board of SonyBMG are pushing for the removal of Andy Lack from the top job at the merged major label. Lack's contract is up for renewal in six months time, and the BMG bosses are said to considering blocking that renewal.
Despite the fact SonyBMG's market share has fallen from 33% to 26% since the merger, internal supporters of Lack insist that any moves by BMG execs to oust their man has nothing to do with his performance in the job, and everything to do with ongoing political tensions between Sony and Bertelsmann execs. Those tensions have, if anything, increased recently, particularly after the previously reported announcement that Michael Smellie will step down from the COO job at SonyBMG at the end of the year - Smellie was the highest ranking former BMG man at the merged company.
But some say there are other reasons why some former BMG men would want Lack out. The Times say some feel the SonyBMG top man, a former TV industry executive, lacks passion for the music business, and the music his company releases, which might not bother investors, but which damages internal morale. The paper also reports that senior BMG exec Clive Davis has expressed frustration in Lack's handling of his long drawn out contract negotiations with the record company.
Lack seems to have support from higher up the Sony Corp, and some have predicted a promotion higher up the parent company might be in the pipeline. Whether BMG execs can do anything to threaten his role at SonyBMG in the meantime remains to be seen.