In an internal memo leaked by the London Financial Times, that new EMI top bloke, Terra Firma's Guy Hands, has told his employees that while he is still some way off finalising his strategy for transforming the major into a multi-disciplined music firm, that he expects a radical cultural change at the company that fosters more cross-organisation collaboration and a better embracing of technology to ensure they represent and service the artists on their roster in the best possible way.
He adds that he also expects artists and their representatives to fully deliver to the music firm in return for EMI's financial commitment. Implying that some artists and artist managers do not currently work hard enough to justify the investment EMI makes, he writes: "I believe that if we offer better products and have the right culture which has at its core honesty, transparency and performance, then we will be able to attract, retain and develop the very best artists. Additionally, at the point where we are really world-class in the service we are offering to artists, there is no reason why we should not be more selective in whom we choose to work with".
He continues: "There has been a lot of talk about what labels offer to artists and to the consumer. However, there is not much talk about how artists should work with their label. While many spend huge amounts of time working with their label to promote, perfect and endorse their music, some unfortunately simply focus on negotiating for the maximum advance... advances which are often never repaid. However, once EMI has the best products and services in music and the best culture for working together then, as already exists within some of our labels, it will be open to us to choose which artists we wish to work with and promote".
To deliver the change in culture within EMI, Hands has confirmed those reports he is looking primarily to recruit new executives from outside the record industry. He says he has spoken to several current and former record label executives about what they may bring to EMI, but that he feels they offer few skills that aren't already within the major. However, he says talks with executives and entrepreneurs in other sectors of the music business, in the wider media and entertainment industry, and in other industries, have been more fruitful, though he adds that "press speculation with regard to [these people] taking very senior management roles at this time is completely false".