Byron Cooke tackles entertainment industry’s toxic culture in confronting podcast

Staff Writer

Former co-host of Fox FM’s Fifi, Fev & Byron show, Byron Cooke, has tackled the Australian entertainment industry’s corporate culture problem in a new podcast episode.

In the episode – which comes in the wake of the ousting of Sony Music Australia’s CEO Denis Handlin – Cooke admits he must have been blind to a lot of the industry’s more insidious elements.

“I must have just been a dumb-arse with a blindfold on, because I worked in radio for 20 years. I dealt with record companies as they brought in their artists to all the different radio stations that I’ve worked at. I’ve only enjoyed really good relationships with the record reps that come in – most of them female, all differing levels of responsibility. So I don’t know what it is that I’ve missed. Maybe everyone saved their best behaviour for me, but I’m hearing an increasing number of stories, particularly amongst artists, young female artists… so what is going on?,” he said.

In the episode, Cooke is joined by content director and editor of Radio Today and The Music Network Vivienne Kelly, as well as Leading Teams’ Tim Ferguson.

The podcast uncovers the behaviours, management practices and cultural norms which have allowed this toxicity to fester, and what might be done next to ensure the momentum for change doesn’t stall.

Kelly cautioned people against assuming change is guaranteed.

“The Australian music industry operates on a culture of fear and silence. That’s the reason so may people who are coming forward are doing so anonymously, because it’s a very small bubble, and you’re warned straight away not to burn bridges, not to upset the powers that be, not to be the noisy, angry female. It’s just instilled in you from the get go and you know that there could be ramifications, even if you don’t know what they will be,” she said on this week’s episode of The Byron Cooke Show.

“There are so many people who are pleased there is a moment of change happening, but even that hasn’t given them the confidence to come forward, because you just don’t necessarily want to be painted with that brush. It can cause road blocks for you, it can cause problems for you, and sometimes being complicit in the silence becomes the easier game for you to play if you want to survive in this game. So a lot of people just don’t have the confidence to come forward. And there’s also a perception that in a lot of instances, human resources, regardless of the company, aren’t on your side, they’re on the organisation’s side, and they’re going to operate to protect the powers that be, the CEOs, the boys’ club, whatever it is, rather than operate in their best interests.”

Instead, this is only the beginning of the end of all the industry’s problems if everyone’s willing to make it happen, she said.

“This could be the moment, but there is no guarantee. Just because something’s started, just because a few executives have been stood down… it’s not a guarantee that there will be cultural change. It has to be something that people work on every single day. It’s not a ball that’s started rolling that’s guaranteed to keep rolling. Organisations will have to do the work. Sony, for example, will have to put someone in charge who can effect change, but one person can’t change an entire industry with decades and decades of an insidious and toxic underbelly. You have to have the cultural want there, the cultural need there, and people every day have to assess their own behaviours and hold other people accountable if anything’s actually going to change.”

Ferguson, meanwhile, said given the behaviours of the past can’t be erased, organisations in Australia’s media and entertainment industry need to create safer environments for people to come forward and call out bad behaviour.

“Ultimately… what you want is an environment in your organisation or your team where people actually feel safe to have the conversation. And I think for me that’s one about feeling safe, so if I want to raise something, it’s okay for me to do so, there won’t be any ramifications, but I guess the second thing is someone’s going to listen.”

He said if organisations are finding out about allegations of bad behaviour via the press or anonymous social media posts, they need to ask themselves “Why can’t we create an environment in our business to say how they feel?”

The new episode of The Byron Cooke Show also covers the entertainment industry’s problematic reliance on non-disclosure agreements and how organisations can start to change and call-out bad behaviour – including everything from starting meetings late to alcohol-fuelled parties.

Read more: 5 questions that need answering after Denis Handlin’s exit

Will Aussie radio have its #metoo moment?

Radio Today Podcast: What’s really stopping radio’s #metoo moment?

Comment Form

Your email address will not be published.

Recent comments (2)
Post new comment
Do better
28 Jun 2021 - 4:31 pm

“The Australian music industry operates on a culture of fear and silence“ – So does the Australian Commercial radio industry

Dan
1 Jul 2021 - 9:49 am

@Do better – I came here to post this. The bullying in radio is disgusting.

I worked in regional, provincial and metro markets, with people who would now be considered ‘hard hitters’, and the stories I could tell about some would shock you.

And we’re not only talking on-air ‘talent’, but those behind the scenes as well. Sadly, the Australian radio industry has a lot to answer for.

Jobs

See all