Warner Music Group has terminated the employment contract of Scott Maclachlan after incidents of sexual harassment have come to light.
Maclachlan, originally from the UK, is best known for discovering and then managing the Grammy-winning artist Lorde at his own Saiko Management, which he founded in 2013.
Following 20 years in the UK music industry, Maclachlan moved to New Zealand in 2008, where he discovered Lorde when she was 13 years old.
Maclachlan was named SVP of A&R at Warner Music Australia in May 2018.
Later that year, however, as detailed in a new Stuff exposé, Maclachlan was demoted by Warner – as well as being banned from the company’s Australian offices and related concerts – after WMG launched a sexual harassment investigation into the exec following a complaint.
This investigation found evidence of what Warner says it believed was an “isolated incident”. Now Stuff has uncovered further claims of sexual harassment linked to Maclachlan, who the magazine says has “admitted years of harmful behaviour” and who says he is now “in intensive psychotherapy”.
Following the publication of Stuff’s report, MBW followed up with Warner Music Group today (January 24). A WMG spokesperson told us: “Warner Music is committed to providing a safe, professional environment for all our team. Our Code of Conduct is very clear regarding harassment of any kind. All allegations are treated seriously and action is taken if any employee’s behaviour has breached that code.
“We investigated what we believed to be an isolated incident in 2018, with the assistance of an external expert, and we went further than they advised with disciplinary actions. Now that we’ve learned about these additional incidents, we’ve terminated Scott Maclachlan’s employment contract with immediate effect.”
Maclachlan told Stuff: “I do accept the harmful impact of my past behaviour and I try every day to repair the damage and prevent it happening again.”
After taking the Warner job, Maclachlan retained a dual role at Auckland-based Saiko Management.
Stuff reports that a former employee at Saiko has accused Maclachlan of sexually harassing her.
Amy Goldsmith tells Stuff she had a “complicated” work relationship with Maclachlan at Saiko. Although noting her and Maclachlan were good friends, she claims that he verbally sexually harassed her.
Goldsmith claims. “He would insinuate he wanted more [than a professional relationship]; he would comment on my body, he would ask whether I wanted to kiss him. Most of the time I just told him to shut up.”
Maclachlan has confirmed that he made comments about employee’s bodies in the past, and asked them whether they wanted a sexual relationship with him.
“Yes. Stupid, insensitive and ignorant comments,” Maclachlan told Stuff. “There’s not a day goes by that I don’t regret the harm I have caused people around me and most importantly the pain and embarrassment I have caused my wife and children.
“I have to live with that guilt, knowing that people I worked with have also endured pain and stress because of my actions.”
The exec says he is now receiving treatment for alcoholism and trying “to live a simpler, less egotistical life.”
Music Business Worldwide