2017's Power 50 #1 Denis Handlin On The Past, Present & Future Of Aus Music

Following an undeniably-stellar 2017 which has seen endless ARIA Award wins, another Eurovision nod and being recognised with an "AO" on the Queen's Birthday Honours List, Chairman & CEO Australia and New Zealand and President of Asia Sony Music, Denis Handlin, has deservedly taken out the #1 position on the current Power 50 list. 

From his beginnings in the music industry as a junior record assembler at Brisbane's warehouse of the Australian Record Company in 1970 (which would later become CBS then Sony), Handlin's passion for the business showed and his rise up the ladder was rapid. Taking on roles as promotions rep, promotions manager and state manager of Queensland in just five years, his work as state manager saw his team win branch of the year in 1975 and in 1976, he was elevated to national promotions manager, working out of the Sydney head office. He was appointed as Head of Sony Music Australia in 1984 and Head of the Asia Pacific Region in 2010.

"My first goal when I started in the Brisbane warehouse was to learn as much as I could and work as hard as I could," Handlin recalls. "It was a dream job. Music was my passion. During our high school years, my late brother Des and I would pretend to be DJs under our Brisbane house with our own make believe radio station 4DH." 

Fast forward to now and Sony's reputation as one of Australia's best labels is stronger than ever. Its biggest acts in 2017 were arguably also its key breakouts - Gang Of Youths, Amy Shark and Peking Duk - who took out Album Of The Year, Breakthrough Artist and Song Of The Year gongs respectively at last year's ARIA Awards.

"It certainly was a fantastic year for Gang Of Youths, Amy Shark and Peking Duk and one that all of us were very proud and delighted to see," Handlin said.

"We were always convinced in the talent of Gang Of Youths from the first time we met over five years ago. Over that time we have worked closely with the band through an album, an EP and then last year's Go Farther in Lightness album.

"[Frontman David Le'aupepe] and the band are deeply passionate about their music and how they connect with their fans. We at Sony Music worked hand in hand with the band to help them achieve their goals and have always shared the confidence that they would connect with the Australian public. We were all thrilled with the success at last year's ARIAs and having three songs in the Top 10 of the triple j Hottest 100. This is really the beginning.

"Amy's talent is undeniable also, and from the first listen of Adore we were totally on board to support her. We believed we could really allow Amy to develop her great songs and performances which we knew would be compelling here and overseas.

"Both these artists have incredible back stories and have worked extremely hard over many years to get to this position. We are in for the long haul with these great artists to continue to develop their careers."

Indeed developing a multitude of Australian artists over the past four decades has been a hallmark of his career and Sony Music’s worldwide CEO Rob Stringer has given full support to go to new levels.

Handlin says, "I have worked with Rob for over 32 years, and I have the utmost respect for him personally and professionally. He is an outstanding music man and he leads our culture to be a creative magnet for artists with the best A&R and artists relations.

While Handlin's work in Australia proves to continuously go from strength to strength, his role as head of Sony in Asia, which includes the markets of China, India and South Korea, is also proving vital for local artists. 

"There is no doubt the world is becoming a smaller place and music fans can easily access and enjoy music from any country at any time," Handlin says.

"We have Australian artists collaborating in the region both in writing and making records and we believe that the opportunities in this regard will continue to grow."

With over 48 years experience in the industry, Handlin has many fond memories, including inducting Aussie icons Midnight Oil into the ARIA Hall Of Fame in 2006 and mentoring now-prominent names in the industry like John Watson (Eleven) and John O'Donnell (former head of EMI). However, co-founding the Sony Foundation Australia in 1998, which supports youth and those in need of specialist care in 1998 is an "equally proud achievement".

A proud family man, having married his childhood sweetheart, Jan (celebrating their 41st anniversary this week) and together raising six wonderful children stands at the top of his personal achievements.

The Foundation has raised over $30 million for youth-based causes such as the You Can national specialist youth cancer wards programme and the Holiday Respite Camps for special needs children, which includes 46 schools and four universities. 

"There are many memorable moments with artists, but fundamentally it is always about helping artists establish their dreams and careers," Handlin says.

"To have the opportunity to sign artists like Delta Goodrem, Jessica Mauboy and Silverchair when they were teenagers and most recently to sign Amy Shark and Tash Sultana and to work with them to develop their careers, is simply brilliant.

"On the international side, going back to the '70s when I first met and was part of the team to help market Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel's music in Australia, as well as many other artists since, such as P!nk and Dave Grohl has been a privilege. It is something I never take for granted and really cherish. At the base of the triangle it is always about brilliant artists and great songs and helping make hits out of hits."

Moving forward, Handlin believes right now is the "most exciting time" to be involved in the Australian music industry, which is only getting stronger. 

"Music consumers have never had so much power and more access to music, as well as influence on the success of artists through social media platforms," he says. "The industry is growing again and getting stronger, but in this business, the minute you think you know it all, you know nothing. It is a constant process of learning and reinventing. The biggest room for the world is the room for improvement."

However, that's not to say that the industry doesn't need to adapt and constantly strive to improve. 

"The industry has to challenge itself to become better marketers and developers of artists.

"In the streaming world with the heavy influence of international playlists, Australian record labels must achieve new levels of marketing excellence to get the breakthroughs for their Australian artists. It is a continual process to find the best ways to communicate with our media partners.

"These are exciting times for all of us in the business and it is fair to say there is a renewed confidence across the industry to build and invest further, particularly in Australian artists and bring music fans even more diversity and magic moments."