| Wednesday 6 February 2013 |
|
Life after $120 million buyout and ex-wife Mariah Carey
Releasing his first book, the veteran executive reveals David Geffen's advice to him about the movie business and whether he'd ever judge "The X Factor". This story first appeared in the February 15 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.
|  | | Tommy Mottola | | Veteran music executive Tommy Mottola doesn't hold back in his new memoir, Hitmaker: The Man and His Music (Grand Central). Of ex-wife Mariah Carey, the former Sony Music CEO says their relationship was "wrong and inappropriate". Describing current Sony Corp. chairman Howard Stringer, who effectively served him his walking papers in 2003, Mottola likens his social skills to that of a glorified sommelier. As for his own legacy, the Bronx-born, Connecticut-based college dropout simply credits "a great set of ears".
But Mottola had brains, too. Look no further than the "billion-dollar song", Celine Dion's Titanic monster "My Heart Will Go On", which he championed. As a manager, he guided Hall & Oates, Carly Simon and John Mellencamp to early success. And Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin and Dixie Chicks are but a few of Sony's marquee artists whose careers hit the stratosphere during Mottola's tenure at the company, where he began as president of CBS Records in 1988.
That's not to say he didn't have stumbles: two high-profile splits (Mottola divorced first wife Lisa Clark, with whom he has two grown children, in 1992; married Carey a year later; then married Mexican actress-singer Thalia in 2000, which has yielded two kids); a nasty battle with Michael Jackson, who accused him of being "devilish"; and an unceremonious sacking after 15 years of service (during which Sony Music saw $65 billion in sales; Mottola pocketed a $20 million severance package and was reportedly offered a $100 million commitment to launch a new label). Now, Mottola, 63, looks back at how far he has come.
You were accused in the press of "trapping" Mariah Carey in an unhappy marriage. In Hitmaker, you describe friction at home as she grew "resentful". Why divulge such details?
I came to the conclusion long ago that I gave the marriage the best that I could, as did she. The good news is that she went on to have a huge career, and so did I. Our personal life didn't work out, but I continue to be her biggest fan and support her.
And now Mariah is a judge on American Idol, do you think that's a good career move for her?
It's funny because Randy Jackson worked for me for ten years, Jennifer Lopez we found and developed and the same for Steven Tyler, who was also on the label... so these are all of my friends and associates. You could use Idol as a giant shot in the arm. For Jennifer, the exposure took her to a whole other level. She benefited tremendously: she had a number one record, did a big tour and had all these sponsorships. (excerpt from Hollywoord Reporter)
|
