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Richard Johnson: Atlantic Records' young CEO shaking up both coasts

Richard Johnson, New York Daily News on

Published in Entertainment News

NEW YORK — Atlantic Records should change its name to Pacific Records now that half its staff and its new boss are in Los Angeles.

Atlantic, founded by legendary Turkish-American Ahmet Ertegun, is now run by Elliot Grainge, 30, who is married to Sofia Richie, daughter of Lionel Richie.

The couple live in L.A. and one source said, “Elliot has been telling people he can’t move, because his wife would kill him.”

Atlantic has 250 employees in New York, but an equal number in Los Angeles, as the record industry has gravitated west.

Grainge started 10K Projects in 2016, and the label has been instrumental in the success of artists like Ice Spice, Christian music sensation Forrest Frank and singer-songwriter Artemas.

Last year, Elliot brought his company to Atlantic’s parent, Warner Music Group. The move put him in a direct rivalry with his father, Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge, who is considered by many to be the most powerful person in music, including Billboard magazine.

“He’s in competition with his father now,” said one insider.

The younger Grainge is expected to make big changes at Atlantic, and the rumor mill is abuzz about possible layoffs. In February, WMG announced it was shedding 600 staff.

Longtime recorded music CEO Max Lousada was among the latest to leave WMG. Sources say Lousada’s refusal to relocate from London to the U.S. was a factor in the decision.

“There’s been a lot of noise and debate around these moves,” a well-placed source says.

“Atlantic is an iconic label and home to some of the world’s biggest stars. Elliot will be its youngest ever CEO. That brings both excitement and uncertainty.”

But the label won’t be called Pacific Records no matter how many employees move west.

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Kaya Coleman had never ridden a horse before she starred as a competitive equestrian in “Beyond Black Beauty,” premiering Oct. 15 on Prime Video.

“I have an athletic background, and I love horses, but I’d never ridden one,” Coleman told me.

As the star of the series, she wasn’t allowed by the insurance policy to mount up.

There was a small army of stunt riders, some for English, some for Western, and some for jumping in this story inspired by “Black Beauty.”

“We see her make mistakes and grow from them,” Coleman says.

Coleman, who grew up in Calgary, Canada, graduated from college and was heading to medical school when she caught the acting bug four years ago. She’s been busy.

She’ll be seen soon in the rom-com “Dickens of a Christmas” and a musical horror movie tentatively titled “Witch’s Ex.”

“I was a bass player, so I learned how to play,” she said.

****

Harry Benson has shot photos of Jackie O, Al Pacino, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and, oh yes, the Beatles.

His new Taschen coffee table tome “The Beatles: On The Road 1964-1966” features the photos he took in Paris before the Fab Four made their first trip to New York.

“We met in their hotel room and I said ‘What have you guys been up to?’ And Paul said ‘We had a pillow fight the other night.’ I immediately thought ‘Let’s do that again.’”

Benson, 94, revealed all this at the Contessa Gallery in Southampton where the show is open through November.

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James Earl Jones wielded a lightsaber as Darth Vader and carried a rifle for the Army in the Korean War.

Jones, who died at 93, told Chauncé Hayden he was ready to bear arms if racial war broke out in the U.S.

In Hayden’s book “Was It Something You Said,” Jones is quoted as saying, “I was prepared to take up arms the same way the I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army) does. I was prepared to consider guerrilla activity.

“I came out of the army fully expecting that there might be a race war. I’m so happy that there wasn’t.”

****

Millions of bucks in baubles can make a jeweler jumpy.

 

Backstage at the Leviev and Bach Mai fashion show, diamond diva and CEO Chagit Leviev was laughing. Nervously.

“We brought the glam and glitz back to Fashion Week,” she revealed. But it wasn’t cheap. “Thousands of carats make models nervous, they were barely breathing.”

She admitted right before the show, “There will be $50 million dollars on the runway, but we have a lot of security around, they blend in.”

And then one beefy bauble guard bellowed in protest, “We blend in but we are not to be pointed out to the press.”

Saudi princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, former Editor of Vogue Arabia, was also impressed with the jewels and the schmattas.

“This is exciting again. New York used to be the most coveted Fashion Week, and this year there was beauty, creativity and inspiration, so I’m glad it’s back.”

****

When the Ridge Awards Gala honors Northwell bigwig Michael J. Dowling and Rep. Peter King at the Plaza Hotel on Wednesday, look for a few other famous shout-outs.

“We auctioned off Dr. Ruth every year and it was always a huge hit and a big bid. I’m betting she’ll get a posthumous award,” says NPR host and auctioneer Bill McCuddy.

“Also, actor Tony Lo Bianco always spoke to me on the red carpet and contributed a lot of time to Homeland Security. Losing them this year was tragic, but they will be remembered,” McCuddy told me.

The Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation supports the families of fallen agents.

“The credo is ‘They have our backs, we have theirs,’” said McCuddy. Tickets and sponsorships are available at fehsf.givevirtuous.org.

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As a kick-off to the 20th annual New York Comedy Festival this year, Caroline Hirsch and Bob Woodruff are teaming up again to present Stand Up for Heroes to honor our nation’s veterans, service members and their families.

They’ll be joined on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at Lincoln Center by Jim Gaffigan, Norah Jones, Mark Normand, Questlove, Jerry Seinfeld, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa, Jon Stewart, and more.

****

Dave Portnoy celebrated the 21st birthday of his Barstool Sports with an interview on The Resilient Life podcast hosted by Ryan Manion.

Portnoy told her, “I don’t care what people say about me … they either like me or they hate me. And you could present them evidence either way, and they’re not going to change their mind.”

***

Party planner Hank Stampfl of Revel Rouge was seen all over the East Village with actress Leesa Rowland looking for a funky location for her annual Halloween blowout. Stampfl, who sees himself as a modern day Truman Capote, wants to recreate a modern day Black and White Ball.

****

Mother-daughter philanthropists Sharon Bush and Lauren Bush Lauren will be honored at Evie Evangelou’s Fashion 4 Development First Ladies Luncheon during the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23.

The event will be co-hosted by “The Oprah of China,” Yue-Sai Kan.

Lauren Bush Lauren is the granddaughter of President George H. W. Bush and the daughter-in-law of Ralph Lauren.

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Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber have been busy promoting their new murder mystery “The Perfect Couple,” the No. 1 show on Netflix. Despite his hectic schedule, Schreiber still finds time to give back to his grandmother’s homeland.

Schreiber’s charity, BlueCheck Ukraine, hosted the Art & Hope Gala with Artem Yalinsky’s Mriya Gallery to help children affected by the war.

TV star Julia Haart, divorce attorney Dan Stock, and designer Helen Yarmak were among the VIPs checking out the Tribeca gallery’s roster of Ukrainian artists.

****

Olympics sprinter Noah Lyles took girlfriend Junelle Bromfield to brunch at Carnegie Diner & Cafe in Midtown. The fastest American dined on French toast and hot chocolate. A spy said the golden couple forgot to tip, but the wait staff took photos with the star and felt that their presence was gift enough.

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©2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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