On the 3rd of February 2024, Pierre Garnier won the Star Academy 2023. With his authenticity, sensitivity, and pop-rock universe filled with sincerity, the young man from Normandy quickly charmed everyone with his unique voice and consistent performances on the stage of the Dammarie-les-Lys castle. In the final, he emerged victorious against Julien Lieb with over 55% of the votes, clinching the coveted title and a contract with Sony Music France. Following this success, he released his first single “Ceux qu’on était,” an introspective song that became a true hit, accumulating millions of streams and propelling his solo career.
Building on this success, Pierre Garnier decided to join the independent label Duchess, which was praised for its modernity and artistic emancipation. By becoming a part of it, he was able to maintain control over his musical direction and support other emerging talents in a more open setting than traditional circuits. However, not everything was ideal at Duchess, as revealed by StreetPress in an in-depth investigation published on Monday, March 30.
“Why is Pierre Garnier’s music label causing controversy?” – The label founded by Léo Chatelier, in which Sony Music France has a minority stake, is currently under scrutiny. Former collaborators describe a different reality within the company. According to several testimonies, the atmosphere within the label is described as “tense,” marked by a manager described as “temperamental” and working conditions described as “challenging.”
Some mention experiences of humiliation. “He likes to belittle to maintain power over you,” summarizes a producer. Aggressive or sexist messages are said to have circulated on internal forums, with a witness stating, “The contrast between what he preached in meetings and the locker room jokes was alarming.” When approached by StreetPress, Léo Chatelier acknowledged “mistakes in managing the teams” but refuted any malevolence. He explained that the label has since become more professional, with the establishment of a “charter against sexist and sexual violence” and a team that is “gender-balanced.”
The hidden side of Pierre Garnier’s label – Several former employees of Duchess have raised serious financial issues: salary delays, installment payments, and unpaid invoices. Some claim to have been paid in installments, with others waiting for payments dating back several years. Léo Chatelier acknowledges past mistakes but emphasizes that external firms now audit the accounts: “No mismanagement has been reported.” However, for some former employees, the memory of giving their all to a musical dream that turned into a nightmare will not easily fade. “I came out disgusted with the music industry,” one of them shared.
Look out for your collector’s magazine Voici number 2000 in stores from April 3 to 16, featuring 25 pages of behind-the-scenes stories, juicy gossip, and iconic moments.
