Trade publication the Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday
honored Disney executive Anne Sweeney as its pick for the most
powerful woman in the US entertainment industry.
Sweeney topped the publication's 16th annual "Women in
Entertainment: Power 100" special issue, which includes names in
the motion picture, television, music and other entertainment
industries.
Sweeney, co-chairman of media networks at the Walt Disney Co.
and president of the Disney-ABC Television Group, moved up from the
number-two spot on the 2006 list.
She was singled out for her "formidable achievements in 2007,
having not only led the charge in implementing the company's
digital initiative, but in seeing that initiative translate into
revenue, up 7 percent over last year," according to the Hollywood
Reporter.
Of last year's top 10, nine are making their second consecutive
appearance in the group, with Shari Redstone, Viacom's
vice-chairwoman and daughter of media mogul Sumner Redstone, the
only newcomer, moving up from 13th in 2006.
According to Elizabeth Guider, editor of the Hollywood Reporter,
this year's "Power 100" list, which was officially unveiled at an
invitation-only breakfast at the Beverly Hills Hotel, in particular
"reflects the immense business success of these women" in the
entertainment industry.
When the publication began publishing the annual list 16 years
ago, few women were in positions of power in Hollywood, she
said.
Paramount's Sherry Lansing, who has appeared on the list many
times herself, was the only female chairman at any studio at the
time. Today, Guider said, the entertainment industry has female
executives in every discipline, many at the level of president or
higher.
As in the past, this year's issue also ranks the top 10
actresses by salary, with Reese Witherspoon -- last year's number
two -- claiming the top spot from Nicole Kidman. Angelina Jolie and
Cameron Diaz are numbers two and three respectively, while Kidman
slid to number four this year.
At the breakfast ceremony, Academy Award-winning actress Jodie
Foster received the "Sherry Lansing Leadership Award," presented to
a woman who has been a pioneer or leader in her field in the
entertainment industry.
(CRI December 5, 2007)