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)
