STEPPING UP: Sexual harassment isn’t the only...

STEPPING UP: Sexual harassment isn’t the only complaint from women in the record industry. An even more oppressive problem is the lack of female executives.

So there’s bound to be some cheering at the news that Missy Worth, who’s been involved with talent acquisition and concert promotion for MCA Concerts for four years, will join Sony Music in September as vice president of talent development.

One reason that Sony was so interested in Worth was her involvement last summer in the “Lollapalooza” tour--an alternative rock showcase that was so successful it is being repeated this year. In fact, Worth doesn’t join Sony until after this year’s tour--which features such acts as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam and Ice Cube. The trek concludes at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on Aug. 28.

She’s the second “Lollapalooza” alum to be tapped by the record industry. Marc Geiger, the Triad booking agent who conceived the “Lollapalooza” concept last year with Perry Farrell, now oversees A&R; and artist development at Rick Rubin’s Def American Records.

Worth, 33, had already established a reputation for innovative approaches to alternative rock acts at MCA Concerts, where she booked the Universal Amphitheatre, among other duties. She often seemed to be one step ahead of others in seeing what bands were going to move up from the underground. But she says that it was mostly a matter of the public’s tastes conforming to hers.

“I didn’t foresee the rise of alternative music,” she says. “It’s just the music I like. My favorite band is still the New York Dolls.”