COMPANY TOWN : Jesse Jackson, PolyGram Execs Meet

Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson met Tuesday in New York with the top brass of PolyGram Music Group to discuss the corporation’s position about a racial remark made by a senior executive. Eric Kronfeld, president and chief operating officer of PolyGram’s domestic music division, had suggested in an Oct. 17 court deposition that if record companies were prevented from hiring people with criminal records, no blacks would be working in the music industry. PolyGram demoted Kronfeld five days later. Jackson and PolyGram declined to comment on the 90-minute meeting. Sources, however, said the firm would release a statement--possibly as early as today--underscoring its commitment to diversity in the hiring and promotion of women and people of color. It is likely to include a public apology as well as an announcement that the Dutch-owned corporation may name an African American to its international board, sources said. The firm is not expected to ask Kronfeld to step down, sources said.