This page covers the business side of popular music.
Founded in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss |
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A&M |
Founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun; early stars included Ray Charles; (1960s) Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, etc.;
home to Led Zeppelin |
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Atlantic |
Founded in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis; historically associated with the 'hard bop' style of jazz;
in its 1950s and 60s heyday, a series of iconic album covers featured the photography and graphic art of Reid Miles and the session photos of
Francis Wolff |
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Blue Note |
Founded in Los Angeles, in 1942, by songwriter Johnny Mercer, et al; the American label of the Beatles,
as well as Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys, and many others |
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Capitol |
Named after the two brothers who founded it in Chicago in 1950; launched the careers of Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry
and Muddy Waters; other associated artists include Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley and Buddy Guy; has been described as "America's greatest
blues label" |
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Chess |
Founded in Scotland, 1983, by Alan McGee; home to Oasis |
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Creation |
Founded in Los Angeles, 1991, by Sue Knight and Dr. Dre; home of rap artists such as Tupac Shakur, SnoopDogg |
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Death Row |
Founded in 1932 as part of a company that made gramophones (record players); famously turned down the Beatles in
1962, but later signed the Rolling Stones on George Harrison's recommendation |
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Decca |
Founded in 1984 by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons; helped to popularise hip hop and urban music by promoting acts
such as LL Cool J, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys |
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Def Jam |
Founded by UB40 in 1981 |
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DEP International |
Founded in Manchester, 1978, by Tony (Anthony H.) Wilson; home to Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays etc.;
owned the Haçienda Club |
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Factory hacienda |
Founded in 1965 by Andrew Loog Oldham; recorded the Small Faces, The Nice, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall, Groundhogs,
Chris Farlowe, Humble Pie |
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Immediate |
Founded in Jamaica by Chris Blackwell, 1959 |
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Island |
Founded in 1992 by Madonna (et al); home to Alanis Morissette; also released Prodigy's The Fat of the
Land (1997) and Muse's Showbiz (1999) in the USA |
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Maverick |
Founded by Prince in 1985; named after his estate in Minneapolis; closed in 1994 after Warners (his previous label)
ended its distribution deal |
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Paisley Park |
EMI's label for comedy and the spoken word, which became The Beatles' home (until 1967 when they formed Apple) |
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Parlophone |
Label with which George Michael entered into a legal dispute |
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Sony |
Founded in London, 1976, by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera (real name Andrew Jakeman); home to Elvis Costello,
Ian Dury, Dr. Feelgood, The Damned, etc. |
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Stiff |
The label that 'discovered' Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison |
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Sun |
Founded in 1974 by Led Zeppelin |
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Swan Song |
Founded in Detroit by Berry Gordy Jr., 1959; nicknamed 'Hitsville USA' (founded as Tamla Records; incorporated
in 1960 as Motown Record Corporation) |
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Tamla Motown |
Founded in Coventry, 1979, by Jerry Dammers of The Specials; specialised in ska and reggae |
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2 Tone |
Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells was the first album released by (catalogue number V2001) |
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Virgin |
Started out as A&R man for Liberty Records, signing the Groundhogs and producing their first album; also
produced Steeleye Span's album and single All Around My Hat, Elkie Brooks's version of
Lilac Wine, and Vanessa-Mae's groundbreaking debut album; created the Wombles
as a pop act; discovered Katie Melua; see also Songwriters |
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Mike Batt |
Owner of Worthy Farm |
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Michael Eavis |
Co–founder of Atlantic Records: died in December 2006, aged 83; a benefit concert in his memory, almost 12
months later (featuring Led Zeppelin's first live performance since the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980, with his son Jason in his
place) attracted 20 million online ticket applications, which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest demand for
tickets for one music concert |
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Ahmet Ertegun |
Manager of Tommy Steele, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde; also produced the TV programmes Six–Five Special
and Oh Boy!, and the unsuccessful 1968 musical Catch My Soul (based on Shakespeare's Othello) |
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Jack Good |
Manager of Led Zeppelin – died in 1996 |
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Peter Grant |
Producer of Michael Jackson albums Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987);
also produced the 1985 charity song We Are the World, and wrote the score to the film The Italian Job (1969), among others |
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Quincy Jones |
Founder of Creation Records, and manager of Oasis |
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Alan McGee |
Manager of the Sex Pistols |
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Malcolm McLaren |
Italian record producer, composer (etc.), pioneer of synth disco and electronic music, often referred to as "the
Father of Disco": born in South Tyrol, the German–speaking part of Italy; won three Oscars;
credited along with Phil Oakey (of the Human League) on the 1984 UK Top Three hit Together in Electric Dreams |
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Giorgio Moroder |
Producer of The Animals, Lulu, etc. |
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Mickie Most |
Managed the early career of the Rolling Stones |
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Andrew Loog Oldham |
Elvis Presley's manager |
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"Colonel" Tom Parker |
Founder of Sun Records – discovered Elvis Presley |
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Sam Phillips |
Producer who aimed to produce a 'wall of sound'; produced the Beatles album Let It Be |
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Phil Spector |
Manager of Boyzone and Westlife |
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Louis Walsh |
Fashion designer, said to have invented punk rock (along with Malcolm McLaren) |
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Vivienne Westwood |
Television journalist and presenter, a co–founder of Factory Records, and manager of the Haçienda
nightclub: became known as 'Mr. Manchester', in reference to his pre–eminence in the Manchester music scene of the 1980s and 90s;
died of cancer in 2007, aged 57 |
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Anthony H. (Tony) Wilson |