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Arts & Entertainment
Pop Music
The Music Business

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Record Labels
People
The Brit Awards
Other

The Music Business

This page covers the business side of popular music.

Record Labels

Founded in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss Click to show or hide the answer
Founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun; early stars included Ray Charles; (1960s) Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, etc.; home to Led Zeppelin Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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" Click to show or hide the answer
Founded in Scotland, 1983, by Alan McGee; home to Oasis Click to show or hide the answer
Founded in Los Angeles, 1991, by Sue Knight and Dr. Dre; home of rap artists such as Tupac Shakur, SnoopDogg Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Founded by UB40 in 1981 Click to show or hide the answer
Founded in Manchester, 1978, by Tony (Anthony H.) Wilson; home to Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays etc.; owned the Haçienda Club Click to show or hide the answer
Founded in 1965 by Andrew Loog Oldham; recorded the Small Faces, The Nice, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall, Groundhogs, Chris Farlowe, Humble Pie Click to show or hide the answer
Founded in Jamaica by Chris Blackwell, 1959 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Founded by Prince in 1985; named after his estate in Minneapolis; closed in 1994 after Warners (his previous label) ended its distribution deal Click to show or hide the answer
EMI's label for comedy and the spoken word, which became The Beatles' home (until 1967 when they formed Apple) Click to show or hide the answer
Label with which George Michael entered into a legal dispute Click to show or hide the answer
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. Click to show or hide the answer
The label that 'discovered' Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison Click to show or hide the answer
Founded in 1974 by Led Zeppelin Click to show or hide the answer
Founded in Detroit by Berry Gordy Jr., 1959; nicknamed 'Hitsville USA' (founded as Tamla Records; incorporated in 1960 as Motown Record Corporation) Click to show or hide the answer
Founded in Coventry, 1979, by Jerry Dammers of The Specials; specialised in ska and reggae Click to show or hide the answer
Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells was the first album released by (catalogue number V2001) Click to show or hide the answer

People

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 Click to show or hide the answer
Former bass guitarist in The Animals: brought Jimi Hendrix to London, and was a key figure in his rise to critical and commercial success; also managed Slade throughout their most successful period Click to show or hide the answer
Owner of Worthy Farm Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
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) Click to show or hide the answer
Manager of Led Zeppelin – died in 1996 Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Founder of Creation Records, and manager of Oasis Click to show or hide the answer
Manager of the Sex Pistols Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer
Producer of The Animals, Lulu, etc. Click to show or hide the answer
Managed the early career of the Rolling Stones Click to show or hide the answer
Elvis Presley's manager Click to show or hide the answer
Founder of Sun Records – discovered Elvis Presley Click to show or hide the answer
Producer who aimed to produce a 'wall of sound'; produced the Beatles album Let It Be Click to show or hide the answer
Manager of Boyzone and Westlife Click to show or hide the answer
Fashion designer, said to have invented punk rock (along with Malcolm McLaren) Click to show or hide the answer
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 Click to show or hide the answer

The Brit Awards

The Brit Awards were first held in (year) Click to show or hide the answer
Single by Neil (Nigel Planer): only winner of the Brit award for Best British Comedy Recording (1985) Click to show or hide the answer
Inept presenters of the 1989 Brit awards Click to show or hide the answer
Click to show or hide the answer
Appeared on video during the 1990 Brit awards and named How Much Is That Doggie in the Window as her favourite song Click to show or hide the answer
Winner of 18 Brit awards, up to and including 2021 – 13 solo and five as a member of a group – twice as many as any other artiste Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer

Other

Legendary New York nightclub of the 1970s, where Blondie, Talking Heads and the Ramones (among others) first attracted notice Click to show or hide the answer
Annual awards of the United States National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Click to show or hide the answer
Annual UK awards, founded in 1996 by Kanya King and Andy Ruffell Click to show or hide the answer
Took place in 1969 on Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, New York Click to show or hide the answer
Farm, between the villages of Pilton and Pylle (six miles east of Glastonbury) on which Glastonbury Festival is held Click to show or hide the answer

© Haydn Thompson 2017–24