Island Records
Island Records | |
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Island Def Jam (France) Island Philippines (Philippines) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (most of Island Pictures film library) | |
Genre | Various |
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Official website | islandrecords |
Island Records is a Jamaican multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica,[1] and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, another label recently acquired by PolyGram, were both at the time the largest independent record labels in history, with Island having exerted a major influence on the progressive music scene in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s. Island Records operates four international divisions: Island US, Island UK, Island Australia, and Island France (known as Vertigo France until 2014). Current key people include Island US president Darcus Beese, [2] and MD Jon Turner. Partially due to its significant legacy, Island remains one of UMG's pre-eminent record labels.
History
Rise of the brand
Island Records was founded in Jamaica on 4 July 1959 by
Tom Hayes, the label's sales manager between 1965 and 1967, referred to the early period of the label in the UK as "organized chaos". The 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop", sung by Jamaican singer Millie Small (1947–2020), was the label's first success in the UK and led to a world tour that also involved Blackwell. Blackwell explained in a 50th anniversary documentary that he was only interested in building long-term careers at that stage in time, rather than short-term projects.[3] Suzette Newman has been a close colleague of Chris Blackwell's since working together in the early days of Island Records, and while there she ran the Mango world music label.[5] Suzette Newman and Chris Salewicz were the editors for the book The Story of Island Records: Keep On Running.[6]
Blackwell relocated to England in May 1962 to garner greater levels of attention after the local Jamaican sound systems proved to be overwhelmingly successful. The label was based at a now demolished basement in
Blackwell signed the
For Toots and the Maytals, the group that introduced the term "reggae" in song with their 1968 single "Do the Reggay",[10] Chris Blackwell was the one who decided on the line-up of the group before introducing them to an international audience. Blackwell had signed Bob Marley, and now Toots and the Maytals. In November 2016, Jackie Jackson described the formation of the group in a radio interview for Kool 97 FM Jamaica.[11] Accompanied by Paul Douglas and Radcliffe "Dougie" Bryan in studio, Jackson explained:
We're all original members of Toots and the Maytals band. First it was Toots and the Maytals, three guys: Toots, Raleigh, and Jerry. ... And then they were signed to Island Records, Chris Blackwell. And we were their recording band. One day we were summoned to Chris' house. And he says, "Alright gentleman, I think it's time. This Toots and the Maytals looks like it's going to be a big thing". By this time he had already signed Bob (Marley). So in his camp, Island Records, there was Toots and the Maytals], the late Bob Marley; we were talking about reggae is going international now. We kept on meeting and he (Blackwell) decided that the backing band that back all of the songs, the recording band, should be the Maytals band. So everything came under Toots and the Maytals. So we became Maytals also. And then we hit the road in 1975 ... we were the opening act for the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, and Jackson Browne. We were the opening act for The Who for about two weeks.[11]
In 1969, Island Records acquired a deconsecrated 17th century church building at 8-10 Basing Street, in the
The first Toots and the Maytals album released and distributed by Chris Blackwell's Island Records was
Despite the initial establishment work that Blackwell completed almost single-handedly, Island struggled as a business in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
I eventually grew to appreciate how Chris Blackwell, and therefore Island Records, was not about one thing, or one style, or one system, or one way of doing things ... [I began] reflecting how the world functions and reinvents itself precisely because it is a fluid, sometimes dangerous, always exhilarating union of systems and beliefs and the best way of allowing the world to progress is to mix up and place in glorious conflict these various systems and beliefs.[18]
In 1983, the film production company formed a partnership with Shep Gordon's Alive Enterprises to form Island Alive and had success with Kiss of the Spider Woman, Koyaanisqatsi, and Stop Making Sense.[17] The partnership was dissolved in 1985.[17] In August 1987, the company was not able to pay US$5 million that it owed to U2 in royalties for The Joshua Tree album, as it had diverted the funds to finance several unsuccessful films. U2 responded by negotiating a deal whereby they received a stake in the label that was estimated to be around 10 per cent.[19]
The label's
PolyGram acquisition
In July 1989, Blackwell sold Island Records and Island Music to the PolyGram UK Group for £180 million; he explained in 2009: "It had gotten too big and too corporate for me and I couldn't really handle it."
Blackwell eventually ended his association with the company in 1997, as the corporate life hindered the independent ethos of his personal life. "I never really had a job until I sold Island to PolyGram in 1989. It had gotten too corporate," he commented afterwards. After Blackwell left, PolyGram closed Island's film business.[22] Blackwell left to found the Palm Pictures company and run a chain of boutique hotels in Miami, US and the Caribbean, including the very exclusive Goldeneye, once the Jamaican home of James Bond creator Ian Fleming.[3] Then in May 1998, all of PolyGram and its associated labels were purchased by Seagram which announced its plan to integrate PolyGram with UMG to produce an estimated cost savings, within a couple of years, of between US$275 million and $300 million annually. Seagram further explained that the acquisition would unite a significant international presence with a thriving domestic business, as more than three-quarters of PolyGram's sales were outside the US.[23]
Under Universal Music Group
In December 1998 and the first three months of 1999, UMG placed three divisions under the management of the Island brand: one in the UK, one in the US, and one in Germany.[citation needed] In each territory, these companies were merged under umbrella groups:
- In the UK, Island Records Group, now operating under Virgin EMI Records since 2013.
- In the US, Island, Def Jam and 14 other record labels were merged into The Island Def Jam Music Group; however, within the year, Island/Mercury decided to build upon the success of Def Jam Recordings and re-incorporated the label as The Island Def Jam Music Group. On April 1, 2014, Universal Music announced the disbandment of IDJMG, one of four operational umbrella groups within Universal Music. Effective as of the same day of the announcement, Island Records and Def Jam will now operate as autonomous record labels.[24]
- In Germany, Island and Mercury merged to become divisions of the Island Mercury Label group.[citation needed]
However, in 2001, UMG was merged with French company
In the US, Island became a predominantly pop/rock label, as their urban artists were assigned to either Def Jam or Def Soul, a new Island/Def Jam
I came to work with them, sort of fully formed—the way that I looked, the way that I sounded: that was already there. And I felt, like, that they just supported where that was going to go.[3]
The label celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2009.
Island 50
In 2009, Island Records marked the 50th anniversary of its foundation in
There was also a major exhibition at the Vinyl Factory Gallery in Soho, held in an open space beneath the record shop Phonica. The exhibition featured a display of treasured musical artifacts, including the Trabant car from the sleeve of U2's Achtung Baby, Nick Drake's guitar, the dress worn by Amy Winehouse at the 2008 Grammy Awards, the handwritten lyric sheet for Winehouse's song "Love Is a Losing Game" and Bob Marley's passport application form. The exhibition contained 800 prints showcasing the work for Island of the photographers Adrian Boot, Jean-Paul Goude, Anton Corbijn, Gered Mankowitz, Keith Morris and Brian Cooke, and the London exhibition also featured live performances at the Vinyl Factory Gallery by DJ Shadow and PJ Harvey.
Into Island's sixth decade: 2009–2017
Following its 50th anniversary in 2009, Island Records entered its sixth decade on a tide of optimism. The years that followed saw fresh success for a number of established acts, including PJ Harvey, Keane, Paul Weller and Bombay Bicycle Club and an exciting wave of new signings. In its largest live production since its 2009 anniversary, the label also staged a concert by The Weeknd and Jack Garratt on Osea Island, a small island in Essex, as part of a bespoke one-day festival for 400 guests, including label staff, media and 200 fans who obtained tickets via a ballot.
2016 proved a particularly successful year for the label in the UK: over a seven-week period between April and June, four separate Island acts spent at least one week at number one. The albums concerned were
Island's sixth decade: the artists
North London quartet
, was a UK number one.Island was also responsible for securing major British breakthroughs for two of the 21st century's biggest international superstars in
Canadian singer and songwriter The Weeknd also cemented his position as one of the world's leading recording artists, with the 2016 success of his third album Starboy. Its success was the culmination of a strategy that had seen Island build his UK profile over a four-year period that dated from his 2013 studio album Kiss Land. Island's commitment to further nurturing the careers of global superstars was reiterated in June 2016 with the signing of Sean Paul. The Jamaican singer, rapper and songwriter released "No Lie" (featuring the Youngest English-Albanian Dua Lipa), his first single for Island, in November 2016.
Signed to Island via a licensing deal with independent label PMR,
In May 2018, incumbent president
Seventh decade and further expansions: 2019–present
On 23 July 2020, Universal Music Group and its local subsidiary
Manga Entertainment
Island World Communications, under the leadership of Blackwell and Andy Frain, created Manga Entertainment Ltd, the anime and live action Japanese film division of Island in 1991. In that year, Laurence Guinness, the Senior VP at Island World Communications bought the distribution license for Akira from ICA Projects in London,[33] and the distribution of what was the label's first release is considered a crucial milestone in the establishment of anime in the UK.[34] In 1994, Island sold the distribution licenses for most of Manga's releases to Siren Entertainment, an independent entertainment company in Australia. Those rights were then given to Madman Entertainment in 1999 when Siren became solely an acquisitions company.[citation needed]
Artists and recordings
The recording roster of Island Records, both past and present, has been and continues to be diverse. The label continues to champion new music, a practice that was highlighted at the Island Records 50th anniversary event, at which new artists provided the entertainment.[35]
Subsidiaries and labels
This list is probably incomplete, and some of the dates are uncertain.
- Antilles Records (1972–1998)
- Apollo Recordings (2006–2007)
- Black Swan Records (UK)(1963–1965 and mid-1970s)
- Dublekick Company(2010–present)
- Europa Recordings (2006–2007)
- EmArcy Records (2014–present)
- 4th & Broadway (1983–1998, 2014–present)
- Gee Street Records (1990–1997)
- Island Masters (1980s–1990s; reissues)
- Island Records Australia (2007–present)
- Island Reggae Greats (1985, compilation series; re-issued in several forms)
- Island Trading Company (US holding distributor under PolyGram; 1983–1989)[citation needed]
- Starz Media)
- Mango Records(1972-1997)
- Mercury Records (2014–2015)
- MonarC Entertainment (2002, founded by Mariah Carey)
- Safehouse Records (2015–present, founded by Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, and Phil Mclntyre)
- Smash Records (1994–1999)
- So So Def Recordings (2007–2009, founded by Jermaine Dupri)
- Springtime! (1981–1985)
- Stiff Records (1984–1986 only)
- Stolen Transmission (2005−2007, remained independent until 2008)[36]
- Sue Records (1963–68)
- Surprise Records (mid-1960s, later known as Sportdisc)
- TAG Records (2008–2009)
- Teen Island(2008–2011)
- Trojan Records (1967–1968 only)
- Tuff Gong (1990–present, founded by Bob Marley)
- Witchseason Productions(Joe Boyd)
References
- ^ a b c Perrone, Pierre (1 May 2009). "Island: The record label that changed the world". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
- ^ "Island Records President Darcus Beese Awarded OBE". The Voice. 17 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Keep on Running: 50 Years of Island Records (full documentary)". YouTube. 10 May 2012. Archived from the original (Video upload) on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ISBN 1-86074-281-5.
- ^ Pride, Dominic. "Islandlife Promotes Three U.K. Execs". Billboard magazine. Published by 31 October 1998, p. 8. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ISBN 9780789320964. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "25th Anniversary International Reggae Day". Issuu.com.
- from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "Reggae". Dictionary.com. 30 November 2016.
- ^ a b T interview with Jackie Jackson, Paul Douglas, and Radcliffe "Dougie" Bryan. Kool 97 FM. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-4584-2197-5.
- ^ Thompson, Dave. Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, 2002, p. 179. Print. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Toots and the Maytals", Contemporary Musicians. Encyclopedia.com. 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Toots and the Maytals: Reggae Got Soul", BBC Four (documentary). Directed by George Scott. UK. 2011. 59 min. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ Katz, David, "Toots and the Maytals' Live: From Stage to Wax in 24 Hours", Red Bull Music Academy, 19 June 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ^ Daily Variety. p. 1.
- ^ a b David Sinclair (30 May 2009). "A history of cool". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ISBN 978-1-84772-108-2.
- ^ Brandle, Lars (8 February 2013). "HOT SEAT: MIKE TAYLOR – ISLAND RECORDS". The Music Network. The Music Network. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ Madigan, Nick (9 December 1997). "Polygram shutters Island Pictures". Variety. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
- ^ Geraldine Fabrikant (22 May 1998). "INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; $10.6 Billion Seagram Deal For Polygram". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "How Universal Music Group's New Top-Level Troika Brings Peace (For Now)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-415-87560-8.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (30 December 2013). "U2 Return to 'Spiritual Home' Island Records for Next LP, Expected in April". Spin.com. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the originalon 22 December 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- ^ "The Official Top 40 Biggest Songs of 2016". The Official UK Charts Company. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ "DARCUS BEESE NAMED PRESIDENT OF ISLAND RECORDS". UMG. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ "Island Records Launches in Philippines". Variety. 23 July 2020.
- ^ "Catch a fire: Island Records launches in the Philippines with six local artists". Nme.com. 18 August 2020.
- ^ Olivares, Rick (24 July 2020). "Island Records launches PH label, signs Juan Karlos, Fern, Lala Vinzon". ABS-CBN News.
- ^ "Manga Entertainment: Taking Anime To The Next Stage". Awn.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ Robert Frazer (June 2011). "Manga Entertainment's 20th Anniversary Party - Page 1". UK Anime Network. Etharius Ltd. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ Laura Bruneau (27 April 2009). "Island Records' 50th Birthday Party - The Constitution". Daily Music Guide. Daily Music Guide. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- ^ "Stolen Transmission splits from Island Records". Punknews.org. 2 December 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
External links
- Official website (US)
- Official website (Australia)
- Island Records discography at Discogs (US)