Miles Copeland III
Miles Axe Copeland III (born May 2, 1944) is an American music and entertainment executive and former manager of the Police. Copeland later managed Sting's musical and acting career. In 1979, Copeland founded the I.R.S. Records label, producing R.E.M., the Bangles, Berlin, the Cramps, Dead Kennedys, the Alarm, the Go-Go's, and others.
Miles Copeland III | |
---|---|
Born | Miles Axe Copeland III May 2, 1944 London, England |
Nationality | American |
Education | Birmingham–Southern College American University of Beirut |
Occupation(s) | Music and entertainment executive, band manager |
Parents |
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Family | Ian Copeland (brother) Stewart Copeland (brother) |
Early life, family and education
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Copeland was born in
Copeland attended
Career
While attending school in Beirut to earn his economics degree, Copeland promoted his first concert. After college, he moved to London, met two progressive rock musicians at a club, and helped them form Wishbone Ash.[1]
BTM and Illegal Records
In 1974, Copeland founded the management agency and record label BTM (British Talent Management) and signed a number of progressive rock acts such as Squeeze, Renaissance and Curved Air. In the summer of 1975, he organized a multi-band tour of European music festivals, named Startruckin' 75, which featured several BTM bands as well as Soft Machine, the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Lou Reed (replaced by Ike & Tina Turner).[2] However, Reed's failure to appear at any of the shows and other logistical issues resulted in significant losses for Startruckin 75', and ultimately to the failure of BTM.[3] Copeland filed for bankruptcy and BTM closed down in 1976.[2]
BTM's end coincided with the beginning of the UK's Punk/New Wave movement and led Copeland to co-found
The Police
In 1978, Copeland became manager of his brother Stewart's band, the Police. Copeland shepherded the group to become one of the biggest bands of the 1980s, peaking with a concert for 70,000 people at Shea Stadium[7] and the number one single for 1983, "Every Breath You Take".[8] He continued to manage Sting through seven solo albums. Copeland was not, however, included in the reunion era of the Police, leading to a 2007 interview in which Copeland lamented that money was the issue.[9]
I.R.S. Records
The success of the Police and the novel methods used to popularize them enabled Copeland to found I.R.S. Records through a deal with A&M Records.
Copeland International Arts
Copeland owns and operates CIA (Copeland International Arts), which includes the Bellydance Superstars, Celtic Crossroads, Otros Aires, Zohar, and Beats Antique. Much of the CIA catalog initially included Middle Eastern, world music, Irish, tango, flamenco, and Polynesian styles. The label later signed mainstream artists.[10]
Personal life
Another of Copeland's brothers,
See also
- Bellydance Superstars
- Ark 21
References
- ^ a b c d e "UM Entertainment Management: Miles Copeland". business.umt.edu. University of Montana. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8108-8491-5.
- ISBN 0-906071-66-6.
- ^ "The Pigs - Early UK Punk Rock band". Punk77.co.uk. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
- ^ "Record Label Discographies for rare and collectable vinyl records". Vinylnet.co.uk. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
- ^ a b "Punk in London (1977) - IMDb". IMDb.
- ^ "Rock: Police Perform for 70,000 at Shea Stadium". The New York Times. August 20, 1983. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- ^ "Every Breath You Take by The Police". Songfacts.com. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- ^ "Where's The Police Chief?". The Guardian. September 2, 2007. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- ^ Stipkovich, Aaron. "Recording Company: Copeland International Arts". Performingartsinternational.com. Retrieved December 28, 2015.