Record Label Bosses - Four of the Best

It takes a special kind of person to run a record label. These days, most label figureheads are anonymous, hard-working people who are trying to figure out ways to squeeze pennies out of consumers after the monetary value of recorded music plummeted beyond recognition. It wasn't always that way. Prior to the '00s, the greatest record labels were often analogous to harebrained schemes, with all kinds of whims indulged and odd avenues pursued, usually courting the displeasure of the bands they were supposed to be promoting. And those whims were often cooked up with little regard for cost or purpose--it was the art that counted. Here, we take a look at some of the charismatic behind-the-scenes figures who did very little to actually remain behind the scenes.

1. Tony Wilson (Factory Records)



Tony Wilson cared little for straightforward commercial success. The elaborate Peter Saville-designed sleeves for New Order's "Blue Monday" famously cost so much to produce that each sale incurred a loss. It didn't matter, because it all added to the myth Wilson had carefully sculpted around Factory, which did achieve success with bands like Joy Division, Happy Mondays, and New Order, but threw all the money away on expensive trinkets like the Hacienda and the famously elaborate conference table in the label's offices.

2. Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman (Sub Pop)



The early days of Sub Pop, with their limited edition vinyl releases and careful playing of the media game, are legendary. They may have signed Nirvana, but that didn't matter when Messrs. Pavitt and Poneman were staring innumerable debts in the face and trying to figure out a way to keep various ruses bubbling along in the press. Incredibly, it worked, not just with Nirvana, but also with later signings like the Shins and the Postal Service. Pavitt jumped ship back in '96, but Poneman continues to thrive with the label to this day.

3. Ahmet Ertegun (Atlantic Records)



Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson founded Atlantic Records in 1947, progressing to make rock and soul history. Ertegun helped foster important soul talents by bringing the Stax label and others under Atlantic's wing, but he remains best known for signing Led Zeppelin after hearing their demo. It's testament to his talent and standing in the industry that a star-studded concert was held in his honor following his sad death in 2006--even though the public at large may not have known his name, the show at the O2 Arena in London was enough to persuade the remaining members of Led Zeppelin to get back together for a blast through their best-known songs.

4. Paul Morley and Trevor Horn (ZTT)



This strange pair--Morley was a music writer for the NME, Horn a member of one-hit wonders the Buggles--created a wonderfully arty label in the shape of Zang Tumb Tumb. Morley penned fantastically pretentious sleeve notes and joined the Art of Noise, while Horn foisted lavish production values on bands such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Propaganda. They never equaled the success of Frankie, and nor did it ever appear they wanted to, with ZTT ultimately ending up with one foot in the mainstream and one foot in the art world, which no doubt delighted Morley, who remains fascinated with both.