A&M Records

A&M Records was a prominent American independent record label founded in 1962 by trumpeter Herb Alpert and music executive Jerry Moss. Operating from its iconic headquarters on the former Charlie Chaplin film studio lot in Los Angeles, the label became renowned for its artist-friendly ethos and eclectic roster spanning jazz, pop music, rock music, and country music. For over three decades, it stood as one of the most successful and respected independent labels in the music industry, known for hits from The Carpenters, The Police, and Janet Jackson before its eventual sale and absorption into the PolyGram conglomerate.

History

The label's origins trace to 1962 when Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss formed a partnership, with the name derived from their surnames. Its first major success came with Alpert's own group, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, whose 1962 instrumental single "The Lonely Bull" launched the label into prominence. Throughout the 1960s, the company established its reputation by signing diverse acts like Brazilian artist Sérgio Mendes and folk-rock group We Five. In 1966, A&M moved its operations to the historic Charlie Chaplin studio lot on La Brea Avenue, which became a symbol of its creative culture. The 1970s marked a period of massive commercial growth with the signing of The Carpenters, Cat Stevens, and Peter Frampton, whose album "Frampton Comes Alive!" became a global phenomenon. The label continued to adapt through the 1980s, achieving monumental success with new wave music acts like The Police and synth-pop artists such as The Human League and Janet Jackson.

Notable artists

A&M's roster was distinguished by its breadth and quality, encompassing legendary performers across multiple genres. In pop and rock, the label was home to The Carpenters, Cat Stevens, Joe Cocker, Supertramp, and Bryan Adams, whose album "Reckless" spawned several major hits. The new wave music era was defined by the massive success of The Police, with albums like "Synchronicity", and other influential acts like Squeeze and Oingo Boingo. A&M also had significant success in soul music and R&B with Janet Jackson's groundbreaking albums "Control" and "Rhythm Nation 1814", as well as artists like Barry White and Sounds of Blackness. Other notable signings included jazz greats like Chick Corea and Al Jarreau, country singer Lyle Lovett, and iconic songwriters such as Leonard Cohen and Rickie Lee Jones.

Impact and legacy

The label's impact on the music industry was profound, demonstrating that an independent operation could achieve major commercial success while maintaining artistic integrity. Its founders, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, were celebrated for their hands-on, artist-centric approach, which contrasted sharply with the practices of larger major labels. The creative environment at the Charlie Chaplin studios fostered innovation and became a legendary hub for musicians. A&M's eclectic catalog influenced numerous musical trends, from the soft rock of the 1970s to the new wave music and pop music dominance of the 1980s. Its legacy is preserved through its extensive and influential body of recordings, which continue to be celebrated and reissued, and its model remains a benchmark for independent music entrepreneurship.

Discography and labels

Throughout its history, the label released a vast and diverse array of recordings through its main imprint and several subsidiary labels. Key subsidiary ventures included Horizon Records, which focused on jazz artists like Art Pepper and Chick Corea, and Omen Records, a short-lived soul music imprint. The company also distributed music from other notable independent labels, such as Windham Hill Records, known for its new-age music artists like George Winston. Its catalog includes landmark albums such as "Close to You" by The Carpenters, "Tea for the Tillerman" by Cat Stevens, "Ghost in the Machine" by The Police, and "The Captain & Tennille" by Captain & Tennille. After its acquisition, the catalog became part of Universal Music Group.

Business and ownership

The company remained independently owned by its founders for most of its history, a rarity for a label of its size and success. In 1989, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss sold A&M to the Dutch conglomerate PolyGram for an estimated $500 million, though they remained involved in operations for a period. This sale marked the beginning of the end for the label's independent era. Following the 1998 merger between PolyGram and Seagram's Universal Music Group, the new parent company began consolidating its holdings. In 1999, the historic Charlie Chaplin studios were closed, and the A&M imprint was effectively retired, with its artist roster and catalog absorbed into the newly formed Interscope Geffen A&M label within the Universal Music Group empire.

Category:Record labels established in 1962 Category:Record labels disestablished in 1999