“I’ve always had a good feel for the new and slightly different, and have never been afraid to trust my intuition,” – Chris Blackwell.
26 years ago today, PolyGram chief Alain Levy and other officials asked Island Group President Chris Blackwell to step down immediately from the company he founded in a meeting held at PolyGram’s New York headquarters. It was two days after Blackwell had publicly criticized the chairman of PolyGram, the company that bought island Records for $300 million almost a decade earlier in 1989.
Over the years, there has been speculation and comments from artists like Junior Reid, who regard Chris Blackwell, the son of British aristocrats, as a formidable figure in the music industry who “controls things”. Whether or not Reid’s sentiments hold true, Chris Blackwell faced significant challenges as he navigated the global entertainment industry during some of the most transitional years.
Junior Reid Says One Man Controls Reggae And Hip Hop
In July 1959, a young Blackwell founded Island Records, a label that would later introduce the world to reggae icon Bob Marley and U2, earning him the respect of his peers. However, in 1997, Blackwell found himself in a highly publicized clash with the world’s largest music company and its leader at the time.
Blackwell didn’t hold back in his criticism of then-chairman of PolyGram, Alain Levy, expressing concerns that his goals were in jeopardy if he continued under the leadership of the Dutch conglomerate.
PolyGram’s Ambitions and Island’s Sale
PolyGram aimed to establish a stronger presence in the U.S. music market, and Blackwell’s concerns started to affect those prospects. In July 1989, Blackwell made a pivotal decision, selling Island Records to PolyGram UK for £180 million ($300 million). He later explained that the label had become too corporate for his liking, stating, “It had gotten too big and too corporate for me, and I couldn’t really handle it.”
The deal encompassed not only the record company but also its distribution operation and music publishing catalog. At that time, Island was one of the few successful record companies not already owned by a major conglomerate, making it a sought-after acquisition.
PolyGram eventually acquired Island, and Blackwell assumed the role of president, driven by his commitment to preserving Bob Marley’s legacy he says in his Memoir “The Islander”.
However, despite the deal, Blackwell received only $80 million, as royalties owed to U2 took a significant portion. Eight years later, the 60-year-old music impresario grew increasingly disillusioned with the corporate culture at PolyGram and offered to resign from the company’s board of directors.
Blackwell’s decision to step down from the board came after disagreements with French executive Alain Levy. He openly criticized Levy in the media, an unusual move in the music industry.
The Blackwell’s Perspective VS Music Industry
Chris Blackwell had a unique perspective on the music industry. He believed that meeting corporate demands for increased sales to boost stock prices was not how an artist’s career should be nurtured. He advocated for artists to commit to the industry, producing albums that might not yield immediate success, a view he underlined with the example of Bob Marley’s early career.
“When I renewed my contract a few years ago with PolyGram,” Blackwell said, “I was under the impression that I was going to be able to build an entertainment business with an independent feeling within PolyGram. But it isn’t going to happen. I really believe that it is impossible for an independent type of company structure to work and grow within a corporation like PolyGram.”
Blackwell challenged the notion of “chart music” and emphasized Island Records’ history of building artists over hit singles, drawing a contrast with Motown.
His creative vision and willingness to trust his intuition set Blackwell apart. He transformed Island Records from a one-man operation into an industry powerhouse, introducing the world to ska and reggae music, as well as managing top acts like Cat Stevens and Steve Winwood.
Blackwell’s Exit from PolyGram
As Blackwell’s public statements continued to diverge from Levy’s vision, tensions grew. Blackwell’s frustration stemmed from Levy’s rejection of his proposals to acquire a stake in Interscope Records and the alternative music cable station, ‘The Box’. “What I have come to realize is that it is not really possible for me to continue to grow creatively in the entertainment business within PolyGram,” Blackwell said in a phone interview from his GoldenEye estate in Jamaica.
“I feel that Alain Levy is restricting me, and I don’t understand why. It is unlikely that I will be able to do what I want to do and still stay within the corporate structure,” Blackwell stated publicly in the LA Times.
Seagram eventually acquired a half-interest in Interscope for $200 million, while Interscope became one of the hottest music labels in the late 1990s, with acts like Tupac and Dr. Dre generating substantial revenue.
Blackwell and Levy’s disagreements persisted. Blackwell highlighted the lack of confidence in his judgment, stating, “Alain and I have not seen eye-to-eye for a long time. I don’t understand Alain’s vision. He’s not a very communicative person. He never discusses anything with me… But then just let me do my own thing.”
PolyGram’s Termination of Chris Blackwell
On the last day of October 1997, PolyGram terminated Chris Blackwell’s contract and removed him from the board. The company appointed Davitt Sigerson as the chairman of Island Records and John Barbis as the president of the Island unit, tasked with overseeing the careers of acts like U2, the Cranberries, and Dru Hill.
Blackwell’s Legacy and Beyond
In May 1998, Seagram Co., which owned Universal Studios, acquired PolyGram. PolyGram Chief Executive Alain Levy’s fate was uncertain, and he later left to join McKinsey as a senior advisor. Levy then moved to EMI, where he championed the era of iTunes downloads with Apple.
PolyGram was eventually folded into Universal Music Group, and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment became part of Universal Pictures. The entertainment division of Seagram faced financial difficulties and was eventually sold to Vivendi, with MCA Inc. becoming Universal Studios.
Chris Blackwell did not reenter the music industry as a label executive. Instead, he continued to manage a fleet of hotels and owns Blue Mountain Publishing, which managed the catalogs of artists like Chronixx, Skip Marley, and U2.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 21: Island Records Founder Chris Blackwell (C) poses with Primary Wave Executives Adam Lowenberg, Ramon Villa, Justin Shukat and Larry Mestel Primary Wave x Island Records Presented By Mastercard: One Love Hotel – Marley Family Launch Event at 1 Hotel West Hollywood on January 21, 2020 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Island Records)
Now 86, Blackwell’s mentorship influenced others in the industry, such as Larry Metsel, who started at Island and his private equity company Primary Wave acquired a portion of the Marley rights through a partnership with Blue Mountain Publishing. PW also owns the catalogs of James Brown and the imaging rights to Whitney Houston.
Chris Blackwell’s enduring legacy remains rooted in his unique vision for the music industry, his commitment to artist development, and his unyielding trust in his own intuition.
