This is a question that's been on my mind for a long time. i have read and researched the history of A&M Records(along with also Motown) and from what I read,both companies were the most successful independent record labels from the sixties onto the eighties.
Both had a 'family oriented philosophy'(of course definitely with Motown;given that the company was created by Berry Gordy with the help of his family) concerning their artists;both had a singular, definitive,innovative vision for their companies; with Gordy, it was to take an African-American created company where it's never gone before; with Alpert and Moss, it was to be a record label for the artist by the artist.
Yet in 1988, I believe, Herb, Jerry AND Berry sold their companies! I read Gerry Posner's book about Motown called(what else) MOTOWN, and while I don't remember the exact reasons why Gordy sold, it seemed it came down to brass tacks; simply economics.(Another reason Gordy gives is-I'm paraphrasing-'I'm getting old,the kids are all spoiled,and I've got high blood pressure.')
Yet, I don't remember why exactly Herb and Jerry sold A&M. Was it for economics; for it certainly seems it was not for losing cash,from what I understand, A&M was in the top ten of profitable record labels for that time period; unlike Motown which wasn't making ANY money by then;it was just living off their past glories.
so what did they sell it for then? Was it because they were tired of running the ship by themselves, and they wanted an even bigger ship to run it?(in this case Polygram, which became Universal)
Come to think of it, Gordy sold Motown to Polygram as well!
Both had a 'family oriented philosophy'(of course definitely with Motown;given that the company was created by Berry Gordy with the help of his family) concerning their artists;both had a singular, definitive,innovative vision for their companies; with Gordy, it was to take an African-American created company where it's never gone before; with Alpert and Moss, it was to be a record label for the artist by the artist.
Yet in 1988, I believe, Herb, Jerry AND Berry sold their companies! I read Gerry Posner's book about Motown called(what else) MOTOWN, and while I don't remember the exact reasons why Gordy sold, it seemed it came down to brass tacks; simply economics.(Another reason Gordy gives is-I'm paraphrasing-'I'm getting old,the kids are all spoiled,and I've got high blood pressure.')
Yet, I don't remember why exactly Herb and Jerry sold A&M. Was it for economics; for it certainly seems it was not for losing cash,from what I understand, A&M was in the top ten of profitable record labels for that time period; unlike Motown which wasn't making ANY money by then;it was just living off their past glories.
so what did they sell it for then? Was it because they were tired of running the ship by themselves, and they wanted an even bigger ship to run it?(in this case Polygram, which became Universal)
Come to think of it, Gordy sold Motown to Polygram as well!