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Tommy Boy Records

January 20, 2024

Tommy Boy Records is an American independent[1][2] record label and multimedia brand founded in 1981 by Tom Silverman. The label is credited with helping and launching the music careers of Queen Latifah, Amber, Afrika Bambaataa, Stetsasonic, Digital Underground, Coolio, De La Soul, House of Pain, Naughty By Nature, and Force MDs.[3] Tommy Boy is also credited with introducing genres such as EDM, Latin freestyle, and Latin hip hop to mainstream audiences in America.[4]

Tommy Boy Records
Parent companyReservoir Media
Founded1981; 43 years ago (1981)
FounderTom Silverman
StatusActive
Distributor(s)
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City, New York
Official websitetommyboy.com

History edit

1981-1985: Independent music media edit

Tom Silverman created Tommy Boy Music in 1981 in his New York City apartment with a $5,000 loan from his parents. The label was an outgrowth of Silverman's Dance Music Report bi-weekly publication, which spanned 14 years, beginning in September 1978.[5]

1985–2002: Partnership with Warner Bros. Records edit

In 1985, Warner Bros. Records entered into a partnership with Tommy Boy and acquired half of the label, and it allowed the label to use independent distribution as it saw fit, with the option to distribute artists through the major-label channel through Warner Bros. Records or sister label Reprise Records.[6]

Monica Lynch, who was one of the first employees hired by Tom Silverman, became president of the label in 1985.[7][8] As A&R for the label, she signed and managed Queen Latifah, De La Soul, and host of hip hop musicians.

Even though the male–female power struggle in hip hop music has always been present, Lynch and her peers said that the early days of hip hop were magical times for women looking to make it in the record business. Julie Greenwald, Sylvia Robinson, DJ Jazzy Joyce, Mona Scott, and Claudine Joseph also made their mark on different areas of hip-hop. Greenwald and Robinson, like Lynch, became powerful music executives. For more than 25 years, DJ Jazzy Joyce has been one of the most visible and in-demand female turntablists. And Scott and Joseph have managed the careers of some of the biggest names in hip-hop. "Hip-hop provided a tremendous amount of opportunities for women, which might seem antithetical because of the association that many people have with misogyny and hip-hop," says Lynch. "There has been a lot of attention paid to misogynist lyrics in hip-hop over the years, and I'm not going to defend or damn it. I think it exists, but some of the people who helped put those records out were women."[8]

According to Jeff "Chairman" Mao, a key DJ in 1990s underground hip-hop and online hip-hop radio host, Monica Lynch managed the careers of Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force, Stetsasonic, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Naughty by Nature among others.[9]

The label had several joint ventures in the mid 1990s including Penalty Recordings,[10] Stepsun,[11] Beyond,[12] and Ignition.[13] The label also had deals with labels such as Timber Records and distribution deals with Outcaste Records[14] and 75 Ark,[15] while also giving independent distribution to sister imprints that already had label deals with WEA, including American Recordings' Ill Labels, Mute Records' NovaMute, and Cold Chillin Records' Livin' Large.[16]

In 1997, Tommy Boy launched an imprint label called Upaya to pursue the growing interest in spirituality and spiritual/world music.[17][18] The imprint Tommy Boy Gospel was launched in 1998 under the direction of Max Seigel and Marvie Wright.[19] That same year, the imprints Tommy Boy Black Label,[20] which specialized in underground hip hop music, and Tommy Boy Silver Label,[21] which specialized in dance music, were founded.

In 2001, while still affiliated with Warner Music, Tommy Boy Records founder Tom Silverman formed Tommy Boy Films, a TV and film division with Kung Faux creator and Dubtitled Entertainment founder, Michael "Mic" Neumann.[22][23]

2002–2017: Independent again edit

In 2002, Tommy Boy Records became independent again after it ultimately ended its joint venture with Warner Bros. Records, which wanted greater unit sales, and the master tapes released until that time became property of Warner Music, while the Tommy Boy trademark remained with Tom Silverman.[24] The then-current Tommy Boy music artists were shopped to the various WEA labels, the Tommy Boy television and film divisions were merged with the Tommy Boy music division, and the resulting company was rebranded as Tommy Boy Entertainment.[23] Tommy Boy then began licensing its trademark to Warner Music for use on reissues through Rhino/Atlantic Records.

2017–2018: Catalogues acquired edit

In 2017, because of Warner Music's divestment requirements as a result of its purchase of Parlophone, Tommy Boy was able to reacquire its pre-2002 catalogue and the catalogues of Brand Nubian, Grand Puba, and Club Nouveau.[25] In 2018, Tommy Boy also acquired Amherst Records, Harlem Music, and Halwill Music, which hold masters and publishing rights for a diverse collection of '70s Soul, Disco, and Jazz artists including The Stylistics, Van McCoy, and Glenn Medeiros.

2019–2020: De La Soul controversy edit

Controversy rose in early 2019, after Tommy Boy announced that the catalog of its formerly signed group De La Soul would be available on streaming services later that week. This announcement prompted the group to begin a "Tommy Boycott" campaign, due to the fact that they would receive only 10% of revenue generated by streams, with the other 90% going to Tommy Boy. The campaign was shared by their fellow artists Nas, Questlove and Pete Rock, among others. In response, Tommy Boy postponed the deal and announced their discography would not be available on streaming services as previously scheduled.[26][27]

On March 3, 2023, De La Soul's catalogue made its debut on streaming services, after years of negotiations.

2021–present: Tommy Boy sold to Reservoir Media edit

In June 2021, Tommy Boy was acquired for $100 million by Reservoir Media, a music publishing and media rights company founded in 2007 by Iranian-Canadian businesswoman Golnar Khosrowshahi.[28]

Brand image edit

The Tommy Boy logo was originally designed in 1982 by Steven Miglio and redesigned in 1989 by Eric Haze. The logo was named on Complex's list of the 50 Greatest Rap Logos of all time, coming in at number nine.[29]

In the late 1980s, with the emergence of streetwear fashion, Tommy Boy produced and distributed Carhartt jackets embroidered with its logo on the front and back for its own merchandise line called Tommy Boy Gear.[30][31] Tommy Boy is also credited as the first to use lanyards as promotional items, which became a popular streetwear fashion accessory in the 1990s.[32]

Selected artists edit

Discography edit

Main article: Tommy Boy Records discography

References edit

  1. ^ . a2im.org. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  2. ^ Roberts, Dave (June 1, 2017). "Warner sells flurry of copyrights as indie divestment process heads towards finish line - Music Business Worldwide". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  3. ^ Reid, Shaheem. "'Hip-Hop Is History': Tommy Boy Records Unloads Rap Acts". MTV News. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "2015 Partners - New Music Seminar". New Music Seminar. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  5. ^ . In the City of New York. July 23, 2007. Archived from the original on July 23, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ Zane, Warren. Revolutions in Sound—Warner Bros. Records: the first 50 Years. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2009.
  7. ^ Tucker, Bruce (October 31, 1993). "Tommy Boy Can CD Future". Fast Company. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Hey Get Down! Women Got Down, Too!". bust.com. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  9. ^ "Across 135th Street – Monica Lynch". Red Bull Radio. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  10. ^ Reynolds, J.R. (November 4, 1995). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  11. ^ Charnas, Dan (November 1, 2011). The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop. Penguin. ISBN 9781101568118. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  12. ^ "HITS Daily Double : Rumor Mill - A TALE OF THREE LABELS". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  13. ^ Knopper, Steve (June 20, 1998). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  14. ^ 2011 Songwriter's Market. Writer's Digest Books. October 11, 2010. ISBN 9781599632575. Retrieved July 11, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "75 Ark". Discogs. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  16. ^ Nathan, David (July 4, 1992). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  17. ^ Smith, Shawnee (November 29, 1997). "Billboard". Google Books. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  18. ^ Strauss, Neil (June 27, 1996). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  19. ^ Collins, Lisa (June 30, 2001). "Billboard". Google Books. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  20. ^ "CMJ New Music Report". Google Books. CMJ Network, Inc. April 10, 2000. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  21. ^ Flick, Larry (April 11, 1998). "Billboard". Google Books. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  22. ^ Kipnis, Jill (October 19, 2002). Tommy Boy Branches Out With Film/TV Division. Billboard Magazine. Page 6.
  23. ^ a b Tommy Boy Films Distribution Deal September 29, 2020, at the Wayback Machine by James Scileppi, Koch/Entertainment One, August 1, 2005.
  24. ^ "Tommy Boy Artists Dance Again". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  25. ^ "Everything must go: Warner Music's indie divestment 'will end September 30'". Music Week. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  26. ^ "Nas, Questlove, and More Call for Tommy Boy Boycott Following De La Soul Controversy (UPDATE)". Complex.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  27. ^ "De La Soul Calls Out Former Record Label Over 'Unfair' Streaming Deal". Complex.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  28. ^ Aswad, Jem (June 4, 2021). "Reservoir Acquires Iconic Tommy Boy Music, Groundbreaking Hip-Hop Label, for $100 Million". Variety.com. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  29. ^ Mao, Chairman; Sen, Raka. "The 50 Greatest Rap Logos 9. Tommy Boy Records". Complex.com. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  30. ^ "Tom Silverman". Midem. Retrieved August 4, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ Marriott, Michel (November 29, 1992). "THING; The Carhartt Jacket". The New York Times. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  32. ^ Wartofsky, Alona (July 29, 1996). "ONLY THE HIPPEST HAVE KEY RINGS AROUND THE COLLAR". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2017.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Company reference in Hoover's

January 20, 2024
tommy, records, american, independent, record, label, multimedia, brand, founded, 1981, silverman, label, credited, with, helping, launching, music, careers, queen, latifah, amber, afrika, bambaataa, stetsasonic, digital, underground, coolio, soul, house, pain. Tommy Boy Records is an American independent 1 2 record label and multimedia brand founded in 1981 by Tom Silverman The label is credited with helping and launching the music careers of Queen Latifah Amber Afrika Bambaataa Stetsasonic Digital Underground Coolio De La Soul House of Pain Naughty By Nature and Force MDs 3 Tommy Boy is also credited with introducing genres such as EDM Latin freestyle and Latin hip hop to mainstream audiences in America 4 Tommy Boy RecordsParent companyReservoir MediaFounded1981 43 years ago 1981 FounderTom SilvermanStatusActiveDistributor s Alternative Distribution Alliance 2002 2020 Warner Bros Records 1985 2002 GenreHip hopR amp Bpost discoLatin freestyledanceelectroCountry of originUnited StatesLocationNew York City New YorkOfficial websitetommyboy wbr com Contents 1 History 1 1 1981 1985 Independent music media 1 2 1985 2002 Partnership with Warner Bros Records 1 3 2002 2017 Independent again 1 4 2017 2018 Catalogues acquired 1 5 2019 2020 De La Soul controversy 1 6 2021 present Tommy Boy sold to Reservoir Media 2 Brand image 3 Selected artists 4 Discography 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit1981 1985 Independent music media edit Tom Silverman created Tommy Boy Music in 1981 in his New York City apartment with a 5 000 loan from his parents The label was an outgrowth of Silverman s Dance Music Report bi weekly publication which spanned 14 years beginning in September 1978 5 1985 2002 Partnership with Warner Bros Records edit In 1985 Warner Bros Records entered into a partnership with Tommy Boy and acquired half of the label and it allowed the label to use independent distribution as it saw fit with the option to distribute artists through the major label channel through Warner Bros Records or sister label Reprise Records 6 Monica Lynch who was one of the first employees hired by Tom Silverman became president of the label in 1985 7 8 As A amp R for the label she signed and managed Queen Latifah De La Soul and host of hip hop musicians Even though the male female power struggle in hip hop music has always been present Lynch and her peers said that the early days of hip hop were magical times for women looking to make it in the record business Julie Greenwald Sylvia Robinson DJ Jazzy Joyce Mona Scott and Claudine Joseph also made their mark on different areas of hip hop Greenwald and Robinson like Lynch became powerful music executives For more than 25 years DJ Jazzy Joyce has been one of the most visible and in demand female turntablists And Scott and Joseph have managed the careers of some of the biggest names in hip hop Hip hop provided a tremendous amount of opportunities for women which might seem antithetical because of the association that many people have with misogyny and hip hop says Lynch There has been a lot of attention paid to misogynist lyrics in hip hop over the years and I m not going to defend or damn it I think it exists but some of the people who helped put those records out were women 8 According to Jeff Chairman Mao a key DJ in 1990s underground hip hop and online hip hop radio host Monica Lynch managed the careers of Afrika Bambaataa amp Soulsonic Force Stetsasonic Queen Latifah De La Soul Naughty by Nature among others 9 The label had several joint ventures in the mid 1990s including Penalty Recordings 10 Stepsun 11 Beyond 12 and Ignition 13 The label also had deals with labels such as Timber Records and distribution deals with Outcaste Records 14 and 75 Ark 15 while also giving independent distribution to sister imprints that already had label deals with WEA including American Recordings Ill Labels Mute Records NovaMute and Cold Chillin Records Livin Large 16 In 1997 Tommy Boy launched an imprint label called Upaya to pursue the growing interest in spirituality and spiritual world music 17 18 The imprint Tommy Boy Gospel was launched in 1998 under the direction of Max Seigel and Marvie Wright 19 That same year the imprints Tommy Boy Black Label 20 which specialized in underground hip hop music and Tommy Boy Silver Label 21 which specialized in dance music were founded In 2001 while still affiliated with Warner Music Tommy Boy Records founder Tom Silverman formed Tommy Boy Films a TV and film division with Kung Faux creator and Dubtitled Entertainment founder Michael Mic Neumann 22 23 2002 2017 Independent again edit In 2002 Tommy Boy Records became independent again after it ultimately ended its joint venture with Warner Bros Records which wanted greater unit sales and the master tapes released until that time became property of Warner Music while the Tommy Boy trademark remained with Tom Silverman 24 The then current Tommy Boy music artists were shopped to the various WEA labels the Tommy Boy television and film divisions were merged with the Tommy Boy music division and the resulting company was rebranded as Tommy Boy Entertainment 23 Tommy Boy then began licensing its trademark to Warner Music for use on reissues through Rhino Atlantic Records 2017 2018 Catalogues acquired edit In 2017 because of Warner Music s divestment requirements as a result of its purchase of Parlophone Tommy Boy was able to reacquire its pre 2002 catalogue and the catalogues of Brand Nubian Grand Puba and Club Nouveau 25 In 2018 Tommy Boy also acquired Amherst Records Harlem Music and Halwill Music which hold masters and publishing rights for a diverse collection of 70s Soul Disco and Jazz artists including The Stylistics Van McCoy and Glenn Medeiros 2019 2020 De La Soul controversy edit Controversy rose in early 2019 after Tommy Boy announced that the catalog of its formerly signed group De La Soul would be available on streaming services later that week This announcement prompted the group to begin a Tommy Boycott campaign due to the fact that they would receive only 10 of revenue generated by streams with the other 90 going to Tommy Boy The campaign was shared by their fellow artists Nas Questlove and Pete Rock among others In response Tommy Boy postponed the deal and announced their discography would not be available on streaming services as previously scheduled 26 27 On March 3 2023 De La Soul s catalogue made its debut on streaming services after years of negotiations 2021 present Tommy Boy sold to Reservoir Media edit In June 2021 Tommy Boy was acquired for 100 million by Reservoir Media a music publishing and media rights company founded in 2007 by Iranian Canadian businesswoman Golnar Khosrowshahi 28 Brand image editThe Tommy Boy logo was originally designed in 1982 by Steven Miglio and redesigned in 1989 by Eric Haze The logo was named on Complex s list of the 50 Greatest Rap Logos of all time coming in at number nine 29 In the late 1980s with the emergence of streetwear fashion Tommy Boy produced and distributed Carhartt jackets embroidered with its logo on the front and back for its own merchandise line called Tommy Boy Gear 30 31 Tommy Boy is also credited as the first to use lanyards as promotional items which became a popular streetwear fashion accessory in the 1990s 32 Selected artists edit808 State Abhi the Nomad former Above The Law Afrika Bambaataa Amari Amber Big Noyd Biz Markie deceased Black by Demand Bob Sinclar Boiler Room Capone N Noreaga Christian Tiger School The Cliks Coldcut Coolio deceased De La Soul Diamonds In Da Rough Digital Underground Disco D deceased Everlast Fannypack Fresh Gordon Force MDs GLOBE amp Whiz Kid Ghostface Killah Gucci Mane Handsome Boy Modeling School House of Pain Indica Indo G Information Society Jocelyn Enriquez Jonzun Crew Joydrop Junior Vasquez K7 Kim Burrell Kristine W LFO Lord Finesse J C Lodge Masters at Work Method Man Money Mike Naughty by Nature Paris Pimpadelic Planet Patrol Plushgun Prince Paul Prince Rakeem Queen Latifah RuPaul Shock G deceased Sneaker Pimps Soul Coughing Stars on 54 Stetsasonic Thunderpuss Timmy Gatling TKA Tony Touch Viewtiful JoeDiscography editMain article Tommy Boy Records discographyReferences edit Home Tommy Boy Records A2IM a2im org Archived from the original on February 27 2018 Retrieved February 26 2018 Roberts Dave June 1 2017 Warner sells flurry of copyrights as indie divestment process heads towards finish line Music Business Worldwide Music Business Worldwide Retrieved February 26 2018 Reid Shaheem Hip Hop Is History Tommy Boy Records Unloads Rap Acts MTV News Retrieved July 11 2017 2015 Partners New Music Seminar New Music Seminar Retrieved August 1 2017 In the City of New York In the City of New York July 23 2007 Archived from the original on July 23 2007 Retrieved July 20 2017 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Zane Warren Revolutions in Sound Warner Bros Records the first 50 Years San Francisco Chronicle Books 2009 Tucker Bruce October 31 1993 Tommy Boy Can CD Future Fast Company Retrieved March 25 2019 a b Hey Get Down Women Got Down Too bust com Retrieved March 25 2019 Across 135th Street Monica Lynch Red Bull Radio Retrieved March 25 2019 Reynolds J R November 4 1995 Billboard Nielsen Business Media Inc Retrieved July 11 2017 Charnas Dan November 1 2011 The Big Payback The History of the Business of Hip Hop Penguin ISBN 9781101568118 Retrieved July 11 2017 HITS Daily Double Rumor Mill A TALE OF THREE LABELS HITS Daily Double Retrieved July 11 2017 Knopper Steve June 20 1998 Billboard Nielsen Business Media Inc Retrieved July 11 2017 2011 Songwriter s Market Writer s Digest Books October 11 2010 ISBN 9781599632575 Retrieved July 11 2017 permanent dead link 75 Ark Discogs Retrieved July 20 2017 Nathan David July 4 1992 Billboard Nielsen Business Media Inc Retrieved July 11 2017 Smith Shawnee November 29 1997 Billboard Google Books Nielsen Business Media Inc Retrieved July 11 2017 Strauss Neil June 27 1996 The Pop Life The New York Times Retrieved July 20 2017 Collins Lisa June 30 2001 Billboard Google Books Nielsen Business Media Inc Retrieved July 11 2017 CMJ New Music Report Google Books CMJ Network Inc April 10 2000 Retrieved July 11 2017 Flick Larry April 11 1998 Billboard Google Books Nielsen Business Media Inc Retrieved July 11 2017 Kipnis Jill October 19 2002 Tommy Boy Branches Out With Film TV Division Billboard Magazine Page 6 a b Tommy Boy Films Distribution Deal Archived September 29 2020 at the Wayback Machine by James Scileppi Koch Entertainment One August 1 2005 Tommy Boy Artists Dance Again Billboard Retrieved July 11 2017 Everything must go Warner Music s indie divestment will end September 30 Music Week Retrieved December 9 2017 Nas Questlove and More Call for Tommy Boy Boycott Following De La Soul Controversy UPDATE Complex com Retrieved February 12 2020 De La Soul Calls Out Former Record Label Over Unfair Streaming Deal Complex com Retrieved February 12 2020 Aswad Jem June 4 2021 Reservoir Acquires Iconic Tommy Boy Music Groundbreaking Hip Hop Label for 100 Million Variety com Retrieved June 28 2021 Mao Chairman Sen Raka The 50 Greatest Rap Logos 9 Tommy Boy Records Complex com Retrieved July 11 2017 Tom Silverman Midem Retrieved August 4 2016 permanent dead link Marriott Michel November 29 1992 THING The Carhartt Jacket The New York Times Retrieved August 4 2016 Wartofsky Alona July 29 1996 ONLY THE HIPPEST HAVE KEY RINGS AROUND THE COLLAR The Washington Post Retrieved July 20 2017 External links editOfficial website Company reference in Hoover s Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tommy Boy Records amp oldid 1196747190, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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