A&M Records

A&M Records is a record label formed in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. Their first choice for a name was Carnival Records and they released two singles under that name before they learned another label had taken the Carnival name first. Alpert and Moss changed the name to "A&M." Over the years, A&M added specialty imprints, Omen Records (1964-1966) for soul, Horizon Records for jazz (1974-1978) and Vendetta Records (1988-1990) as a dance record imprint.

Related Topics:
Record label - 1962 - Herb Alpert - Jerry Moss - Carnival Records - Omen Records - Horizon Records - Vendetta Records

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A&M releases were issued in the United Kingdom by Pye Records until 1967. A&M Records, Ltd. was established in 1970 and distribution was still handled by other labels with a presence in Europe. In 1970 A&M Records of Canada, Ltd. was formed and A&M Records of Europe in 1977.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Pye Records - 1967

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A&M has a long history of distributing records for other labels, including Dark Horse Records (1974-1976), IRS Records (1979-1985), Windham Hill Records (and their subsidiary labels) (1982-1985), Gold Mountain Records (1983-1985), Word Records (and their subsidiary labels) (1985-1990), Cypress Records (1988-1990 and Perspective Records (1990-1996). A&M also distributed Ode Records internationally from 1970-1975 and Shelter Records in Great Britain.

Related Topics:
Dark Horse Records - 1974 - 1976 - IRS Records - 1979 - 1985 - Windham Hill Records - 1982 - Gold Mountain Records - 1983 - Word Records - 1990 - Cypress Records - 1988 - Perspective Records - 1996 - Ode Records - Shelter Records

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A&M was sold to PolyGram in 1989 for about half a billion dollars. In 1998, PolyGram merged with Universal and A&M was made part of the Interscope Records Division, which also includes Geffen Records. Universal Music Group is owned by the French water company Vivendi.

Related Topics:
PolyGram - 1989 - Interscope Records - Geffen Records - French - Vivendi

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From 1966 to 1999, A&M Records was located on the grounds of the historic Charlie Chaplin Studio near the corner of Sunset and La Brea Blvds. in Hollywood, California (the A&M office is now the location of Jim Henson Productions and the recording studio is now Henson Recording Studios).

Related Topics:
1966 - 1999 - Charlie Chaplin - Sunset - Hollywood, California - Jim Henson Productions

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