Who Owns Island Records?

Island Records was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell in Kingston, Jamaica. Blackwell, who was born in 1937 to a wealthy Jamaican family, started the label with the goal of recording and promoting Jamaican music. The label's first release was a single by Jamaican singer Laurel Aitken. In its early years, Island focused on Jamaican genres including ska, rocksteady, and reggae, releasing records by artists including Jimmy Cliff, Owen Gray, and Derrick Morgan.

In 1962, Blackwell relocated Island Records to London, England. The move was prompted by the growing demand for Jamaican music among Jamaican immigrants in the UK and the larger market opportunity in Britain. In London, Island Records initially operated as a distributor for Jamaican recordings, then began signing British artists.

The 1960s saw Island Records expand beyond Jamaican music. The label signed British rock and folk artists including Traffic, whose 1967 debut album "Mr. Fantasy" was one of Island's first major UK rock releases. Cat Stevens signed to Island in 1967, and his albums "Tea for the Tillerman" (1970) and "Teaser and the Firecat" (1971) became massive international hits. Free, Spooky Tooth, and Jethro Tull (for their early albums) were also on Island's roster during this period.

Island Records' most significant signing was Bob Marley. Blackwell signed Marley and the Wailers in 1972 after hearing their demo recordings. Island funded the recording of "Catch a Fire" (1973), Marley's first album released on a major international label. Blackwell made a strategic decision to market Marley as a rock artist rather than a reggae novelty act, which helped reggae reach global audiences. Marley's subsequent albums on Island, including "Burnin'" (1973), "Natty Dread" (1974), "Rastaman Vibration" (1976), and "Exodus" (1977), established him as one of the most important musical artists of the 20th century. Marley remained on Island until his death in 1981.

In 1976, Island Records signed U2, an Irish rock band that would become one of the biggest acts in music history. U2's debut album "Boy" was released on Island in 1980. The band's breakthrough album "The Joshua Tree" (1987) sold over 25 million copies worldwide and established U2 as global superstars. U2 remained on Island Records for their entire career, with albums including "Achtung Baby" (1991), "All That You Can't Leave Behind" (2000), and "Songs of Innocence" (2014) all released through the label.

Other significant Island Records signings include Roxy Music (1972), Grace Jones (1977), The Pogues (1984), Melissa Etheridge (1988), PJ Harvey (1992), and The Cranberries (1993). In the 2000s, Island signed Amy Winehouse, whose album "Back to Black" (2006) won five Grammy Awards and sold over 16 million copies worldwide. Winehouse died in 2011 at age 27.

In 1989, Chris Blackwell sold Island Records to PolyGram for approximately 300 million pounds. Blackwell remained with the label in a reduced role until 1997, when he left to pursue other ventures including Island Outpost, a collection of luxury hotels in Jamaica. Following the PolyGram acquisition, Island Records continued to operate as a distinct label brand, maintaining its A&R team and artist roster.

In 1998, Seagram acquired PolyGram and merged it with Universal Music Group, bringing Island Records into the UMG portfolio. Under UMG ownership, Island Records continued to sign and develop artists. In the 2000s and 2010s, Island's roster included artists such as Mumford and Sons, Florence and the Machine, Disclosure, and Shawn Mendes (through Island's partnership with Republic Records in the U.S.).

In 2013, UMG merged Island Records with Def Jam Recordings to form Island Def Jam Music Group, a combined label group. This merger lasted until 2014, when UMG dissolved the Island Def Jam group and returned Island and Def Jam to separate operations. The merger and demerger caused some artist roster changes and executive turnover.

In 2024, UMG reorganized its UK operations, combining Island Records and EMI Records into the Island EMI Group. The restructuring aimed to streamline operations and share resources between the two historic labels while maintaining their separate brand identities.