Mo Ostin, legendary Warner Bros. Information chief, lifeless at 95
Mo Ostin, who served as a prime govt at Warner-Reprise Information for over three a long time between the ’60s and ’90s, has died on the age of 95.
Ostin’s dying was confirmed by Warner Information co-chairmen, CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck and COO Tom Corson, who wrote that the music business determine handed away in his sleep on Sunday (July 31) from pure causes.
“Mo was one of many best document males of all time, and a main architect of the fashionable music enterprise. For Mo, it was all the time at the beginning about serving to artists notice their imaginative and prescient,” Bay-Shuck and Corson mentioned.
“One of many pivotal figures within the evolution of Warner Music Group, within the Nineteen Sixties Mo ushered Warner/Reprise Information right into a golden period of revolutionary, culture-shifting artistry. Over his subsequent three a long time on the label, he remained a tireless champion of inventive freedom, each for the expertise he nurtured and the individuals who labored for him,” they added.
“Mo lived a unprecedented life doing what he beloved, and he can be deeply missed all through the business he helped create, and by the numerous artists and colleagues whom he impressed to be their greatest selves.”
Learn our full assertion on the passing of Mo Ostin:https://t.co/Tb018HxiFg pic.twitter.com/7H1myoXhau
— Warner Information (@warnerrecords) August 1, 2022
Born in New York in 1927, Morris Meyer Ostrofsky started his profession within the mid-Fifties at Verve Information as a controller, earlier than being employed by Frank Sinatra to handle Reprise Information in 1960.
Ostin moved into a bigger govt place after Reprise was purchased out by Warner Bros. three years later, signing The Kinks and Jimi Hendrix to the label within the Nineteen Sixties. Over the next a long time, Warner-Reprise turned a who’s who of gifted artists. Fleetwood Mac, Neil Younger, the Grateful Lifeless, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, Van Halen, Prince, The Who, Pink Sizzling Chili Peppers and extra had been all a part of its roster at one time or one other.
In 1970, Ostin turned president of Warner-Reprise. He took the function of chairman/CEO two years later, persevering with the place till his departure from the corporate in 1994. A 12 months later, he joined DreamWorks Information, the place he remained for nearly a decade, earlier than returning to Warner Bros. Information as a guide in 2006.
Ostin’s contribution to the music business was recognised in 2003, when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame by Younger, Simon and Lorne Michaels. Three years later, the Recording Academy honoured him with an Icon Award.
Following information of his dying, figures from all through the business have paid tribute to Ostin. Warner Music Group’s CEO of recorded music, Max Lousada, known as Ostin “as a pioneer who wrote the rulebook for others to comply with” in a press release.
“Warner Music Group and Warner Information wouldn’t exist with out his ardour, imaginative and prescient, and intelligence. He not solely helped construct one of many world’s best music corporations, however he impressed a tradition pushed by bravery and ingenuity. Mo noticed artists for who they actually had been and gave them the house and assist to completely notice their originality.”
Pink Sizzling Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea remembered Ostin as “the best individual I ever met within the music enterprise”, including that the chief made him really feel “valued, understood and welcome after I was a confused child with a whole lot of rising as much as do”. Scott Booker, supervisor for the Flaming Lips (who signed to Warner Bros. Information in 1990) known as Ostin “a visionary” who “formed a lot of what I really like on this world”.
Learn extra tributes, together with from Q-Tip and the property of Tom Petty, beneath:
The final time we bumped into Mo Ostin was on the Jersey Boys broadway present. He appeared very pleased with what the Lips had achieved. He was a visionary and formed a lot of what I really like on this world. R.I.P. https://t.co/fNTrqxu4Zf
— Scott Booker (@ScottDBooker) August 1, 2022
Mo Ostin deeply impressed Tom as chairman of Warner Brothers Music division and was accountable for the creation of Wildflowers and the Touring Wilburys, amongst many different seminal musical endeavors. God bless Mo. One of many actually good ones. Our ideas are together with his household as we speak. pic.twitter.com/SaLYtYQWY3
— Tom Petty (@tompetty) August 1, 2022
RIP to Mo Ostin what wonderful occasions we had thanks for all of the information you handed on and the contributions from jimi hendrix to prince.. neva Be one other https://t.co/53ym9lAv2F
— QTip (@QtipTheAbstract) August 1, 2022
So odd my final put up was of expensive
Evelyn Ostin & as we speak I heard that Mo Ostin, one of many best document executives of all time, handed away final
evening. You can be missed Mo, condolences to Michael & the
Ostin women. Now you might be with Evelyn. Could you ceaselessly relaxation collectively in peace. pic.twitter.com/cZ6KjjT0Qx— carolebayersager (@CaroleBSager) August 1, 2022