Doug Morris
Encyclopedia
Doug Morris is an American music executive. He is the current Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment
. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group
from 1995 to 2011.
. He began a career in the music industry as a songwriter
for Robert Mellin, Inc., a music publisher. Morris wrote "Sweet Talkin' Guy", a 1966 hit for The Chiffons
, and produced
the hit "Smokin' In the Boys Room
" (1973) for Brownsville Station
. After joining Laurie Records as a songwriter and producer in 1965, Morris eventually became vice-president and general manager of the record label. He later started his own label, Big Tree Records
, which was acquired by Atlantic Records
in 1978, which led to Morris becoming president of Atco Records
and an association with Warner Music.
Morris became president of Atlantic Records
in 1980, and became co-chairman and co-CEO of the Atlantic Recording Group, alongside Ahmet Ertegun
, in 1990. Morris played an integral role in making Atlantic the leading company in the Warner Music Group. In 1994, Morris shifted to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of Warner Music U.S., and was soon named chairman. Morris lost an executive battle at Warner leading to his departure from Warner Music in 1995.
in July 1995 by forming a joint venture record label, which became Universal Records
when Morris was appointed Chairman and CEO of MCA Music Entertainment Group in November 1995. The company was renamed Universal Music Group the following year. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
; his ceremony was held on January 26, 2010, at the corner of Hollywood and Vine.
Lucian Grainge
replaced Morris as CEO on January 1, 2011 and later replaced him as chairman on March 9, 2011.
on July 1, 2011. After Morris' arrival, Sony Music restructured two of its label groups. The RCA/Jive Label Group had been split in half with the RCA Music Group
being separated from the Jive Label Group. Peter Edge
was promoted to CEO of the RCA Music Group. L.A. Reid became the Chairman & CEO of Epic Records shortly after Morris' arrival. Some Jive artists have been moved to Epic while others have been moved to the RCA. In addition to splitting the RCA/Jive Label Group, the Columbia/Epic Label Group
was also split. In October 2011 Morris announced that Mel Lewinter
had been appointed Executive Vice President of Label Strategy at Sony Music.
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
from 1995 to 2011.
Life and career
Morris is a graduate of Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He began a career in the music industry as a songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
for Robert Mellin, Inc., a music publisher. Morris wrote "Sweet Talkin' Guy", a 1966 hit for The Chiffons
The Chiffons
The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.-Biography:The Chiffons were one of the top girl groups of the early 1960s...
, and produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
the hit "Smokin' In the Boys Room
Smokin' In the Boys Room
"Smokin' in the Boys Room" is a song originally recorded by Brownsville Station in 1973 on their album Yeah!, reaching #3 on the U.S. charts, and later covered in 1985 by Mötley Crüe, with the Crüe's version accompanied by a conceptual music video featuring Michael Berryman as the school...
" (1973) for Brownsville Station
Brownsville Station (band)
Brownsville Station was a rock band from Michigan that was popular in the 1970s. Original members included Cub Koda , Mike Lutz , T.J. Cronley , and Tony Driggins...
. After joining Laurie Records as a songwriter and producer in 1965, Morris eventually became vice-president and general manager of the record label. He later started his own label, Big Tree Records
Big Tree Records
Big Tree Records was a record label founded by current Sony Music Entertainment chairman Doug Morris in 1970. They were best known for releases by Lobo, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Brownsville Station and British R&B group Hot Chocolate....
, which was acquired by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1978, which led to Morris becoming president of Atco Records
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
and an association with Warner Music.
Morris became president of Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1980, and became co-chairman and co-CEO of the Atlantic Recording Group, alongside Ahmet Ertegun
Ahmet Ertegun
Ahmet Ertegün was a Turkish American musician and businessman, best known as the founder and president of Atlantic Records. He also wrote classic blues and pop songs and served as Chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and museum...
, in 1990. Morris played an integral role in making Atlantic the leading company in the Warner Music Group. In 1994, Morris shifted to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of Warner Music U.S., and was soon named chairman. Morris lost an executive battle at Warner leading to his departure from Warner Music in 1995.
Career at Universal Music Group
Morris began working with MCA RecordsMCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
in July 1995 by forming a joint venture record label, which became Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
when Morris was appointed Chairman and CEO of MCA Music Entertainment Group in November 1995. The company was renamed Universal Music Group the following year. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
; his ceremony was held on January 26, 2010, at the corner of Hollywood and Vine.
Lucian Grainge
Lucian Grainge
Lucian Grainge, CBE is a British music industry executive who is the current Chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group.-Career:Lucian Grainge grew up in northern London. In 1982 he became the director of RCA Music Publishing. Two years later he became an A&R director for MCA Records...
replaced Morris as CEO on January 1, 2011 and later replaced him as chairman on March 9, 2011.
Sony Music Entertainment Chairman & CEO
Morris became Chairman & CEO of Sony Music EntertainmentSony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
on July 1, 2011. After Morris' arrival, Sony Music restructured two of its label groups. The RCA/Jive Label Group had been split in half with the RCA Music Group
RCA Music Group
RCA Music Group was an umbrella group of labels distributed by Sony Music Entertainment that existed between March 2004 and 2009 and for a short period of time between July 2011 and October 2011 until all RCA Music Group labels were merged with RCA Records....
being separated from the Jive Label Group. Peter Edge
Peter Edge
Peter Edge is a British music executive. He currently serves as CEO of the RCA Records. He became head of the company following Doug Morris' arrival as head of Sony Music Entertainment. -Career:...
was promoted to CEO of the RCA Music Group. L.A. Reid became the Chairman & CEO of Epic Records shortly after Morris' arrival. Some Jive artists have been moved to Epic while others have been moved to the RCA. In addition to splitting the RCA/Jive Label Group, the Columbia/Epic Label Group
Columbia/Epic Label Group
Columbia/Epic Label Group was an American record label group, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. The Columbia/Epic configuration began as the "Sony Music Label Group" during the last Sony BMG merger, and was restructured in 2009 to form a larger umbrella for Columbia Records and Epic Records to...
was also split. In October 2011 Morris announced that Mel Lewinter
Mel Lewinter
Mel Lewinter is an American music industry executive. He currently serves as Executive Vice President of Label Strategy at Sony Music Entertainment.-Career:...
had been appointed Executive Vice President of Label Strategy at Sony Music.
External links
- CEO Exchange biography on PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
- Vivendi Management Board Bio
- "Universal's CEO Once Called iPod Users Thieves. Now He's Giving Songs Away", on WiredWired (magazine)Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
- Doug Morris biography from Sony Music