Island

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A Universal Music Group subsidiary, it’s a record label that was founded in Jamaica in 1959 by Chris Blackwell.

Initially focused on Jamaican music, Island Records branched out establishing such subsidiaries as Surprise Records, Sue Records, Jump Records, Black Swan Records and Aladdin Records. It became one of the more important record labels of the 1980s. Their distinctive palm tree logo has been on many famous discs from Bob Marley to U2 with the label being responsible for many of the big acts of the last four decades.

Prior to the label being sold to PolyGram in 1989, U2’s releases were distributed by Atco Records in the United States. After PolyGram’s merger in 1998, Island Records’ artists and back catalog were combined with those of Def Jam Recordings to create The Island Def Jam Music Group.



Notable artists and date of signing:

* The 77s
* Amazing Blondel (1970)
* Anthrax
* Black Uhuru
* Blue in Heaven
* Bob Marley & The Wailers (1972)
* Bon Jovi
* Burning Spear
* Cat Stevens
* Christina Milian
* Jimmy Cliff
* The Cranberries (1993)
* Die Trying
* Emerson, Lake and Palmer
* Everlast
* Fairport Convention
* Fall Out Boy
* Fefe Dobson
* Frankie Goes to Hollywood
* Free
* Grace Jones (1977)
* Hinda Hicks
* Hoobastank
* Jethro Tull
* John Martyn (1967)
* Kid Creole & The Coconuts
* The Killers (2004)
* Local H
* Melissa Etheridge
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