Ostin will be celebrated for his contributions to modern music
GRAMMY.com
On Feb. 8, former chairman of Warner-Reprise Records Mo Ostin will be honored by The Recording Academy at its GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons event. This exclusive reception held in Los Angeles will feature a presentation of the President's Merit Award to Ostin in honor of his contribution to the landscape of modern music. The invitation-only event will be attended by prominent members of the music community.
"Mo Ostin is a true pioneer of the contemporary music era whose life's work has had a profound impact on the artists he has helped develop and the fans around the world who have benefited from their inspired creativity," said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow. "We are proud to pay homage to this amazing man and celebrate his incredible accomplishments as one of the most respected and revered executives in the music industry at our Salute To Industry Icons event."
Over three decades at Warner-Reprise Records, Ostin helped steer the label through a time of commercial success in an ever-changing musical landscape. Warner-Reprise often led the way thanks to Ostin's business-savvy and artist-oriented outlook. By the early 1970s, Warner Bros. and Reprise had become the "unofficial arbiters of musical taste" and paved the way for a haven of true artistic risk-taking.
Under Ostin's leadership, Warner Bros. and its affiliated labels were able to launch and further the careers of visionary artists such as Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band, Ry Cooder, Fleetwood Mac, the Grateful Dead, Green Day, Jimi Hendix, the Kinks, Madonna, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Randy Newman, Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, James Taylor, Neil Young and Frank Zappa. Some of Paul Simon's best work, including his masterpiece Graceland, came after Ostin encouraged him to move to Warner Bros.
Ostin retired as chairman of Warner Bros. Records in 1995 and later moved to Dreamworks Records where he implemented the strategy of signing artists with merit and patiently building their careers. Fellow executives refer to Ostin as one of the pioneers who invented the ground rules for the music business. Ostin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
The 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place on Feb. 8 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).
