Founded by Tom Silverman.

Perhaps more so than any other, Tommy Boy epitomizes the ideal independent record label, with one glaring exception: success. Tommy Boy achieved it; most did not. Since the independent record label rush of the early 1980s, most companies have faded into obscurity, but Tommy Boy remained important and has consistently released high quality music by innovating, not imitating trends, and the results are clear.

In 1985, the label entered into a joint venture with Warner Bros. Records, which purchased a 50% stake in Tommy Boy, and Tom Silverman and Monica Lynch were made VPs of Warner Bros. Records. What was unprecedented about the venture was that it was the first-ever venture in which an independent label was given the choice to remain independent rather than moving all of its product to major-label distribution: Warner allowed Tommy Boy to release its titles through independent distribution while giving it the option to release anything it wanted through Warner's major-label pipeline. However, this option was used seldomly: Information Society was the only act whose entire oeuvre got the major-label push—through Warner's Reprise Records subsidiary. None of its 12-inch singles or CD-5s were released with major-label distribution. Other Warner Bros.-distributed titles were one-shots, such as Coldcut’s debut album; the second, third, and fourth albums by the Force MDs; and the second album by TKA. The latter is the only Tommy Boy release that has both the Tommy Boy and Warner Bros. Records logos on it. Information Society’s Hack is the only Warner Bros.-distributed title that used the modern-day Tommy Boy logo. Conversely, Warner Bros. used Tommy Boy for its expertise in 12-inch singles to help it break acts such as Club Nouveau.

In 1990, Warner Bros. purchased the remaining 50% that it did not already own. Tommy Boy became a victim of the early 1990s backlash against WEA’s hip-hop acts from the campaign led by C. Delores Tucker, and Paris’s second album was canceled because of this (it was released subsequently on Paris’s own label). In 1995, Tommy Boy purchased 50% of itself back from Warner Bros. Records.

In January 2002, with the declining sales of the music industry—and Tommy Boy not posting sales that Warner Bros. Records wanted—Warner ended its relationship with Tommy Boy, and the latter purchased the remaining 50% that it did not own from Warner Bros. Records and kept the rights to the Tommy Boy name and logo, while Warner Music proper retained all rights—including master tapes—to all Tommy Boy product that was released to that date. Tommy Boy’s roster at that time was shopped to the various WEA labels, and the acts that were not picked up by the various WEA labels stayed with Tommy Boy, rechristened Tommy Boy Entertainment. Other acts, such as De La Soul, left Tommy Boy altogether. The pre-2002 Tommy Boy catalog (all that have a TBLP/TBC/TBCD prefix; all 12-inch singles without a -0, -1, -2, or -4 suffix released before 2002; and all releases with a Warner Bros. Records catalog number and UPC) are now handled by Rhino/Atlantic Records, and the new releases (with a TB prefix and a -0, -1, -2, or -4 suffix) are independently distributed through ADA.

Besides gaining respect from cutting-edge fans, DJs, and audiophiles worldwide, Tommy Boy is among the largest self-distributed labels in America with numerous multi-platinum and gold records to its credit.

IMPORTANT

Please check your release carefully if it doesn't have an obvious Tommy Boy (TB/TBLP/TBC/TBCD) catalogue number. A lot of releases were licensed for release on other labels outside of the US but still carry the Tommy Boy logo. Please make sure that you add them to the correct label.

Tommy Boy Music Inc. is a subsidiary of Warner Music, but Tommy Boy Entertainment LLC is an independently owned and distributed company.

Note that a lot of Tommy Boy releases were licensed for release in the UK on 21 Records.

Very important: Add only Tommy Boy Music releases to this label, which have a UPC prefix of 01699, 07599, 09362, 08122, or 05439. If it has a UPC prefix of 66186, it belongs to Tommy Boy Entertainment and is not controlled by Warner Music. Tommy Boy Music releases have a TBLP XXXX or TB XXX pattern—the latter only for 12-inch singles.

Please note that almost all, if not every vinyl title was also released as a promo with the same catalog number.

Labelcode: LC 9173