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Tommy Boy

Profile:

US label.
Label Code: LC 9173 / LC 09173
The label was established in 1981 by Tom Silverman when the entrepreneurial trade mag publisher began releasing the best of the demos crossing his path. He struck gold with the revolutionary debut by Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock. One of the only 12" singles ever to sell 600,000+ copies, it laid the foundation for the genre-defining house that Tommy built. Tommy Boy and its stable of stars led the way as the first wave of hip-hop's artistic translation of urban street culture became a mass-appeal phenomenon. With repeated high-charting crossover success, Tommy Boy earned almost 80 gold and platinum citations, and the label's groundbreaking grooves are essential pillars of hip-hop, as evidenced in this new collection of many of their greatest early tracks.

In 1985, Warner Bros. Records acquired 50% of the label and made Tom Silverman and Monica Lynch vice presidents of its new partner. However, Tommy Boy preferred to use independent distribution instead of the distribution channels owned by Warner Bros. Records' parent, Warner Music (then WEA Corp.). Five years later, Warner Bros. acquired the remaining 50% of the label. In 1995, following the controversy following the backlash against Warner Music’s gangsta artists, Silverman bought back 50% of his label. In February 2002, because Warner Music wanted larger unit sales, Tom Silverman bought back the remaining half of Tommy Boy and made it independent again. As part of the break-up, Warner Music was given first dibs to acquire the contracts of the artists signed to the label and became owner of the master recordings that Tommy Boy released until that date.

In 2017, Tommy Boy reacquired its catalogue, plus the catalogues of Brand Nubian, Grand Puba, and Club Nouveau, as a result of WEA divestments because of the latter’s purchase of Parlophone.

Note:
Historically, this label was not to be used on Discogs; releases bearing the Tommy Boy logo were only to be filed under either Tommy Boy Music or Tommy Boy Entertainment. Now, however, it is appropriate to use it as the label for releases bearing the Tommy Boy logo. Additional companies may still be entered.

Parent Label:

Tommy Boy Music

Sublabels:

75 Ark, Body Rock, Freestyle Greatest Beats, Silver Label, StepSun Music Entertainment, Timber!, Tommy Boy 20th Anniversary Series, Tommy Boy Black Label, Tommy Boy Gospel, Tommy Boy Greatest Beats, ...

Contact Info:

ca. 2010 to present:
Tommy Boy Entertainment LLC
220 East 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
USA

2005 to ca. 2010:
Tommy Boy Entertainment LLC
120 5th Avenue, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10011
USA (Contact info now obsolete)

ca. 2002 to ca. 2004:
Tommy Boy Entertainment LLC
32 West 18th Street, Penthouse
New York, NY 10011
USA (Contact info now obsolete)

ca. 1993 to ca. 2002; ca. 2010 to unknown:
Tommy Boy Music
902 Broadway, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10010
USA (Contact info now obsolete)

ca. 1984-1991:
Tommy Boy Music
1747 First Avenue
New York, NY 10128
USA (Contact info now obsolete)

ca. 1983:
Tommy Boy Music
210 East 90th Street
New York, NY 10028
USA (Contact info now obsolete)

1982-1983:
Tommy Boy Music
223 East 85th Street
New York, NY 10028
USA (Contact info now obsolete)

1981 (Second Address):
Tommy Boy Music Inc.
1641 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10028
USA
(212) 348-3966 (Contact info now obsolete)

1981 (First Address):
Tommy Boy Records
1641 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10028
USA
(212) 348-3966 (Contact info now obsolete)

Links:

tommyboy.com , Bandcamp , Instagram , X , Facebook , Soundcloud , YouTube , YouTube , Wikipedia

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