Mo Ostin

Kinda think he deserves a thread, hell of a run and a legacy:

https://variety.com/2022/music/news/mo-ostin-dead-warner-bros-records-chief-1235330951/

Good tweets from Howie Klein, who would know:

The greatest record executive who I ever met passed away today, after a full and positive life. He was the greatest for artists, for employees, for customers, for society (and delivered for shareholders as well). I tried to model myself after him in every way I could. RIP

— Howie Klein (@downwithtyranny) August 1, 2022

Yes, I was referring to Mo Ostin, who died today, age 95. What an inspiration he was for so many people! I admired him tremendously, more than I have words to express. I learned so much from him & feel so lucky to have known him & to have worked for him https://t.co/jPyKWWkZAi pic.twitter.com/IEA6zBGJqw

— Howie Klein (@downwithtyranny) August 1, 2022

I was thinking it took a hell of a lot of balls to write that about one of the most notorious criminals in entertainment history, but then I realized I was confusing him with Morris Levy.

Hahahah THAT'S a slipup

Why did Neil Young call him "Moe the Sleaze" on re.ac.tor, his final album for Warner Brothers?

I don't know, but it probably says a lot that he went back to Reprise after dealing with David Geffen.

I remember when Billboard interviewed Ostin after Prince died and how he connected specific experiences he had with Prince to Sinatra in the '60s. It just made his career feel all the more encompassing. (It also made me envious of the access record execs had to their vaults. "Want to hear the Black Album? Well, we saved some copies - here you go!")

Pretty amazing what he did at Warner Bros. throughout pretty much is entire time there. Obviously he didn't do everything, but he built an amazing team for the label: Lenny Waronker, Karin Berg, Michael Hill, etc. the list goes on, all great people who deeply cared about music and had impeccable taste in looking towards the future.

The year he left, the Flaming Lips had their first hit and Tom Petty (who was wooed over the WB from MCA) had his most popular non-compilation album, also his very first for the label. A lot of people left and a lot of new people came in the following year, including a new guy who became notorious for refusing to put out Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, a slap in the face to the artist-friendly reputation that had been built up at the label. (Yes, Prince had his troubles, but in all honesty, he was very demanding and I think they were generally accommodating - if only they had let him retain ownership of his masters, I don't think it's a stretch that it could've remained a fruitful relationship for at least another decade.)

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-11-ca-10574-story.html Profile and interview from 1994.

I had to look up that house. This may not be quite it - it mentions a major renovation, so I have no idea how much was changed - but yeah, damn fine home.

https://www.amlu.com/2017/01/29/former-home-of-record-executive-mo-ostin-fetches-4-8m-in-pacific-palisades/

xpost -- I remember reading that story at the time.