A&M RECORDS HISTORY 1980-1989
1980
As the record industry continued to slump, A&M trimmed its artist roster of nearly 100 artists to about 45 artists, although it signed Split Enz in January.
On May 5, A&M Records elected not to release Karen Carpenter's solo album. She had recorded 21 tracks for it.
A&M released its first laser-etched vinyl record, "True Colours," by Split Enz. A&M hoped that laser-etching would lead to economical protection from unauthorized copying of its products.
There were one Grammy, seven RIAA gold records (two for Styx), and four platinum records to different artists.
A slower year on the charts with 16 singles and 22 albums. The Brothers Johnson, Supertramp and Ali Thompson each had two singles. The 22 albums were all by different artists.
1981
A&M Films was founded.
This was A&M's best year at the Grammys, winning seven awards. Four Grammys went to Quincy Jones and the Police picked up two more. There were seven RIAA gold records (two for the Police) and 3 RIAA platinum records.
The year ended with 22 singles and 29 albums entering the Billboard Charts. Rita Coolidge and Nazareth were the leaders with two albums each. Top singles artist were the Carpenters, Quincy Jones, the Police and Styx, each landing three recordings on the chart.
1982
In June, A&M Records established its Latin Division.
For only the second time since 1975, A&M Records was shut out at the Grammy Awards. The label had seven RIAA gold records with two each for the Go-Go's and Human League (one on an affiliate label and one by distribution with Virgin Records), and three RIAA platinum records.
The Billboard charts showed 14 singles and 20 albums from A&M. With two singles each, 38 Special, Jeffrey Osborne and the Police were best for A&M. The 20 albums were from different artists.
1983
A&M Records agreed to distribute Windham Hill Records and its affiliates.
All four Grammy awards went to the Police and Sting. The Police and Styx each picked up two RIAA gold records out of the seven given to the label, and A&M was awarded four platinum records.
1983 was A&M's best year for the number of singles to reach the Billboard chart, 31, and its best showing in the Top 10 with eight singles. Bryan Adams and Jeffery Osborne were the top singles artists, each with four recordings on the chart. Of the 24 albums to chart, they were all by different artists.
1984
In December, Suzanne Vega signed with A&M Records.
On December 25, the Almo Publications Logo (jack-in-the-box style) trademark was cancelled.
A&M Records agreed to distribute Shoreline Records, a children's records label featuring Raffi.
A&M Films released its first movie, Birdy.
Amy Grant was the only artist to win a Grammy this year. Three RIAA gold records were awarded to different artists. It was A&M's best year for RIAA platinum records with 14 certifications including four to Styx and two for the Police.
Another strong showing on the Billboard charts with 22 singles and 25 albums. Chris DeBurgh's two albums, and two singles apiece by Dennis DeYoung, Sergio Mendes, Jeffrey Osborne, the Police and Tommy Shaw led A&M.
1985
1985 was a year of highs and lows for A&M. Among the heights, on January 28, "We Are the World" by USA for Africa recorded at A&M Studios with Quincy Jones producing, and A&M agreed to distribute Word Records.
Among the lows, on March 5, the Almo Rapid Play logo trademark was cancelled; on May 7, the Horizon Records logo (script style) trademark was cancelled. On May 10, the Go-Go's announced they were disbanding.
Amy Grant and Lani Hall won A&M's two Grammy Awards. Of the seven RIAA gold records, two were awarded to George Winston of Windham Hill Records. There were no platinum records this year.
As usual, A&M was well-represented on the Billboard charts with 27 singles and 24 albums. The Carpenters, Amy Grant, and Y&T each had two albums on the charts, and Bryan Adams had five singles on the chart.
1986
A&M Records last #1 album before its sale to PolyGram was Control by Janet Jackson. Its last #1 single was "Human" by the Human League.
A&M began issuing promo-only CDs for the Police, 38 Special and OMD. It also offered its first full-length CD sampler, A Year Ago We Hadn't Heard of Them Either.
The only Grammy for an A&M artist was won by Al Green. The eight RIAA gold records went to different artists. Of the five platinum records, three went to Control by Janet Jackson for three million sales.
A total of 26 singles and 22 albums appeared on the Billboard Pop charts. 1986 was one of A&M's tow best years for albums, landing five in the Top 10. Janet Jackson led both albums with two and singles with four. Soundtracks, for the first time, were also a leader in albums.
1987
Notable signings included the Wagoneers and, in November, Extreme. Raffi was the only artist in children's music signed to a major record label. In 1987, he was expected to sell one million records. He was also the first children's music artist to issue a CD. The CD sold well enough to require a second pressing within the first year of release.
In June, A&M celebrated its 25th anniversary with its international meeting, museum on the Chaplin Soundstage, and the industry-only book, A&M Records: the First 25 Years. A&M's staff numbered about 240.
In Australia, Festival Records, celebrated its 25th year of association with A&M Records. It marketed Herb Alpert's single of "Keep Your Eye on Me" on 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl singles, cassette single, CD single and video single.
A&M created the industry's first promotional CD with a 12-inch promotional mixi–"Keep Your Eye on Me" by Herb Alpert. The second full-length promotional CD was released. It was titled If You Know All the Music on This Disc, You Probably Wrote It.
In October, A&M became the first major record label to release a promotional 3-inch CD. It was "Hourglass" by Squeeze. At the time, A&M was the only major interested in testing the format. The other majors felt that with 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl singles, cassette singles and 5-inch CD singles, that there were too many formats competing for retailers dollars and shelf space.
During the Summer, A&M entered a licensing agreement with Twin/Tone Records of Minneapolis. Twin/Tone distributed Coyote Records based in New Jersey. A&M handled all distribution, marketing, publicity and promotion for records it chose to license.
A&M agreed to distribute Nimbus Records.
On November 14, the trademark for the A&M Records logo was renewed.
It was A&M's third best showing at the Grammys winning five awards, all by different artists. Of the seven RIAA gold records, Amy Grant led the way with two. Various artist compilations were also given two gold records. There were eight platinum records, with two each going to George Winston and various artist compilations.
1987 was also one of A&M's two best years on the Billboard Pop Album chart with five products in the Top 10. The artists with the most singles on the chart were Bryan Adams and Herb Alpert, each with three. No one artist led the albums.
1988
In March, A&M introduced cassette singles to address declining sales of 7" vinyl singles. Also in March, A&M introduced CD3 (3" CD) at NARM. In April, A&M Records released first commercial CD3 (3" CD), and on May 3, A&M released six 3" CD discs priced around $5 each in 4" x 12" package as collectors items.
A&M Records established Vendetta Records with five employees from its New York offices. The first Vendetta Records release, Saying Sorry by Denise Lopez, was released in April. April 15 was the first commercial use of the Vendetta Records logo. On December 6, Vendetta Records logo was approved as a registered trademark.
The Good Morning Vietnam soundtrack was A&M's only Grammy. There were only two RIAA gold records and two platinum records awarded to different artists.
The year closed with 15 singles and 23 albums on the Billboard Pop charts. Soundtracks were the label-leader with two titles and Breathe and Sting each had two singles chart.
1989
In January, Ode Records reactivated its distribution agreement with A&M Records.
Extreme's debut album released. Sold 300,000 copies.
July 3 was the first commercial use of A&MERICANA logo.
In October, Alpert and Moss sold A&M Records to PolyGram. NV. Annual profits were estimated at $14 million.
Janet Jackson and Amy Grant won two Grammys for A&M. The RIAA gave gold records to five A&M recordings. Janet Jackson received two of them and all four of the platinum certifications for A&M for the year.
All 14 albums to make the Billboard Pop chart came from different artists. Michael Damian had the most singles, three, of the 16 A&M singles to chart.
