Icons of the Music Industry: Miles Copeland

As one of the music industry’s most influential figures, Miles Copeland has a career in the business that stretches back more than 40 years. In London, during the 1970s, he represented Wishbone Ash, Joan Armatrading and all sides of progressive rock until he jumped ship, landed in the turbulent ocean of punk, and worked with the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Blondie, along with many other seminal bands.  In 1978, Copeland became the manager for his brother Stewart’s band, The Police, who became one of the biggest bands of the 1980s. The success of The Police and the novel methods used to break them brought Copeland to found I.R.S. Records. During the next few years, the company had hits with REM, The Buzzcocks, The English Beat, The Cramps, Fine Young Cannibals Wall of Voodoo, Timbuk 3 and a Number One album with the all-girl group, The Go-Gos. He continued to manage Sting (solo) through seven blockbuster albums, along with The Bangles and Squeeze. Eventually, he introduced Sting to Algerian Raï singer, Cheb Mami. Their collaboration bloomed with “Desert Rose” whose worldwide success was attributed to Miles’ innovative corporate deal with Jaguar. Copeland can rightfully claim to having been responsible for the sale of over $1.5 billion of recorded music sales and over $500 million in ticket sales. Currently, he owns and operates CIA – Copeland International Arts, which is comprised of a record company, music publishing, merchandise and performing arts properties.   Additionally, Miles also co-hosts a yearly song writing retreat with ASCAP in France, the lastest song written being the Number One  song “Somethin’ Bad” sung by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. Join us in The Clive Davis Theater for an enlightening look into the career of Miles Copeland. After the discussion, moderated by Vice President of The GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares Scott Goldman, Copeland will take audience questions.