Irving Azoff
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Irving Azoff is a famous music industry manager of bands such as Jewel, The Eagles, Bush, REO Speedwagon, Dan Fogelberg, Seal, Journey, Christina Aguilera, Van Halen and Steely Dan. Irving was born on December 12, 1947. He is chairman and founder of Azoff Music Management Group, Inc. Mr. Azoff began promoting and booking bands during his college years at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, Illinois, and has worked as an agent, personal manager, concert promoter, movie producer, independent record label owner, merchandiser, music publisher, and CEO of a record company.
He is the former head of MCA records and is credited for saving the company from bankruptcy. In 1983, Azoff followed Geffen's lead by becoming head of a major label, in this case the floundering MCA label. Azoff resigned from MCA in 1989 to form his own record label, Giant, now defunct.
Irving co-produced the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Irving Azoff has been named "Manager of the Year" by two touring industry's trade publications.
In the 70s, his management style was characterized by complex manipulations and dramatic about-faces that he and his clients seemed to find much more humorous than his opponents. Even during his decade as head of MCA, he was known to be fiercely loyal to his former clients, many of whom have returned now that he is back on the management side. His most famous quote is "I never met an asshole in the record business I didn't like."[1]
