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MainMan founder Tony Defries explains the history of the major record companies in the 70's

Latest episodes

Episode 46

4 October 2021
Episode 46

MainMan founder Tony Defries explains the corporate history of the major record labels in the 70's

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Episode 45

24 September 2021
Episode 45

MainMan founder Tony Defries recalls why he selected RCA as the company to sign the innovative...

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Episode 44

9 September 2021
Episode 44

MainMan founder Tony Defries recalls his design for the innovative rights deal he arranged with RCA...

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Episode 39

15 July 2021
Episode 39

Wendy Kirby, one of Bowie's 'Young Dudes', recalls her friendship with designer Freddie Burretti.

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Episode 38

8 July 2021
Episode 38

Wendy Kirby, one of Bowie's 'Young Dudes', recalls her friendship with designer Freddie Burretti.

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Mick Rock explains how he took the now legendary photograph of Bowie and Ronno at Oxford Town Hall on June 17, 1972. Hear Mick recall his adventures with some of rock’s legends as the MainMan in house photographer in episode 12 of the MainMan podcast. Hit the link in the bio RIP #mickrock #mickrockphotography #mickrockbowie #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie #thejeangenie #spidersfrommars
RIP the legendary photographer Mick Rock, who captured iconic images of some of rock’s biggest names. This is one of the first photographs he took of David Bowie backstage at Birmingham Town Hall on March 17, 1972. That night Mick travelled back to Haddon Hall with David, Angie and the rest of the Spiders from Mars and so began a very productive and now legendary relationship. Hear Mick Rock recall his work with Bowie in episode 12 of the MainMan podcast. Hit the link in the bio #mickrock #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie #thejeangenie #spidersfrommars
On this day in 1970 David Bowie released The Man Who Sold The World in the US. Hit the link in the bio to hear Tony Defries tell the story behind the writing and recording of this ground breaking album and how it sparked Bowie’s musical transformation in episode 16 of the MainMan podcast. #themanwhosoldtheworld #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie #thejeangenie #spidersfrommars
Media reposts this week suggest that David Bowie’s estate is in talks to sell his songwriting back catalogue, considering offers in excess of $200 million. The basis for Bowie’s rights ownership was established by Tony Defries 50 years ago when he arranged the star’s first licensing deal with RCA. Hear Defries exclusively explain how the deal was constructed and the impact it had on Bowie’s future earnings in episode 44 of the MainMan podcast. Hit the link in the bio #ft #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie #thejeangenie #spidersfrommars
MainMan’s production partner Zinc Media is delighted to have won the Gold Medal for Best Music Special at the New York Festivals Radio Awards 2021 for ‘Bob Dylan:Verbatim’ which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The soundscape of Dylan’s life and music told in his own words is the third in the award winning series following on from ‘John Lennon: Verbatim’ and ‘David Bowie: Verbatim’, with further episodes to follow #zincmedia #nyfradioawards #newyorkfestivals #ageofthestorytellers #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie #thejeangenie #spidersfrommars
Tony Defries explores the secret lives of record companies in episode 46 of the MainMan podcast. Each of the major record companies was formed by enormous conglomerates, engaged in global media and technology, communications, electronics, radio and television. Several were also engaged in military weaponry. When Defries signed Bowie to RCA in 1971, the company’s chairman for several decades was David Sarnoff, a pioneer of radio and TV in America. Hear Defries explain Sarnoff’s history, along with other record company pioneers - just hit the link in the bio. #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie #thejeangenie #spidersfrommars
In 1971 George Harrison contacted Defries upset by the fact that he had just discovered that EMI, the record company that was about to release his new album (and also released all of The Beatles albums), was involved in weapons research and had derived huge incomes from designing and manufacturing munitions and military technologies like radar. As a pacifist George was angry that he was working with a company aligned with warfare and wanted to try and have the release halted. As Defries explains, when you look at the history of the major record companies, many of them pioneered new technologies some of which were part of the war effort. Check out Defries exploration in episode 46 of the MainMan podcast. Hit the link in the bio #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie #thejeangenie #spidersfrommars
David Bowie was signed by RCA in 1971 because they were desperate to find a new act they could promote and market in the same way they had successfully worked with Elvis Presley in the 50’s and 60’s. RCA was convinced that with the right strategy they could help turn Bowie into a global star and reap the financial rewards. Hear Defries explain why he and RCA were convinced about Bowie’s potential in episode 45 of the MainMan podcast. Hit the link in the bio. #bowieforever⚡️ #bowie #davidbowie #70sfashion #70srock
From the time Defries began managing David Bowie he planned to recover his early recordings which had never been exploited or promoted and to establish David as an artistic brand like Sinatra, Brando, Presley and Dylan. At the time the decision by Tony to sign with RCA rather than one of the other major labels was based on careful market analysis. Hear Defries explain why he thought RCA was the perfect fit for Bowie in episode 45 of the MainMan podcast. hit the link in the bio. #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie
For those Bowie fans interested in the ‘behind the scenes’ machinations of his incredible transformation from folk wannabe to rock megastar, this episode of the MainMan podcast features Tony Defries explaining how the deal that Bowie signed with RCA in September 1971 completely transformed his career. This deal, which was very unique for the time, provided David with complete creative freedom to focus on his music by providing global financial backing, support and distribution. As a result Bowie became one of the very few artists who owned not only his music publishing but also sound recordings, name and likeness rights, photographic and video/ film rights. A ground breaking achievement at the time. Hit the link in the bio to hear Defries explain the deal. #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie
When David Bowie met Andy Warhol 50 years ago in NYC, instead of discussing art or music, it was David’s new shoes the pair spent the most time talking about (after David had demonstrated his mime skills to an unimpressed Warhol). Hear Defries explaining how the meeting was arranged by Tony Zanetta while Bowie was in NYC signing his new RCA deal in episode 44 of the MainMan podcast. Hit the link in bio. And for a full account of the enormous impact the meeting had on DB’s musical evolution check out Z’s fascinating recollections in eps 1 & 2. #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie #warhol #andywarhol
This is David Bowie’s signature on the historic RCA licensing contract he signed in New York 50 years ago this week. This was a unique deal for its time which allowed David complete creative freedom to focus on his music by providing global financial backing, support and distribution - a key ingredient in his artistic evolution. Hear Defries explain how the deal was designed and executed exclusively in episode 44 of the MainMan podcast. Hit the link in the bio. #davidbowie #bowie #70srock #ziggy #ziggystardust #tmwstw #1970s #70sclassicrock #glamrock #rock #rocknroll #glam #rocknrollmusic #davidrobertjones #davidbowiefans #starman #fame #spaceoddity #aladdinsane #majortom #dailybowie

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