NY Times: Doug Morris Wants To 'Create The Pre-Eminent Record Company In The World'

Doug Morris (Sara Krulwich/The New York Times)

SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT Chairman/CEO DOUG MORRIS is featured in an article in THE NEW YORK TIMES, in which he states, "My plan here is very simple -- To help create the preeminent record company in the world."

THE TIMES writes, "MORRIS, one of music's reigning patriarchs, took over SONY in JULY, after 15 years at UNIVERSAL. He is widely seen as the most capable hand to steady SONY's music division, which has been plagued by internal quarrels since its merger with BMG in 2004. So far he has been aggressive in trying to remake the company, the home of artists like BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, BEYONCÉ and USHER. At 72, his age and experience summon up the inevitable charge that as part of the industry's old guard he is ill-equipped to thrive in the digital age. Mr. MORRIS rejects that notion, pointing out his role in creating VEVO, the hugely successful music video site."

The article points to a recent move by MORRIS, signing DR. LUKE, the producer known for his work with KATY PERRY and KESHA. "It creates a record label, KEMOSABE RECORDS, to be financed by SONY and run by DR. LUKE in LOS ANGELES. And, perhaps most valuably, it also gives SONY exclusive rights to DR. LUKE's services as a producer for five years."

MORRIS told THE TIMES that the DR. LUKE deal was an attempt "to duplicate a magic trick" from 21 years ago -- his bankrolling of INTERSCOPE RECORDS, which was co-founded by the producer JIMMY IOVINE and has become one of the most successful labels in the business. DR. LUKE, Mr. MORRIS said several times in an interview, is his new JIMMY. 'He’s the best guy at the moment, as far as a writer and a producer,' MORRIS said. 'He and JIMMY are very different, but it’s the same kind of level of intellect and talent.'"

Read the full interview here.

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