This is the fourth in our series of profiles of iconic record labels, exploring the label's history and some interesting stories about the artists they signed and music they released. Look for more label profiles coming up soon and check them all out here.
Island Records is one of the most influential record labels in music history, renowned for its diverse roster and groundbreaking contributions to multiple genres. Founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, Island began as a label promoting Caribbean music, particularly ska and reggae. Blackwell’s vision and instinct would later turn the label into a global powerhouse.
The Early Years: Jamaican Roots
Island Records was initially a platform for promoting the burgeoning ska and reggae scenes in Jamaica. Blackwell’s early collaborations with artists like Millie Small, whose hit "My Boy Lollipop" became a global sensation in 1964, established Island’s reputation. This was one of the first major ska hits to gain international recognition.
Millie Small performing in Finland in 1964
Expanding into Rock and Beyond
By the mid-1960s, Blackwell relocated the label to London, where it began signing British rock acts. The label championed artists like Steve Winwood (with the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic), Cat Stevens, Free (the precursor group to Bad Company), and Fairport Convention, showcasing a broad range of talent. Blackwell’s innovative approach to production, including encouraging bands to retreat to rural areas to focus on creativity, helped shape albums like Traffic’s debut.
Cat Stevens' agent Barry Krost introduced him to Chris Blackwell in 1969, which sparked a fruitful string of albums
Island Records also played a pivotal role in the progressive rock movement by signing bands such as King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. At the same time, Blackwell expanded into folk, signing artists like Nick Drake and John Martyn, whose albums remain cult classics.
The Bob Marley Era
Island’s most iconic partnership was with Bob Marley and The Wailers. Blackwell recognized Marley’s potential to bring reggae to global audiences. He encouraged the group to incorporate rock elements, which resulted in timeless albums like Catch a Fire and Exodus. Marley’s music became a symbol of cultural resistance and liberation, and his legacy continues to resonate worldwide.
Bob Marley is perhaps the artist most associated with Island Records
The 1970s, U2, and the Global Takeover
In the 1970s, the label signed and nurtured artists including Roxy Music and Sparks. By the late 1970s Island took another leap by signing U2, a band rejected by many other labels. Blackwell’s faith in their potential paid off spectacularly. Albums like The Joshua Tree solidified U2 as one of the biggest bands in the world, with their anthemic sound and socially conscious lyrics. The relationship between U2 and Island remains one of the most successful in music history.
U2 has sold over 150 million records worldwide - not bad for a group signed by Island after being rejected by many labels
Diversification and Cultural Influence
Island also helped popularize diverse genres, from Grace Jones’ avant-garde pop to reggae acts like Burning Spear and Lee "Scratch" Perry through its Mango Records imprint. Blackwell’s commitment to artistic freedom and genre-crossing creativity defined the label’s ethos. He also ventured into film, producing the classic reggae movie The Harder They Come, which introduced reggae to an even wider audience.
1980s Signings
Other artists signed by the label in the 1980s included Eric B. and Rakim, Melissa Etheridge, the Stereo MCs, Robert Palmer, and African musicians such King Sunny Adé and Angélique Kidjo.
Ownership Changes and Legacy
In 1989, Island Records was sold to PolyGram (later part of Universal Music Group). Blackwell eventually left the music business in 1997, but his influence remains deeply embedded in the industry. Today, Island continues to thrive under UMG, maintaining a reputation for discovering and nurturing groundbreaking artists. Some recent successes on the label are Drake, Melissa Etheridge, Florence and the Machine, PJ Harvey, Keane, Mumford & Sons, and The Weeknd.
Island signing Keane have sold over 13 million records worldwide
Chris Blackwell: A Visionary
Chris Blackwell’s instincts and unconventional methods shaped Island’s unique legacy. Whether promoting the raw energy of reggae or the experimental sounds of rock, his dedication to artistic authenticity set Island apart. Beyond music, Blackwell later shifted focus to luxury hospitality, managing properties in Jamaica under Island Outpost, further cementing his status as a cultural pioneer.
Island Records remains a beacon of innovation, blending musical genres and fostering creativity to create timeless cultural moments.
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All photos by MusicGoldmine.com, except Millie Small by Holger Eklund (public domain)
