I am still processing the news that Mo Ostin passed away yesterday. Like everyone at who ever worked at Warner Bros. Records, Mo was a larger than life leader…the near-perfect company head, who ushered in an era of an artist-friendly music business, who valued his staff and the company culture as much as making great records. It did not matter if you saw him everyday, or just once in a while during an important work moment, Mo’s vision, intellect, and kindness left a deep mark. It has been over twenty five years since I got to work under his reign, and I still refer to him all the time when discussing leadership qualities, or his way of being successful while betting on artists, from Neil Young and Madonna, to the Fugs and the Boredoms.
God Bless.