As the founding President of EMI America Records, Mazza was responsible for one of the most dramatic label startups in the history of the music business, building annual sales revenue from zero to $75 million in less than four years between 1977 and 1981. The label held the number one position on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles Chart for a remarkable 16 weeks during the calendar year of 1981, being nominated for eleven Grammy awards in five different categories winning Grammies for Record of the Year ("Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes), Song of the Year (“Lady,” written by Lionel Richie and performed by Kenny Rogers), Best New Artist of the Year (Sheena Easton), and three in the country music category.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements with EMI America, Mazza was appointed President of Capitol Records in December 1982, while concurrently holding the specially created position of Chairman of EMI America Records. Jim was appointed to EMI Music’s main Board of Directors in London, and served on numerous executive committees. He was also appointed to the Board of Directors of Capitol Records. In addition, Mazza served on the boards of the Recording Association of America (RIAA), the Country Music Association (CMA) and the National Association of Record Merchandisers (NARM) Advisory Committee. As President of Capitol, Mazza was responsible for revitalizing a sleeping giant, achieving enormous worldwide success with a broad range of artists including the reborn Tina Turner (10-million sales of “Private Dancer” album), the previously unknown Duran Duran (10-million sales over five albums), new R&B artist, Freddie Jackson (4-million sales over two albums), the comeback album from Heart (5-million sales of their debut Capitol album) and the breakthrough of hard rock act Iron Maiden (2-platinum albums).
Jim Mazza’s experience spans 40 years in all areas of the music business. While working as the store manager of the legendary Wallach’s Music City store in Hollywood, the young Jim Mazza was talent-spotted by Capitol Records in 1965 and hired as a local Promotion/Sales Representative. In 1968, Mazza was appointed District Manager for Capitol’s important San Francisco branch, returning to Los Angeles, in 1970 as head of the company’s largest branch operation.
It was during this period that Mazza’s marketing skills were identified with the design and implementation of numerous innovative marketing campaigns. Such successful campaigns included Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Buck Owens, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Dean Martin, Lou Rawls, Sonny James, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, The Beatles, Anne Murray, The Band and Grand Funk Railroad. In addition, Mazza’s talent was highlighted with the immensely successful Beach Boys, “Endless Summer,” campaign and Pink Floyd’s multi-platinum album, “Dark Side of the Moon.”
In 1973, Capitol recognized Mazza’s No. 1 branch performance by appointing him to the position of Director of International marketing Worldwide, in which role he led many successful campaigns, transforming what had been an old-line licensing operation into an aggressive worldwide marketing and promotion unit. Eighteen months later he was promoted to the position of Vice President International and Domestic Marketing, with responsibility for domestic sales and promotion as well as the worldwide marketing of Capitol’s music.
It was at this time that Capitol’s North American music operation enjoyed its highest degree of performance. Under Mazza’s leadership, the company’s sales and profits rose continuously during the calendar years 1975 and 1976. Mazza and his team of talented executives brought new meaning to the concept of music marketing, striking gold and platinum regularly while launching the careers of major superstars Bob Seger, Steve Miller, Natalie Cole, the solo Paul McCartney, and through his international connections bringing to the company from Australia, The Little River Band.
In 1977, EMI America Records was formed under Mazza’s leadership and quickly attracted both established and new artists to its roster. In 1979, Capitol acquired United Artists Records, which was consolidated into EMI America Records with Jim Mazza as President of the combined label group.
One of Mazza’s greatest triumphs in this period was his close association with Kenny Rogers, who between 1979-81 became the highest-selling artist in the music business, selling over 30-million albums and earning accolades from every area of the entertainment industry including film, television and live concert performance. When Kenny came to EMI America via the United Artists acquisition, Mazza and Kenny began working together on the creative direction of Kenny’s career, drawing up marketing plans, directing promotion activities, and motivating sister EMI companies around the world. In addition to creating duet opportunities with other EMI America artists (“Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer” with Kim Carnes, “We’ve Got Tonight,” with Sheena Easton), Mazza conceived the idea of approaching the songwriter and lead singer for the R&B group, The Commodores. The outcome of this decision was historic, giving Kenny one of the biggest hits of his career (“Lady”), and Lionel Richie the confidence to step out from The Commodores to launch his enormously successful solo career.
In addition to the phenomenal success of Kenny Rogers, perhaps Mazza’s most widely respected achievement at EMI America was the signing and marketing of David Bowie, one of the most prestigious artists in the music world. After 21 albums on a competitive label, none of which sold more than 1 million copies, Bowie signed with Mazza at EMI America in 1982. David’s first album for EMI America, “Let’s Dance,” sold 7 million copies worldwide, transforming Bowie from an admired cult artist into a multi-platinum superstar overnight.
Further examples of Mazza’s skill at taking semi-established artists and creating multi-platinum success include the J. Geils Band (6-million albums), Stray Cats, (3-million albums) and Tina Turner (10-million albums sold from what started as a $5,000 demo budget).
Mazza’s ability to break and develop new artists is well illustrated by his involvement with the ground-breaking “Bad to the Bone” album, by George Thorogood, Duran Duran and Sheena Easton. Originally signed to EMI in England, Sheena’s first single for EMI America (“Morning Train”) went to number one in the U.S., and was followed by two more hit singles as well as a Grammy for Best New Artist of the Year. Knowing that EMI America held the rights to the forthcoming James Bond soundtrack album, Mazza approached Cubby Broccoli, the movie’s producer, to see whether he would be willing to utilize Sheena for the title song from the film. The result, “For Your Eyes Only,” became an enormous worldwide hit, boosting the box office for the movie as well as Sheena Easton’s popularity and record sales. EMI America scored continuously with top 10 hits like: “Missing You” by John Waite, “Sad Eyes” by Robert John, “West End Girls” by the Pet Shop Boys,” “Always Something There To Remind Me” by Naked Eyes, “Sunglasses At Night,” by Corey Hart, “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” by Cliff Richard, “Turning Japanese,” by the Vapors, “Hearts” by Marty Balin, and Michael Johnson’s “Bluer Than Blue.” Mazza also played a pivotal role in the development of new artists Ziggy Marley, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queensryche and Kate Bush.
Just prior to EMI America’s consolidation in July of 1987, the company was able to secure exclusive worldwide recording rights to superstar Robert Palmer and then developing Aaron Neville and the Neville Brothers. Mazza then formed Morgan Creek Records with Grammy award-winning producer, David Kershenbaum, in 1989 and immediately scored with one of the biggest selling records in modern times, “Everything I Do, I Do For You,” by Bryan Adams, the theme from the motion picture, “Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.” Mazza conceived the idea to extract elements of the instrumental classical score and have lyrics written by a contemporary artist, the results of which are legendary. The single continues to be the largest number one chart single in U.K. history. The song won many industry accolades including Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy awards. The combined sales of Bryan’s single, solo album, soundtrack album and the greatest hits now exceed 34 million units worldwide. Mazza also secured for Morgan Creek the rights to “The Last of the Mohicans” soundtrack which has now sold in excess of 1,800,000 units worldwide. Mazza executive produced all soundtracks released on the Morgan Creek label.
In the Spring of 1998, Mazza was re-united with legendary recording artist and long-time friend Kenny Rogers when they co-founded Dreamcatcher Entertainment. The entertainment venture, based in Nashville, is comprised of three separate operating divisions all under the Dreamcatcher moniker; records, artist management and film and television production. On the eve of its first year anniversary, Dreamcatcher Entertainment celebrated its first gold album with Kenny Rogers “She Rides Wild Horses.” Just one year later in May of 2000 the album was propelled to platinum with the chart topping second single, “Buy Me A Rose,” Kenny Rogers’ 22 nd #1 country hit. This marked the first time in the history of the music industry that an independent country record label achieved platinum status, and the first time in more than 15 years that an independent was able to reach the number one slot.