 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2011) |
Bhaskar Menon | |
|---|---|
 Menon in 1974 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vijaya Bhaskar Menon |
| Born | 29 May 1934 Trivandrum, Kingdom of Travancore, British India (present day Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India) |
| Died | 4 March 2021 (aged 86) Beverly Hills, California, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Record label executive, broadcast media executive |
| Years active | 1956–1990 (music), 1990–2021 (media) |
| Labels | Capitol, EMI |
Bhaskar Menon (29 May 1934 – 4 March 2021)[1] was a music industry executive of Indian origin. He hailed from Palakkad, Kerala, India. He initially worked with The Gramophone Company of India Ltd. (HMV) Dum Dum, Calcutta, India as the chairman and MD. From there he was taken to the United Kingdom by EMI.
As the first chairman and CEO of EMI Music Worldwide, Bhaskar Menon was best known as a music industry executive, overseeing the EMI Group’s worldwide operations and subsidiaries.
A citizen of the United States, Menon was born in India where he was educated at The Doon School[2][3] and received a B.A. Honours degree from the University of Delhi. He earned a master's degree from Christ Church, Oxford University, and joined EMI Limited in London. Transferred to India and the Far East, he was appointed chairman, managing director and chief executive of EMI's Indian subsidiary.
Menon returned to London as divisional director and general manager (overseas) of EMI Limited responsible for the group's interests and investments outside the UK. He was concurrently appointed managing director of EMI International Services Limited with direct operating responsibility for companies in 25 countries. He represented EMI on the boards of several subsidiary and associated companies, including Capitol Industries in the US and Toshiba EMI Limited in Japan.
Menon transferred to Los Angeles and was elected president and chief executive officer of Capitol Industries Inc., a public corporation in which EMI held majority interest. He was appointed a director of the parent board of EMI Limited, and elected chairman of the board of Capitol Industries Inc. in addition to remaining president and chief executive officer of all its operating companies in North America, including Capitol Records, the Merco & MusicDen Retail Group, Capitol Magnetic Products division, and of the Screen Gems and Colgems music publishing companies and United Artists Records, which he acquired for Capitol/EMI. He was also chairman of EMI Films Inc. and EMI Television Programs Inc.
Menon turned around the financially troubled Capitol EMI into a successful major player in the music industry. In a 1978 article, the publication New Musical Express noted, "Within a year he had turned Capitol's $15 million loss into a profit. His motto for his employees was simple: 'Uncompromising excellence in what you do goes without saying. We expect more than that.[4]
A recent posting on the FYI music site had this to say about Menon's achievements at EMI.
"Menon pulled the British companies sprawling assets, spread over 46 countries, under one roof and created EMI Music Worldwide in 1978.
Menon was a great team builder, he had a passion for music and he loved entertaining and hanging out with musicians. Just like the incredible team that built Warner, Elektra and Atlantic. From what I remember of Bhaskar Menon, his kindness, generosity and sharp intellect were appreciated by the stable of talent the company acquired and held on to in those years."[5]
- ^ "Bhaskar Menon, Legendary EMI and Capitol Records Head, Dies at 86". Billboard. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "The Man Who Showed Pink Floyd the Bright Side -". 20 April 2009.
- ^ "WSJ.com - The Andover of India?". www.wsj.com.
- ^ " New Musical Express, 1978, "The Man Who Really Runs Rock & Roll"
- ^ "When the going gets tough the critics love to chatter". Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2008..