Polly Anthony

Mary Kathryn "Polly" Anthony (1958–2013) was an American music industry executive. One of the first women to head a major record label, she was the president of Epic Records from 1997 until 2003.[1][2][3]

Polly Anthony
Born
Mary Kathryn Anthony

(1952-11-15)November 15, 1952
Alexandria, Virginia
DiedSeptember 29, 2013(2013-09-29) (aged 59)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationRecord industry executive
Years active1978-2013

Early life

Anthony was born in Alexandria, Virginia to Patrice H. and Bernard J. Anthony, an aerospace executive. She and her family moved to Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California in 1963. In 1965, she saw The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl, a concert which "pointed the way to the road her life would take."[4][5]

Career

Anthony began her career in the music industry at RCA Records. She worked briefly at an artist management company and in 1978 was hired as an assistant to the head of promotion at Epic Associated Labels. She "assiduously worked her way up the ladder," and in 1988 moved to New York to become the senior vice president of promotion at Epic. In 1993 Anthony became the president of 550 Music, an Epic imprint, and in 1997 she was appointed president of Epic Records. Over the course of her career at Epic, she worked with artists including Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Pearl Jam, and Rage Against the Machine.[5][6]

In 2003 Anthony returned to California as the president of Dreamworks Records; after a corporate reorganization, she was named co-president of Geffen Records.[7] In 2006, she became head of television and film for the Universal Music Group. She left Universal in 2010 to executive produce film and television projects. Among others, Anthony produced the HBO series Off the Record, Cane for CBS, and Betty & Coretta for Lifetime.[5]

Anthony died of pancreatic cancer in September 2013.[1]

References
  1. Knopper, Steve (October 1, 2013). "Polly Anthony, Former Epic Records President, Dead at 60". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  2. O'Brien, Lucy (April 1, 2004). She Bop II: The Definitive History of Women in Rock, Pop and Soul. New York: Bayou Press. p. 548. ISBN 978-0826472083. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  3. Variety staff (October 2, 2013). "Polly Anthony, Former Epic Records Chief, Dies at 59". Variety/AP. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  4. "Mary Anthony Obituary". Daily Breeze. November 29, 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  5. Christman, Ed (September 29, 2013). "Music Industry Veteran Polly Anthony Dies at 59". Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  6. Newman, Melinda (September 27, 1997). "Anthony Adds Epic Stripes". Billboard. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  7. Leeds, Jeff (March 6, 2004). "Geffen Label is Expected to Name Co-President". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
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