550 Music

550 Music was an American record-label imprint established by Sony Music Entertainment in 1993 and operated through the company's Epic Records division. The label was initially known as Sony 550 Music. Its name referred to 550 Madison Avenue in New York City, the address associated with Sony Tower at the time. Rather than functioning as an independent publicly traded company, 550 Music was a specialist label within Sony's recorded-music structure, responsible for signing artists, developing releases, and coordinating marketing and distribution through the wider Sony and Epic network. Polly Anthony served as the imprint's general manager when it launched in September or October 1993 and became its president in 1994. The label's early roster included the rock group Eve's Plum, identified in contemporary accounts as its first signing, along with several other developing acts. Its early activity also included Velvet Crush's album Teenage Symphonies to God, released in 1994 after Alan McGee helped bring the project to the label following the band's earlier association with Creation Records. John Doelp served as a vice president and was involved in the label's artist and release operations. 550 Music's strategy was not limited to emerging alternative and rock artists. By the middle of the decade, its releases and projects included work associated with internationally prominent performers such as Celine Dion and Des'ree. The imprint's role in Celine Dion's 1997 album Let's Talk About Love illustrated Sony's use of 550 as a platform for global, collaboration-driven marketing. The album involved high-profile creative partners, including producer David Foster, songwriter Linda Thompson, and Walter Afanasieff. 550 also commissioned the Dion and Barbra Streisand duet Tell Him, a prominent example of the label's emphasis on event-oriented collaborations and international promotion. The imprint later participated in an effort to refresh Jon Secada's career. It released or hosted his 2000 album Better Part of Me and arranged for the album's single Stop to receive additional exposure through a deal with Loews Cineplex Entertainment, which featured the song's music video. This reflected the broader promotional possibilities available to a label integrated into a large entertainment company. The label's separate operating identity did not continue indefinitely. Sony's Epic division began consolidating 550 Music's business operations in 2000, during the period when Tommy Mottola was leaving Sony Music. After that consolidation, 550 Music ceased to operate as an active standalone imprint. Because its corporate and release records are distributed across Sony, Epic, artist, and trade-publication sources, a complete roster and financial history cannot be established from the available material. The brand is therefore best understood as a former Sony/Epic label imprint rather than as a continuing independent music company.

550 Music was created by Sony Music Entertainment in 1993 as a record-label imprint working through the Epic Records division. The label was initially branded Sony 550 Music. Its name was derived from 550 Madison Avenue in New York City, then associated with Sony Tower. This naming connected the imprint to Sony's corporate presence while giving it a distinct identity within the company's label portfolio. Polly Anthony was appointed general manager at launch in September or October 1993 and became president the following year. Eve's Plum was the label's first signing, and the early roster included several additional developing acts. The imprint also became involved in the American release of Velvet Crush's Teenage Symphonies to God in 1994. Alan McGee helped bring the project to 550 after the group's earlier relationship with Creation Records. John Doelp served as a vice president and later described the label as concentrating less on immediately acquiring the biggest stars and more on building a varied roster. That approach did not prevent 550 Music from handling prominent commercial projects. By 1995, the imprint's activities included artists such as Celine Dion and Des'ree. Its work with Dion became especially visible during the promotion of Let's Talk About Love in 1997. The album was presented through an international, collaboration-oriented campaign, supported by high-profile creative contributors. David Foster produced, while Linda Thompson and Walter Afanasieff were among the writers and collaborators involved in the project. The Dion and Barbra Streisand duet Tell Him was commissioned as part of this effort and became a defining example of the label's event-based marketing model. The imprint also attempted to support the next phase of Jon Secada's career. In 2000, 550 Music hosted Better Part of Me and arranged a promotional relationship with Loews Cineplex Entertainment under which a music video for Stop was shown in connection with the cinema chain. The arrangement demonstrated how a label within a diversified entertainment group could use partnerships outside conventional radio and retail promotion. 550 Music's independent operating structure was short-lived. In 2000, Epic began consolidating the imprint's business operations. The change occurred during a broader transition at Sony Music that included Tommy Mottola's departure from the company. Following the consolidation, 550 Music no longer functioned as a distinct active label. Available references document several important releases and executives, but they do not provide a complete artist roster, full discography, corporate financial record, or a definitive closure date. It is consequently classified as a defunct former Sony/Epic imprint.

1. 2000Operations consolidated into Epic

   Epic begins integrating 550 Music's business operations, ending its separate active identity.

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2. 1997Celine Dion collaboration campaign

   The label supports the global rollout of Let's Talk About Love and its prominent Dion–Streisand duet Tell Him.

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3. 1994Polly Anthony becomes president

   Anthony moves from general manager to president of the growing imprint.

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4. 1994Velvet Crush release

   550 Music hosts Velvet Crush's debut album Teenage Symphonies to God.

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5. 1993Sony 550 Music launches

   Sony Music establishes the imprint, operating it through Epic Records. Polly Anthony serves as general manager.

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A Sony Music label imprint combining development-oriented signings with commercially prominent, globally marketed releases and artist collaborations.

• Teenage Symphonies to GodAlbum1994

  Velvet Crush's debut album, released through 550 Music in 1994 after Alan McGee helped move the project from the band's earlier Creation Records association.

• Let's Talk About LoveAlbum1997

  Celine Dion's 1997 album, supported by 550 Music through a global marketing strategy built around major creative collaborations and international promotion.

• Tell HimSingle1997

  A duet by Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion commissioned as part of the promotional and collaborative program connected with Dion's Let's Talk About Love.

• Better Part of MeAlbum2000

  Jon Secada's 2000 album, associated with 550 Music's effort to renew the singer's career and supported by cross-entertainment promotion for the single Stop.

• 2000Loews Cineplex promotion for Jon Secada

  United States

  As part of the promotion for Jon Secada's Better Part of Me, 550 Music arranged for Loews Cineplex Entertainment to feature the music video for Stop.

  Outcome. The arrangement extended the album's exposure into cinema venues and supported the label's attempt to reposition Secada's career.

  Source
• 1997Let's Talk About Love global collaboration campaign

  International

  550 Music promoted Celine Dion's album through a global strategy emphasizing high-profile collaborators, including David Foster, Linda Thompson, Walter Afanasieff, and Barbra Streisand.

  Outcome. The campaign produced the prominent Dion–Streisand single Tell Him and became one of the imprint's most visible international projects.

  Source

• 2000Consolidation of 550 Music into EpicStrategy

  Sony Music's Epic division began consolidating 550 Music's business operations during a wider period of organizational change at Sony Music.

  What changed. Epic integrated the imprint's operations rather than continuing 550 Music as a separate active label.

  Aftermath. 550 Music ceased to operate as an independent imprint and is now treated as a defunct Sony/Epic label brand.

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• 2000Epic consolidates 550 Music operations

  Sony Music's Epic division began consolidating 550 Music's business operations, ending the imprint's separate operating identity.

  Other
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• 1997550 Music supports Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love

  The imprint participated in the global marketing and collaboration strategy surrounding Celine Dion's album Let's Talk About Love, including the Dion–Barbra Streisand duet Tell Him.

  CampaignProduct launch
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• 1995550 Music expands into prominent artist projects

  By 1995, the imprint's activities included work associated with major performers including Celine Dion and Des'ree, alongside its development-oriented roster.

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• 1994Polly Anthony becomes president of 550 Music

  After serving as the label's launch-period general manager, Polly Anthony became its president.

  Leadership change
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• 1994550 Music releases Velvet Crush's Teenage Symphonies to God

  Through Alan McGee's involvement, 550 Music hosted Velvet Crush's debut album after the band's earlier work with Creation Records.

  Product launch
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• 1993550 Music launches as a Sony Music imprint

  Sony Music launched 550 Music, initially called Sony 550 Music, as an imprint operating through Epic Records. Polly Anthony served as its general manager.

  Other
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1. 550 Music