As Chairman and CEO of Universal Music, Mr. Morris is responsible for guiding the overall global activities of Universal Music Group.
With the acquisition of PolyGram in 1998, Mr. Morris was directly involved with the restructuring and integration process to create the world’s largest music company. In 1999, Mr. Morris and Jimmy Iovine, Co-Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M established UMG’s Jimmy and Doug’s Farmclub.com, a uniquely integrated music company that includes record operations, online activities and television programming.
Mr. Morris first began his association with the MCA Music Entertainment Group (now Universal Music Group) in July 1995 by forming of a joint venture New York City-based full service record label. Upon Mr. Morris’ appointment as Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group in November 1995, the joint venture became wholly owned by Universal and was re-named Universal Records. Universal Records, under the direction of Mr. Morris, has become one of the industry’s most successful start-up record labels ever.
Throughout his career, Mr. Morris has worked with some of the most popular and influential artists of the past four decades, including The Rolling Stones, Phil Collins, Pete Townsend, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, Bette Midler, Tori Amos, INXS, Erykah Badu, and Juvenile.
A graduate of Columbia University, Mr. Morris began his music career as a songwriter for music publisher Robert Mellin, Inc. His credits include writing the Chiffons’ 1966 hit “Sweet Talkin’ Guy” and producing such hit records as Brownsville Station’s “Smokin’ in the Boys Room.” Mr. Morris joined Laurie Records in 1965 as a writer and producer and was eventually named Vice President and General Manager. Later, he launched his own label, Big Tree Records, which was distributed and eventually acquired by Atlantic Records in 1978. At the time, Mr. Morris was named President of ATCO Records, beginning his 17-year association with Warner Music.
In 1980, Mr. Morris was appointed President of Atlantic Records and assumed the position of Co-Chairman and Co-CEO (with Ahmet Ertegun) of the Atlantic Recording Group in 1990. At Atlantic, Mr. Morris played a significant role in transforming Atlantic into the number one company within the Warner Music Group and a premier company within the music industry. As part of his strategy for growth, Mr. Morris revamped the division labels as completely autonomous units (each supporting a variety of imprints); established co-venture deals with such renowned labels as Interscope, Rhino, and Matador; and created Time Warner Audiobooks in partnership with Warner Books. He also established Atlantic Nashville, launched EastWest Records with Sylvia Rhone and created A*Vision Entertainment with Stuart Hersch.
Mr. Morris was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of Warner Music U.S. in 1994 and, soon after, was named Chairman. He began his association with the MCA Music Entertainment Group (now Universal Music Group) in July 1995.