Zomba Group
The Zomba Group was established in 1975 as a small independent music and publishing company by three South African music entrepreneurs: Clive Calder, Ralph Simon and Mutt Lange, who had relocated to London due to their opposition to the apartheid regime. They renamed the company Zomba, after the capital of the African country of Malawi.
Morgan Studios
In 1981, Zomba introduced Jive Records as a subsidiary, focusing on pop and dance music in the UK. Early bands released by Jive in the UK included Q-Feel, A Flock of Seagulls, and Tight Fit.
Simultaneously, in the USA, the company started signing hip hop and rap artists, contributing to the development of hip hop as a genre and the boyband trend of the 1990s, with notable acts like The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC.
NSYNC Album ‘No Strings Attached’ released 2000 under the Jive Label (Click Here - to watch video)
During the late 1970s, Zomba produced significant rock albums for artists such as The Boomtown Rats, AC/DC, and Graham Parker, later adding renowned bands like Def Leppard, Foreigner and Bryan Adams.
In 1978, they opened a New York office, signing Billy Ocean shortly after.
Initially based at the Morgan studios at 169-171 High Road Willesden (which they renamed as Battery studios), the company expanded from modest beginnings to become the largest independent music company globally at one point.
Boomtown Rats Hit Single ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ 1979 (Click Here - to watch video)
By 1990, Zomba's value reached $225 million, with over fifty affiliated companies. It retained its independence until 2002 when BMG acquired the group. Subsequently, BMG merged with Sony Music in 2004 to establish Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
In 2001, Zomba Group announced withdrawal from the recording business in the U.K.