How a Jamaican label became the bedrock of British rock and global pop

Music · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Island Records evolved from a small Jamaican operation into a multinational powerhouse. By championing diverse sounds—from reggae pioneers like Toots and the Maytals to rock icons like U2—the label redefined the music industry, eventually becoming a cornerstone of the Universal Music Group empire.

Island Records began in Jamaica on July 4, 1959, founded by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, Leslie Kong, and Michael Ernest David Chambers. Inspired by Harry Belafonte’s song Island in the Sun, the label initially struggled to find traction in the UK. Blackwell relocated to London in 1962, personally distributing records to shops because radio stations and the press ignored his releases. This early period, described by sales manager Tom Hayes as organized chaos, eventually gave way to massive success as the label became a central force in the UK rock scene, signing acts like Free, King Crimson, and Traffic.

The label’s identity was defined by Blackwell’s eclectic taste and his commitment to long-term artist development. He famously nurtured reggae legends, including Bob Marley and Toots and the Maytals, while simultaneously building a rock roster that included Cat Stevens and Steve Winwood. By 1969, the label established its own creative hub at Basing Street in Notting Hill, a repurposed church that became the legendary Island Studios. This era solidified Island’s reputation for a street-cool, independent ethos that thrived on mixing disparate musical systems and beliefs.

Financial pressures and corporate shifts eventually led Blackwell to sell the label to PolyGram in 1989 for £180 million. Following the sale, Island became part of a larger corporate structure, eventually falling under the Universal Music Group umbrella. Despite these changes, the label continued to secure major breakthroughs for 21st-century superstars like Drake, the Weeknd, and Florence and the Machine. Today, Island operates as a global brand, with recent expansions into Southeast Asia and continued success with artists like Sabrina Carpenter, maintaining its legacy as one of the most influential labels in history.

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