History Rhymes: The Vintage Pic That Inspired Our Latest Cover

The cover of our latest print edition, which pictures Republic Label Group execs—who oversee Republic, Island, Def Jam, Mercury and MCA—in a Manhattan street scene, naturally salutes that company's market- and chart share.

But the idea to stage such a pic was more than a little influenced by a 1974 shot of another dominant label-group team. That year found Warner Bros., Atlantic and Elektra Asylum hitters assembled at The Beverly Hills Hotel. The weather was warmer there than at our al fresco NYC shoot, but the heat generated by the two label groups, separated by more than a half-century, has been similarly torrid.

Pictured here are Atlantic's Jerry Wexler, Warner Bros.' Mo Ostin, Atlantic's Nesuhi Ertegun, Asylum's David Geffen, Atlantic's Ahmet Ertegun and WB's Joe Smith.

Everyone in this tableau is now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the exception of Smith, and we have to ask: WTF is up with that? His signings include Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, The Kinks, Frank Zappa, Alice Cooper, Earth, Wind & Fire and (in a deal with an unprecedented level of artist control) Prince. Joe was one of the greatest closers in biz history, yet he has been marginalized in the mythology. Isn't it time his role in the WB legend was right-sized?

This classic photo is brought to you by HITS' 40th Anniversary Special, which will be denting your desks and doorsteps later this year. We apologize in advance.