Profile Records  

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Profile Records was a record label that specialized in many times of urban-oriented music, such as hip hop.

Contents

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Origins

In 1980, at 23 years old, after working briefly for MCA, Cory Robbins was looking to start a record label. He invited his songwriter friend Steve Plotnicki to be a partner. They each borrowed $17,000 from their parents and Profile Records was born. Their tiny office opened at 250 West 57th street NYC on May 1, 1981. Contrary to the Urban myth that has existed for decades, Robbins and Plotnicki did not buy Profile Records from MCA Records, nor was it the child of any other label. Profile started as and remained an independent company created by Robbins and Plotnicki until the latter sold it to Bertelsmann Music Group's Arista Records in 1997, after a fierce bidding war between that company and Tommy Boy Records. Robbins sold his interest to Plotnicki when he left the company in 1994. The label's master recordings are now controlled by Sony Music after the dissolving of the Sony BMG venture in 2008.

The initial 34k Template:Vague investment came and went several times before a profit was finally turned a year later. It wasn’t until the success of “Genius Rap” by Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde did they escape financial ruin by a mere $2,000. From there it was Gidea Park's “Seasons of Gold” that brought more commercial and financial success by becoming Profile Records’ first hit to make the Billboard Hot 100. From there, they had consistent commercial success, with gold and platinum sales with artists such as Dana Dane, Twin hype, Run DMC, Poor Righteous Teachers, Nemesis, and Paul Hardcastle to name a few. In 1985, the label moved to a new headquarters at 740 Broadway in New York. The label also had numerous sub-labels such as Sm:)e Communications, Sea Bright Records, and Zakia Records.

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Success

Profiles’ biggest act was Run-D.M.C., which was introduced to Robbins when manager Russell Simmons sent him a demo cassette of "It’s Like That." Robbins signed them soon after and a legend was born.

Though Profile rejected a few artists that went on to fame, it had great success with the artists it did sign. Including over 500 different albums sold, and gold and platinum success via dozens of artists. At a time when major labels would not touch acts like these, Profile took chances that paid off big.

West Coast Hip-Hop It was after the success of Young MC and Tone Loc that Profile decided to open its door to the West Coast and Houston emcees, which proved yet another lucrative opportunity.

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The End of an Era

Thirteen years earlier, as new record label owners, Robbins and Plotnicki used attorneys to sign their talent but decided that a solid handshake was enough for their own partnership which proved to be a problem in later years. There was no ownership contract between the two so as the end drew nigh it became harder and harder to see eye to eye. Robbins left in 1994 and in 1997 Profile as we once knew it, ceased to exist. Consequently, their less than amicable split severed not only all business ties but all personal ones too. Robbins, in 2008 said he had no regrets “except for an occasional loss, it was a good experience, a positive experience but I would not change a thing.”

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Selected artists

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Hip hop

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Others


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