Seymour Stein steps down as Warner Music/Sire Records boss

Music mogul Seymour Stein is stepping down as the boss of Sire Records, the firm he founded over 50 years ago.
Stein, who discovered the likes of Madonna and The Ramones and worked with artists including The Smiths, The Pretenders, The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Cult, and Cyndi Lauper, has also announced his departure from Warner Music after 42 years.
The legendary music boss, who launched Sire Records in 1966, has assured fans he isn’t retiring – but he wants to return to his “indie roots”.
“I was very fortunate during my youth to learn from so many great indie label people, like Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun and Jerry Wexler at Atlantic, and my greatest mentor, Syd Nathan at King Records,” Stein, 76, says in a statement. “I went on to work with so many other great indies around the world as Sire grew to become the legendary brand it is today.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all the amazing artists – far too many to name – who have called Sire home over the years.”