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BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Founder of Atlantic Records dies:

The co-founder of Atlantic Records Ahmet Ertegun has died, aged 83.

Yeah, Atlantic was a "major label" and had all of the ethical compromises thereof, but at the time there wasn't any other way to do business, and he did it well, bringing a huge number of groups to the fore. Prog Rock would have had a much tougher time without his support in signing King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, and Emerson Lake & Palmer as well as a host of other smaller acts. Rock was throughly blessed by his support for Led Zepplin and Crosby Stills & Nash (& Young) as well as John Lennon's post-Beatles and Eric Clapton's post-Cream careers.