By Tony van Veen, CEO of Disc Makers
The music business lost an important leader today.
Morris Ballen, longtime owner and CEO of Disc Makers, passed away last night at his home in Philadelphia at the age of 88.
Morris was not widely recognized in the music industry. He didn’t crave the spotlight. But behind the scenes, he built Disc Makers into a major enabler of the first independent music revolution.
Morris joined the company his father founded right out of college. In the mid-’80s, he recognized something important was happening: more artists wanted to build careers without waiting for a record label to discover them.
His vision for Disc Makers was simple: give independent artists access to the same professional-quality physical media the labels had — at prices they could afford.
At first it was records, then cassettes, and eventually CDs. Professional packaging. Small order quantities suitable for emerging artists. Morris wanted an independent artist on a budget to look every bit as good as an artist signed to a major label.
And he always put the artist first. Even when that meant putting their interests ahead of the labels we also worked with.
That philosophy helped turn Disc Makers from a small regional vinyl pressing plant into a national market leader — and helped countless independent artists build careers on their own terms.
Morris hired me right out of college in 1987. He was my first boss — and my only boss ever during the 20 years it took me to go from my first job at Disc Makers to company CEO.
Along the way, Morris went from boss, to mentor, to friend, to family.
He taught me about work, priorities, loyalty, generosity, and perseverance. Morris was extraordinarily generous with his employees, friends, and family. He believed in taking care of people and in taking chances on them.
This year, Disc Makers celebrates its 80th anniversary. Morris’s DNA remains deeply embedded in the company — in our can-do culture, in our commitment to independent creators, and in the many people he hired and mentored who are still with us today.
Morris never sought recognition for what he accomplished. But there are generations of independent artists — and an entire company — that are part of his legacy.
I’m going to miss him very much.
Rest in peace, Morris. And thank you for taking a chance on a 22-year-old kid from Aruba all those years ago.
