Seymour Stein Departs From Sire Records, Warner Music Group

Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for NARAS – Seymour Stein
Seymour Stein attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City.

Seymour Stein, co-founder of Sire Records and 40-plus year member of the Warner Music Group family has announced he is leaving the company to “return to his indie roots.”

Stein and Richard Gottehrer joined forces to form Sire Records (an amalgam of the first two letters of their first names) in 1966, and over the years signed The Ramones, Madonna, The Smiths, Ice T, Depeche Mode, Aphex Twin, The Cult, Seal and many others. 

“In truth, I long for my indie roots and the greater independence that I experienced back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s,” Stein said in a statement provided to Billboard, his former employer. “So the time has come to move on to the next phase of my career, leaving Sire in the hands of Rani Hancock, whom I sincerely wish all the luck in the world.”

In 1976 Sire first teamed up with Warner Music Group, and for a time, Stein also served as president of WMG’s Elektra Records. The label currently has Alvarez Kings, Cold Fronts, Ethan Gruska, and The Lottery Winners signed, and it is helmed by president Rani Hancock, who was promoted to the position in 2017, while Stein remained chairman.

Stein was presented with the Trustees Award from The Recording Academy at the 60th annual Grammy Awards in January.