Richard Ogden – Polydor – Head of International Marketing + Managing Director

In this conversation for my book, Richard Ogden – former Head of International Marketing and later Managing Director at Polydor Records – shares the inside track on the extraordinary career of Paul Weller from a label perspective. Already immersed in the music industry when The Jam exploded in 1977, Richard’s role took off in the early ’80s, working directly with Polydor’s most important acts as the sound of British pop was going global. He was the architect behind international campaigns for The Style Council, traveling with the band, advocating for bigger creative ambition, and helping to broker a million-pound contract for Weller after the global success of Our Favourite Shop.

Richard recounts the challenges – and occasional frustrations – of trying to make The Style Council a truly international success, working alongside Paul and John Weller, Polydor affiliates, and US label Geffen, while always championing Paul’s right to artistic independence. He reflects on “fandom and friction” – from late-night poker games in Japan, to heated discussions about producers, tour plans, and the difficult moments when the band’s determination to follow their own path clashed with label push for bigger global hits. Richard’s story also covers the aftermath: becoming Managing Director just as contracts were up for renewal, believing in Weller’s “Springsteen-like” importance to Polydor, and sticking by him – even through commercial Risk (“the Orange album”) and shifting politics.

Throughout, Richard offers candid industry context on the ever-evolving relationship between artists and their record labels – the fine balance between creative loyalty, business risk, and the pursuit of international acclaim. He’s honest about his wins and losses, why Weller’s music endures, and why artists with true vision should always be backed – no matter where their path leads.

Click your preferred podcast platform to listen…

• Championing Weller Internationally: Behind-the-scenes stories of taking Paul Weller and The Style Council overseas, advocating for tours, press, and the right producers.
• The Million-Pound Deal: How Richard’s faith in Weller led to one of the most significant British record contracts of the 1980s.
• Conflict and Collaboration: Navigating artistic independence, management, and label ambition – plus colourful tales of travel and poker with John and Paul Weller.
• Creative Risk and Consequence: Trusting an artist’s vision – even (or especially) when it meant commercial uncertainty.
• Music Business Evolution: From the punk/post-punk era to the age of mega-deals and beyond, Richard reflects on the shifting sands of record company priorities and the enduring value of meaningful artist relationships.
• Legacy and Lessons: Why betting on visionaries like Paul Weller pays off, and why quality, adventure, and loyalty matter more than genre or short-term trends.

‘Bigger Than The Beatles’ – Sixty Years in Showbusiness

In my podcast chat with Richard, we also talked about something he was quietly working on at the time – a book that has just now come out.

It’s called Bigger than The Beatles’ – Sixty Years in Showbusiness, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: a wry, very human look back at six decades inside the international music business.

Over the years Richard has worked as a journalist, publicist, artist manager (twice), senior record company executive (twice), and more recently as a concert promoter in Poland and Brazil. Along the way he’s been involved with more than 200 artists, from unknown hopefuls to some of the biggest names in popular music.

The story begins in 1968, when he interviewed an up-and-coming Joe Cocker, and runs right through to the summer of 2026, promoting Jean-Michel Jarre in Poland.

It’s packed with memories and encounters with artists including Shirley Bassey, Black Sabbath, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Aerosmith, Van Morrison, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Ted Nugent, Black Oak Arkansas, The Motors, and Tony Iommi’s Heaven and Hell.

What comes through most is the sheer span of it all – the chaos, the privilege, and the strange privilege of having seen so many eras of popular music from the inside.

Order your copy from The Great British Bookshop here or from Amazon here

Dancing Through the Fire

Richard Ogden is one of over 250 contributors to my Sunday Times Bestselling book, Paul Weller: Dancing Through the Fire, which is available now.
Click on the image below to grab your copy…