Brian Epstein Video | Interviews

Brian Samuel Epstein known as The Beatle-Making Prince of Pop was an English music entrepreneur, best known for being the manager of the Beatles until his death in 1967. He had also served as band manager for Cilla Black, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, the Remo Four, and the Cyrkle. After attending boarding schools, being in the army, and training to be an actor at...  MORE

Brian Samuel Epstein known as The Beatle-Making Prince of Pop was an English music entrepreneur, best known for being the manager of the Beatles until his death in 1967. He had also served as band manager for Cilla Black, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, the Remo Four, and the Cyrkle. After attending boarding schools, being in the army, and training to be an actor at RADA, he returned to Liverpool to join the Epstein family business, which later led to him naming his own company NEMS Enterprises; an acronym for North End Music Stores, which his family owned. In 1962, Epstein paid for the Beatles to record a demonstration tape at Decca's London studios. Decca declined to sign the Beatles to a contract. After then approaching nearly all of the major recording companies in London and being rejected, Epstein met a record producer, George Martin, who offered a contract on behalf of EMI's small Parlophone label. Epstein awarded 90% of the Beatles' merchandising rights by 1963. When Beatlemania swept the UK that year it became apparent that he had allowed a significant business opportunity to pass. Stramsact in the UK, and Seltaeb in the US owned 90% of the Beatles' merchandising rights. LESS