Carol Wilson was responsible for managing the DinDisc record label in the early 1980's and also signed OMD, bringing them to the attention of the world at large...
How did you arrive at working for Virgin and launching the DinDisc label?
I applied for the job of Marketing Manager at Virgin. I got onto a short list of 3 people, then Richard Branson said he couldn't give me the job because I didn't actually know anything about marketing (true at the time). He said he would find me a job, I said anything as long as it isn't secretarial, so he offered me the job of running their publishing company.
After 5 years I got it to the number 3 position in the UK and was offered the opportunity of starting my own label within Virgin, so Dindisc was born.
Can you explain a little about how you first heard about OMD?
Through my namesake Tony Wilson. he gave me the band because he felt they needed a label with a more commercial approach. People thought we were married to each other but we never even snogged.
What was it about OMD that captured your interest?
Catchy tunes & electronic sound. I was a big fan of Kraftwerk
Did you sense that they had the potential to be a successful and popular band?
I never signed a band unless I thought they could be commercially successful
What were your initial impressions of Architecture & Morality?
It was the culmination of everything they had done so far. i felt they had arrived at their full potential.
You must have been disappointed that the band said no to a fourth single being lifted from the album with She's Leaving?
Don't even go there!
This interview appears in issue 2 of Messages.
Interview by Paul Browne
