Dick Asher, Music Industry Pioneer and Anti-Payola Crusader, Dies at 92

Dick Asher, a titan of the music industry who held presidential roles at both PolyGram and Columbia Records, has passed away at the age of 92, Variety has confirmed.

His son Jeffrey annoucned via Facebook that Asher passed away peacefully at his home in Boca Raton, Fla. on Tuesday, July 25.

“It is with a heavy heart to inform y’all that my father, one of the legendary executives of the music industry, passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 92!! Here he is in London England presenting Mott the Hoople with awards for sales of their albums,” Jeffrey wrote alongside a photograph of his father alongside the British rockers.

Born in New York City in 1932, Asher’s career in the music industry spanned over four decades, with his tenure coinciding with the careers of some of music’s biggest names, including Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and Bon Jovi.

He began his professional journey after graduating from Tufts University and Cornell Law School. Following his service in the Marine Corps, he joined CBS Records (now Sony Music) in the mid-1960s as vice president of business affairs.

Perhaps one of the most notable moments in Asher’s early career was his meeting with Bob Dylan during the singer’s recovery from a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 1966.

Asher traveled to Woodstock, New York, to negotiate Dylan’s contract renewal, a task that few others were able to accomplish during that period. Reflecting on the meeting, Asher once recounted asking Dylan about his new music, to which Dylan replied, “It’s a little further on down the road.”

After a brief stint at Capitol Records, Asher returned to CBS in 1971 and worked closely with Clive Davis at Columbia Records.

He was instrumental in revitalizing the company’s struggling U.K. division and was later promoted to head of international operations. In the late 1970s, as the music industry faced a downturn due to the decline of disco, Asher was named deputy president of Columbia Records, playing a crucial role in stabilizing the company’s finances.

Asher’s most significant contribution to the music industry came in the 1980s when he took a stand against the powerful network of independent promoters, known as “The Network.”

These promoters had monopolized radio airplay through payola and other questionable practices.

As detailed in Frederic Dannen’s book Hit Men, Asher attempted to break free from their influence by releasing Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 1” without their involvement.

However, the song initially faced significant resistance from major radio stations. Despite this, Asher’s determination ultimately contributed to Congressional hearings that exposed and dismantled the network’s operations in the mid-1980s.

Asher’s tenure at Columbia Records came to an end in 1983 after conflicts with the company’s president, Walter Yetnikoff. He subsequently joined Warner Communications and later became the president and CEO of PolyGram Records in 1985. During his time at PolyGram, the company released several blockbuster albums, including Bon Jovi’s “Slippery When Wet” and Def Leppard’s “Hysteria.”

Despite these successes, Asher left PolyGram in 1990 following a contractual dispute.

After departing PolyGram, Asher returned to law practice and provided consultancy services to various artists and companies.

He also became an original director for Electronic Arts, serving in this capacity for 24 years. In the 1990s, he moved to Florida and later joined Florida Atlantic University as an affiliate professor of commercial music, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the school’s recording studio.

Asher is survived by his wife, Sheila, and his son, Jeffrey. He also leaves behind four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.