'Southern 2021

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Before Miles Axe Copeland III produced some of the biggest names of the new wave scene – The Police, The Bangles, The Go-Go’s, and R.E.M. – he was a political science student at Birmingham-Southern, a world away from where he grew up. The son of CIA officer Miles Axe Copeland, Jr.,’41, and Lorraine Adie, a British secret intelligence agent and archaeologist, Copeland and his younger siblings spent their childhood in Damascus, Cairo, and Beirut. But when the time came to choose a college, he traveled across the world to his father’s alma mater and hometown, where many family members still lived. “My father wanted me to know what real America was,” Copeland says. He covers the Birmingham years near the beginning of his memoir, “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: My Life in the Music Business,” released in July <strong>2021</strong>. The book chronicles his failures and successes as the music and entertainment executive who managed The Police, guided Sting’s music and acting career, and co-founded I.R.S. Records, the label for some of the most popular bands of the 1980s. AN AMERICAN EDUCATION Arriving in the American South during the Civil Rights Movement, Copeland says he was shocked to witness discrimination he thought he had left in Beirut – only this was fueled by race rather than religion. Copeland says his experience in Birmingham both disrupted and informed his identity. Having seen so much of the world through his family’s moves around the Middle East and his father’s role in covert operations, including coups d’etat in Syria, Egypt, and Iran, he remembers being shocked to meet Alabamians who had rarely or never left the South. Most, he recalls, were unfamiliar with the places he called home. BSC prepared Copeland for graduate work at the American University of Beirut and was an important timeline 40 / ’southern 1975 - Startruckin’ 75 Copeland’s European festival tour featured bands from his very first record label, British Talent Managers, as well as Soft Machine, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Lou Reed, and Tina Turner. Startruckin’ 75 was the first of its kind and showcased Copeland’s innovative promotional ideas, though its shortcomings led to the end of the label and pushed him towards other pursuits. 1978 – Outlandos d’Amour Shortly after forming The Police, Sting, Steward Copeland, and Andy Summers recorded and released their first album, “Outlandos d’Amour.” With confidence in the album – ever since hearing “Roxanne” – Copeland made an undeniable offer to the U.K. label A&M Records, who signed The Police, and he independently financed their U.S. tour. 1979 - I.R.S. Is Born The Police became one of the hottest bands in the world, and A&M Records recognized Copeland’s successful strategy and fresh perspective on the industry. Copeland worked with A&M executives to launch a U.S. division – the International Record Syndicate, or I.R.S. Records. R.E.M., The Go-Go’s, The Bangles, Buzzcocks, and The Cramps soon produced some of the label’s biggest hits.
The Best of Sting and The Police Playlist MILES AXE Copeland III ’66 Copeland and Adriana Corajoria after knighting musicians Sir Dominic Miller and Sir Mark Hudson at Chateau Marouatte. 1984 – Solo Careers The Police went on a hiatus, leading the members to each pursue other projects. Copeland continued to managed Sting’s seven solo albums and emerging film career, and he followed his brother’s other band collaborations and launched Stewart’s career as a film soundtrack composer. 1987 – The Film Division Copeland expanded I.R.S. Records and founded I.R.S. Media, which acted as the label’s film division until 1996. During these years, Copeland executive produced more than 25 films, including “One False Move,” “Tom and Viv,” and “Bank Robber.” 1992 – Original Songwriters Conference Inviting musicians to the Chateau Marouatte, his 14th century castle in Perigord Vert, France, Copeland hosted his very first annual songwriter’s retreat. Notable attendees of the Marouatte “camps” are Celine Dion, Aerosmith, Carole King, Keith Urban, and Jon Bon Jovi. FALL/WINTER <strong>2021</strong> / 41
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Page 7 and 8: CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS 2 Letter from
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Page 13 and 14: PANTHER PARTNERSHIPS In November, B
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Page 21 and 22: 8 a.m.: Beard gets into her office
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Page 25 and 26: Dear BSC, Throughout 2021, special
Page 27 and 28: One of my first classes at Birmingh
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Page 31 and 32: college search drove home. -Souther
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Page 37 and 38: in campaign management, messaging r
Page 39 and 40: alumni stories MAKING music Whether
Page 41: Moxie Hotel Playlist Moxie Hotel At
Page 45 and 46: Make Me Wanna (2019) Rising STAR
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Page 61 and 62: Dr. Michael Callahan ‘67 Pamela P
Page 63 and 64: Help students recharge at the Fount
Page 65 and 66: Remembering Clay Long A Hilltop Tri
Page 67 and 68: Stay in TOUCH! Rowdy’s Playlist K

'Southern 2021

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