# I.R.S. Records: Miles Copeland

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2022-12-26
- Length: 1h 07m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland

## Summary

Miles Copeland, founder of IRS Records, recounts his journey from a bankrupt promoter to a music industry mogul who signed The Police, R.E.M., and The Go-Go's. He explains his strategy of making deals easy to say 'yes' to by eliminating risk for partners like A&M Records and using equity to attract early talent. Copeland details the financial disaster of a failed tour, his pivot to the punk scene, and the creative marketing stunt involving Jaguar that helped Sting's 'Desert Rose' become a hit.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland#t=0) Introduction: Miles Copeland and IRS Records
- [4:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland#t=277) Early Career and Bankruptcy
- [20:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland#t=1240) Pivoting to Punk and Managing The Police
- [26:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland#t=1616) Signing The Police to A&M Records
- [33:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland#t=1988) Founding IRS Records and Signing New Acts
- [39:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland#t=2343) Signing The Go-Go's and Label Economics
- [51:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland#t=3065) Moving to MCA and Rising Overhead
- [56:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland#t=3416) The Jaguar Marketing Stunt for 'Desert Rose'
- [1:03:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland#t=3799) Philosophy on Luck and Success

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up, established companies

## Mentioned

- IRS Records (company)
- A&M Records (company)
- The Police (product)
- R.E.M. (product)
- The Go-Go's (product)
- MCA Records (company)
- EMI (company)
- Jaguar (other)
- Sting (product)
- Wishbone Ash (product)
- Sex Pistols (product)
- The B-52's (product)
- Fine Young Cannibals (product)
- Oingo Boingo (product)
- The Stranglers (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Bootstrapped to 800,000 Units Sold Worldwide: The Story Behind Rockit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-04-17-bootstrapped-to-800-000-units-sold-worldwide-the-story-behind-rockit) (It's Only a Prototype)
- [Against All Odds: Overcoming Huge Setbacks to Sell 5 Million Worldwide](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-15-against-all-odds-overcoming-huge-setbacks-to-sell-5-million-worldwide) (It's Only a Prototype)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-26-i-r-s-records-miles-copeland. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.