Factory Records co-founder Tony Wilson referred to Factory as a "real business," but that might be stretching things a bit. In reality, Factory is in many ways a study of what NOT to do. After all, one of their biggest release cost the label money every time it sold a copy (Blue Monday by New Order). What they lacked in the business department (who sends the Happy Mondays to Barbados to record a record?), they more than made up for with the music. Joy Division, New Order - not to mention The Hacienda and the whole "Madchester" scene - Factory was as much a movement as it was a label, and despite being nothing but a memory now, the music the label released continues to influence bands and make fans go all weak in the knees. R.I.P. Mr. Wilson.
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