On this special episode of Queue Points, we sit down with legendary music executive Teddy Astin! While working at Warner Brothers Records, Mr. Astin helped shape the careers of icons like Prince, Madonna, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Sly Stone, and more. He shares his journey from Palmetto, Georgia, to becoming a driving force behind Atlanta’s rise as an international hub for music and film. We also discuss his memoir, “A Golden Past and a Platinum Future” and the importance of archiving Black music history. 

Mr. Astin takes us behind the scenes of the creation of Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson’s entertainment commission, and legendary events like Jack the Rapper. Hear incredible stories about working with artists across genres, including hip hop, R&B, jazz, and pop.

If you love music history or want to be inspired by one of the industry’s true legends, this episode is for you!

Purchase out Mr. Astin’s book A Golden Past and A Platinum Future via his website: www.toughact.net or on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3I0jdAP (Disclaimer: Purchasing through this Amazon link may earn Queue Points a commission.)

Read the Urban Insite Black Music Month 2025 Profile on Teddy Astin: https://link.queuepoints.com/astinurbaninsite

Teddy Astin Biography

Teddy Astin started working in the Warner Brother Records (WBR) warehouse at the young age of 20. One year later, with all his hard work and dedication, he was promoted to the supervisor of the mail room. In 1977, Warner Brothers started the Black Music Division and Teddy’s talent was not overlooked and was swiftly promoted to Regional Director of Promotions for the Carolinas and later promoted to National Director of Promotion. Teddy went from the warehouse to the mail room, to the WBR Board Room, and the rest is history. He was a part of history that started a Black Music Dynasty. Come take a journey back through time and read about musical history and all the artists Teddy has worked with while promoting, marketing, mentoring & artist development for the record label in his new book, “A Golden Past and A Platinum Future.”

Chapter Markers

00:00 Intro Theme

00:16 Introduction and Welcoming Teddy Astin

02:35 Teddy Astin's Philosophy and Career Highlights

04:33 Transition

04:42 Kudos for 'Teddy Astin: A Golden Past and a Platinum Future'

05:33 The Importance of Archiving and Writing a Book

06:48 Atlanta's Rise as an Entertainment Hub

13:24 Teddy Astin's Impact on Hip Hop and Artist Relations

19:45 Meeting Sylvester at the Airport

20:32 A Night Out in Atlanta

22:12 Transition

22:18 The Magic of Jack the Rapper

26:03 Challenges and Changes in the Music Industry

30:08 Promoting with Style

31:55 Celebrating Black Music Month

36:22 Final Thoughts and Farewell

37:28 Outro Theme

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