Ben Cook is President of UK and Europe for Los Angeles-headquartered Gamma. Gamma was founded by Larry Jackson, who also serves as the company’s CEO.
Cook joined Gamma in May 2023, having formerly served as the President of Atlantic Records UK.
Cook stepped down in 2019 after 12 years with the label, following the resurfacing of an old photo in which he was dressed as a member of Run-DMC.
Ben Cook: Early career
Ben Cook’s earliest music industry roles included stints at Island Records and Sony Music Publishing, where he worked with Matt Chalk for two years.
Cook’s big breakthrough came as A&R Director at Ministry Of Sound in the early noughties, where he worked on hits including Eric Prydz’s multi-platinum chart-topper Call On Me, Benny Benassi’s Satisfaction, plus the first UK release for each one of the future members of Swedish House Mafia.
Ben Cook: Asylum and Atlantic success
Ben Cook relaunched the Asylum label, a dormant imprint of Atlantic Records, in 2008 with the release of Wiley’s Wearing My Rolex. Cook then signed Ed Sheeran, whose + has achieved 6x Platinum status and became the bestselling British male album for two consecutive years in the UK.
Cook was promoted to the position of Atlantic Records UK President in April 2014. In addition to overseeing the entire Atlantic UK portfolio, featuring UK, US and international artists like Paolo Nutini, Bruno Mars, Birdy, Christina Perri, James Blunt, Clean Bandit, Fun., Lykke Li, Janelle Monáe, and Plan B, he kept responsibility for Asylum and its acts, including Ed Sheeran, Rudimental, Skrillex, Charli XCX and Saint Raymond.Music Business Worldwide