Betsy York Collection
Full Finding Aid and list of materials
Read the finding aid for the Betsy York Collection processed between 2020-2024.
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Biography
Betsy York was born and raised in Whittier, California. She graduated from California High School in 1969 and obtained a degree in Sociology from Pomona College in 1973.
From 1973-1980, Betsy lived in Boston, Massachusetts where she produced a weekly concert and poetry series at lesbian bar, The Saints, providing funds for the Cambridge Women’s Center. After booking Meg Christian for two concerts in 1974, she fell in love with women’s music and began her 12-year career in the business.
While earning her MBA from the Simmons Graduate School of Management, Betsy became the Boston distributor for Meg Christian’s 45, which featured Cris Williamson on the other side. After completing her MBA in 1976, she worked a manufacturing job at Procter & Gamble in Quincy, Massachusetts. In 1978 she quit the Procter & Gamble job to work full time in music distribution and promotion. Her distribution company, Hibiscus Records, distributed and promoted women’s music across New England. The company’s name was later changed to the Women’s Music Distribution Company, and finally Horizon.
In 1980, Betsy moved back to Los Angeles and began distributing Women’s Music in Southern California. She hired Trish Karlinski to take over her Boston business so that she could focus on West Coast distribution. Her West Coast company, called WMDC Los Angeles and later Paradigm, grew to include distribution in Arizona and San Diego. Her success opened the door for artists like Holly Near to play major venues.
In 1984 Betsy moved to Berkeley/Oakland, California to work as the National and International Distribution Manager for Redwood Records. To focus on her Redwood work, she sold Horizon to Terry Grant from Goldenrod in Michigan, and sold Paradigm to Karen Merry.
In 1986 Betsy left Redwood to become an Artist Manager providing management and bookings to Linda Tillery along with some support to Hunter Douglas and Adrienne Torf.
Betsy retired from Women’s Music in 1987 and began a new career in non-profit fundraising. She is currently residing in Michigan with her partner, Demetrhea Terrien.
Betsy York describes her experiences working with Women's Music Label, Olivia Records, and others in the 70s and 80s. Interviewer: Angela Brinskele