Departures of note

Terry Slater was a pivotal figure in the music industry who served as A-Ha's first manager and played a crucial role in launching the Norwegian band's international career. As a board member of EMI records, he took a chance on the then-unknown trio in the early 1980s, managing them for 12 years as they became pop superstars with their 1985 hit Take On Me.

Beyond his work with A-Ha, Slater's influence extended across multiple generations of music. He helped launch the careers of Queen, Sex Pistols, Kate Bush, and Duran Duran to superstardom, pioneering the path for Norwegian artists to achieve global success with major hits topping charts worldwide. Magne Furuholmen of A-Ha described him as the singularly most important person in the band's music career and a father figure to the group.

Slater died on July 29, 2026, at the age of 85. His death was mourned by the artists he helped develop, with tributes highlighting his impact on their professional lives and the lives of their families over more than four decades of international music careers.