MR. ATLANTIC

Regarding Robert Hilburn’s “The Hits, the Misses” (May 24):

Well done! Ahmet Ertegun certainly deserves full recognition, not only for his many musical accomplishments, but also for working with such singular style and outsized good humor over so many decades.

Without question, he is the “best of breed” in a shrinking minority of record executives who know that the music always comes first.

JAC HOLZMAN

Santa Monica

Holzman is the founder of Elektra and Nonesuch Records.

I must confess that Hilburn’s piece made me very sad. Not for its content, which was a joy to read, but for the fact that there are so few music guys left in the business end of the industry.

As a fan, consumer and writer-performer of pop music, I wish more execs would take their cue from guys like Ahmet. I keep waiting for something to blow me away like many of the acts he brought to prominence, and all I seem to get is things like Days of the New.

WARREN BISHOP

Citrus Heights