Seymour Stein, music mogul who discovered Madonna, Talking Heads and more, dies aged 80

Influential executive co-founded Sire Records and signed Lou Reed, the Ramones and introduced the Smiths and the Cure to the US

Seymour Stein, the music executive who launched the careers of Madonna, Talking Heads and the Ramones, and introduced the Cure, Depeche Mode and the Smiths to America, has died aged 80.

Stein died on Sunday morning in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer, a spokesperson for the family confirmed to Variety.