"I think more people should stand up and be counted," declares Michelle Curran, "instead of going, 'You don't like that? Okay, fine. We'll do something else'." The queen of the ad music scene doesn't compromise or kowtow. And nor does her London-based company, Amber Music, which turned 10 this year. Its mantra: to produce "tracks that have an edge".

Curran likes to tell the tale of a creative director at J. Walter Thompson, London, who threatened to throw himself out of his office window if the client didn't buy the idea. Then he actually did it. There was a small ledge outside, but the client didn't know that, and the CD's action had the desired effect. "The client was like, 'Guh!?'

"It made people go: 'They believe in this so much, it must be right'. Passion is the most important thing."

It's easy to believe that when you meet Curran, with her wild, funky hairstyles, eccentric clothing choices, and a well-deserved rep for hosting the best and coolest parties in the business. She's no industry suit, and if she were, it wouldn't have worked out half as well.

With her company now employing almost 35 staff in London, New York and LA, Curran has allowed Amber Music to grow steadily - its expansion led more by availability of some of the industry's best talent than by any grand strategic plan. Since 1993 Curran and her two partners, Nick Amour and Andy Carroll, have signed an extensive A-list of agencies including Leo Burnett, London (Beck's); Ogilvy, NY (Amex); and Fallon (BMW).

What attracts them is not just the caliber of Amber's compositions and sound design work, but also Curran's ability to operate within the confines of the commercial sphere while still exuding attitude.

Born in London, Curran spent 14 years as a dancer, training in "those horrible theatre school sort of things", before landing a job at London-based music publishing company ATV Music.

In the early-'80s, she worked as a promotions assistant at Decca Records and wound up at London Records as head of promotions, working with artists like Grace Jones, Bob Marley and U2.

By 1986, though, Curran was burned out and disillusioned. "I got really pissed off working for record companies," she says. "Sometimes advertising companies are crazy, but record companies can be far more awful." She cites the suck-up 'yes factor' and lack of respect for women as two reasons why she wanted out.

BRIGHTON ROCK

Just as Curran was contemplating her way out of the seedy record biz, composer/producers Amour and Carroll were studying fine arts at Brighton University. Carroll, who wrote music and had a studio setup in his house, asked Amour to collaborate on vocals and lyrics.

In 1988, after graduation, they formed Habit, a band with a funky pop sound. They scored a seven-album deal from Virgin Records. The group went on to release two albums and five singles - including the charting single "Lucy" - but then the band lost momentum and they found themselves hunting for the next challenge.