Voice of America profiled Jett as 'Punk Rock's First Lady,' noting she was the first female artist to own her own record label.
On January 12, 1988, Voice of America published a profile of Joan Jett titled "Punk Rock's First Lady," recognizing her as the first female artist to own her own record label—Blackheart Records, which she had founded in 1980 with manager/producer Kenny Laguna.
This recognition highlighted a groundbreaking achievement in the music industry: at a time when women were rarely afforded ownership or executive control over their creative and business output, Jett had established a label that gave her complete autonomy over her recordings, distribution, and career direction.
The profile also noted that Jett was among the first American punk stars to perform behind the Iron Curtain during the 1980s, further cementing her reputation as a cultural pioneer who used music to bridge political and ideological divides during the Cold War era.
Owning her own label allowed Jett to sidestep the traditional major-label system that had rejected her early solo work, proving that independent, artist-driven business models could succeed commercially. Her example paved the way for future generations of musicians—particularly women—to seek greater control over their artistic and financial destinies.
This milestone remains one of the most cited examples of Jett's influence beyond her music, illustrating her role as a businesswoman and industry innovator in addition to her status as a rock icon.