Manfred Eicher (born 9 July 1943, Lindau, Germany) is a German record producer and the founder of ECM Records.
Eicher studied music at the Academy of Music in Berlin.
He is a record producer and a double-bass player.
In 1969 he founded ECM Records (Edition of Contemporary Music) in Munich.
Some of the famous artists he has recorded over the last 40 years are Keith Jarrett, John Abercrombie, Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Jack DeJohnette, Anouar Brahem, Dave Holland, Pat Metheny, Ralph Towner, Terje Rypdal, Steve Kuhn, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.
A notable record ECM released in its early years was The Köln Concert, a solo piano performance by Keith Jarrett.
Nearly as well known is Pat Metheny's early recording American Garage.
In 1984 Eicher started a sublabel, ECM New Series, for classical music.