Monday, 1 November 2010

Label Profile




Gorillaz are associated with EMI, Parlophone and Virgin Records.
Even though they have different names, parlophone and virgin are subsidiaries of EMI.

EMI brief history
  • Company founded in 1897
  • Enrico Caruso is first major artist in 1902
  • Abbey Road Studios open in 1931
  • The Beatles sign in 1962
  • Pink Floyd sign in 1967
  • Queen sign in 1972
  • Spice Girls sign in 1996
  • Acquired a number of high-profile record companies in 1990 
    • Chrysalis Records
    • Virgin Music Group
    • Sparrow Records
    • Intercord
  • Acquired by Terra Firma Capital Partners in 2007
    • Several important artists walked away from EMI
      • Radiohead
      • Paul McCartney
      • The Rolling Stones
  • Citigroup (bank) took 100% ownership of EMI Group from Terra Firma
    • writing off £2.2 billion of debt, and reducing debt load by 65%.
Parlophone brief history
  • Founded in 1896 in Germany
  • British branch was formed in 1923, which became a leading jazz label.
  • Acquired in 1927 by EMI.
  • Signed The Beatles in 1962 - released the first 8 albums.
  • Became one of the world's most famous and prestigious record labels in the 60's.
Virgin Records
  • British Record Label founded by Richard Branson, Simon Draper and Nik Powell in 1972.
  • Sold to Thorn EMI in 1992. 
  • Virgin launched several subsidiaries
    • Realworld Records
    • Innocent Records
    • Point Blank Records
    • Hut Records
  • Continued signing new and established artists
      • 30 Seconds to Mars
      • Depeche Mode
      • The Rolling Stones
      • Massive Attack
      • Gorillaz.

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