{{short description|British record label}} {{hatnote|This article is about the record label. Not to be confused with its former parent company, [[EMI]]. For the former Japanese label of this name, see [[EMI Records Japan]]. For the former Philippine label of this name, see [[PolyEast Records]].}} {{Use British English|date=July 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox record label <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Music --> | bgcolor = #000000 | name = {{color|white|EMI Records}} | image = [[File:EMI Records logo (2020).svg|150px]] | parent = {{ubl|[[Universal Music Group]] (UMG) (2012–present)|'''Previously'''<br>[[EMI]] (1973–1979, 1996–2012)|[[Thorn EMI]] (1979–1996)|[[Warner Music Group]] (WMG) (2013–present; back catalogue)}} | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1973|1|1}} (original)<br>{{Start date and age|df=yes|2014|04|01}} (Japan relaunch)<br>{{Start date and age|df=yes|2014|06|30}} (Taiwan relaunch)<br>{{Start date and age|df=yes|2020|6|16}} (Europe relaunch)<br>{{Start date and age|df=yes|2023|6|19}} (Malaysia relaunch as [[EMI Music Malaysia]])<br>{{start date and age|February 2024}} (Philippines relaunch)<ref name="EMIPH1">{{cite web|url=https://www.universalmusic.com/universal-music-group-philippines-announces-re-launch-of-emi-records-philippines/|title=Universal Music Group Philippines announces re-launch of EMI Records Philippines|date=February 5, 2024|publisher=[[Universal Music Group]]|accessdate=February 22, 2024}}</ref><ref name="EMIPH2">{{cite web|url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/emi-records-philippines-relaunch-2024-umg-universal-music-group-philippines-hale-dionela-chndtr-gracenote-the-voice-kids|title=Universal Music Group Philippines announces relaunch of EMI Records Philippines with Hale, Dionela, CHNDTR, Gracenote, and more|author=Bodegon-Hikino, Kara|date=February 6, 2024|website=Bandwagon Asia|accessdate=February 22, 2024}}</ref> | defunct = {{End date and age|df=yes|2013|03}} (original) | founder = <!-- name of founders, separate with commas or <br /> --> | status = | distributor = {{ubl|[[List of Universal Music Group labels#Island EMI Label Group|Island EMI Label Group]] {{small|(in the United Kingdom)}}|[[List of Universal Music Group labels#Interscope Capitol Labels Group|Interscope Capitol Labels Group]]/[[List of Universal Music Group labels#Republic Corps|Republic]] {{small|(in the United States)}}|[[Universal Music Japan]] {{small|(in Japan)}}|[[Universal Music Taiwan]] {{small|(in Taiwan)}}|[[Universal Music Group|Universal Music Malaysia]] {{small|(in Malaysia)}}|[[UMG Philippines]] {{small|(in the Philippines)}}|[[Universal Music Group]] {{small|(outside the UK, US and selected territories)}}|[[Virgin Music Group]] {{small|([[Virgin Records]]' British catalogue and repertoire only)}}}} | genre = Various | country = [[United Kingdom]] | location = {{ubl|[[London]], UK (European division)|[[Tokyo]], Japan (Japanese division)}} | website = {{URL|https://emirecords.com/}} }}
'''EMI Records''' (formerly '''EMI Records Ltd.''') is a British multinational [[record label]] owned by [[Universal Music Group]]. It was originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company [[EMI]] in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its [[Columbia Graphophone Company|Columbia]] and [[Parlophone]] record labels. The label was later launched worldwide.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rw8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42 |title=Billboard |access-date=28 May 2015|date=23 December 1972}}</ref> It has a branch in India called EMI Records India, run by director [[Mohit Suri]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/entertainment/editorial/news/170609-emi-records-indias-artist-yash-narvekar |title=EMI Records India's artist Yash Narvekar is ready to take on Bollywood |publisher=radioandmusic.com}}</ref> In 2014, [[Universal Music Japan]] revived the label in Japan as the successor to [[EMI Records Japan]]. In June 2020, Universal revived the label as the successor to [[Virgin EMI]], with [[Virgin Records]] now operating as an imprint of EMI Records.<ref name=musicweek>{{cite web |url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/virgin-emi-rebrands-as-emi-rebecca-allen-appointed-as-label-president/080102 |title=Virgin EMI rebrands as EMI, Rebecca Allen appointed as label president |author=Mark Sutherland |date=16 June 2020 |website=Music Week}}</ref> In February 2024, [[UMG Philippines]] relaunched EMI as a successor to [[PolyEast Records|the former EMI Philippines label]] after 22 years.<ref name="EMIPH1" /><ref name="EMIPH2" />
==History== [[File:EMI Records.svg|thumb|right|150px|Logo used from 1973 to 2010.]] An EMI Records Ltd. legal entity was created in 1956 as the record manufacturing and distribution arm of EMI in the UK. It oversaw EMI's various labels, including [[Gramophone Company|The Gramophone Co. Ltd.]], [[Columbia Graphophone Company]], and [[Parlophone]] Co. Ltd.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HCAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21 |title=Billboard|access-date=28 May 2015|date=29 April 1957}}</ref>
In July 1965, the standalone EMI Record labels were extracted from E.M.I. Records Ltd. and folded into The Gramophone Company Ltd. On 1 July 1973, The Gramophone Co. Ltd. was renamed EMI Records Ltd. At the same time, E.M.I. Records Ltd. was wound down and its activities were absorbed into EMI Records Ltd.<ref name="Filing History">{{cite web|title=PARLOPHONE RECORDS LIMITED – Filing history (free information from Companies House)|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00068172/filing-history|publisher=Companies House, Government of the United Kingdom}}</ref>
Earlier, on 1 January 1973, all of The Gramophone Company Ltd. pop labels (Columbia, Parlophone, Harvest, Sovereign and Regal) had been rebranded as EMI. EMI Records then signed new music artists that became worldwide successes: [[Kraftwerk]], [[Renaissance (band)|Renaissance]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[Olivia Newton-John]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Kate Bush]], [[Sheena Easton]], and [[Pink Floyd]] (though some of these acts were on different labels in the US, not EMI's [[Capitol Records]]). In 1978, EMI launched [[EMI America Records]] as its second label in the United States after Capitol, and in 1988, EMI America later merged with sister label [[Manhattan Records]], founded in 1984,<ref name="New Grove">{{cite book|last1=Kennedy|first1=Gary|editor1-last=Kernfeld|editor1-first=Barry|title=The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz|date=2002|publisher=Grove's Dictionaries Inc.|location=New York|isbn=1-56159-284-6|page=172|volume=2|edition=2nd}}</ref> becoming EMI Manhattan Records and eventually EMI Records USA when Capitol absorbed it in 1989. In June 1997, the EMI Records USA division was folded into [[Virgin Records]] and Capitol.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bloomberg News |first= |date=1997-06-21 |title=EMI shutting 2 New York-based record labels |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/21/business/emi-shutting-2-new-york-based-record-labels.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In October 1979, EMI Ltd. merged with [[Thorn Electrical Industries]] to become Thorn EMI,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3670516/EMI-A-giant-at-war-with-itself.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3670516/EMI-A-giant-at-war-with-itself.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=EMI: a giant at war with itself|work=The Telegraph|date=18 January 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref> whose shareholders voted on 16 August 1996 in favour of demerging Thorn from EMI again. The recorded music division became EMI Group plc, and the electronics and rentals divisions were divested as Thorn plc.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/vote-solid-for-thorn-demerger-1310081.html |title=Vote solid for Thorn demerger |work=Independent |date=17 August 1996}}</ref>
In 2010, EMI Records opened a [[country music]] division, EMI Records Nashville, which includes on its roster [[Troy Olsen]], [[Alan Jackson]], [[Kelleigh Bannen]], and [[Eric Church]]. EMI Records Nashville is a sister label to the [[Capitol Records|Capitol Nashville]] unit of [[Universal Music Group]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicrow.com/2010/03/capitol-announces-emi-nashville/|title=Capitol Announces EMI Records Nashville|work=MusicRow – Nashville's Music Industry Publication – News, Songs From Music City|date=12 March 2010|access-date=28 May 2015}}</ref>
Australia's most prolific artist, [[Slim Dusty]], signed with the Columbia Graphophone Co. for [[Regal Zonophone Records]] in 1946 and remained with EMI until his death in 2003, selling over seven million records for the label in Australia by 2007.
[[Virgin EMI Records]] retained use of the EMI branding after Universal Music Group's acquisition of EMI in September 2012, but it is otherwise unrelated to the old label which was defunct and renamed Parlophone Records in 2013 and is now part of [[Warner Music Group]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/label/563997-Parlophone-Records-Ltd|title=Parlophone Records Ltd.|publisher=discogs}}</ref> EMI Christian Music Group was renamed [[Capitol Christian Music Group]]. [[EMI Classics]] was sold to Warner Music Group in February 2013. After EU regulatory approval, EMI Classics was absorbed into [[Warner Classics]] in July 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emiclassics.com/various_artists/news/716|title=Deutsche Grammophon|website=Emiclassics.com}}</ref>
In April 2013, [[EMI Music Japan]] became defunct following Universal's acquisition of EMI. The company's successor was [[EMI Records Japan]], a sublabel of [[Universal Music Japan]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=ユニバーサル ミュージック、EMIミュージックを買収|url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000083545|access-date=5 January 2022|website=BARKS| date=October 2012 |language=ja}}</ref> In February 2014, Universal Japan did a label reorganization, with more than half of the former [[EMI Records Japan]] artists being transferred to Nayutawave Records. Later that year, the two sublabels were combined and rebranded as EMI Records. Since 2018, Takeshi Okada has been the managing director of Universal Japan's EMI Records label.<ref>{{Cite web|title=名門「EMI Records」のトップに34歳が抜擢。業界の行先を訊く {{!}} CINRA|url=https://www.cinra.net/article/interview-gyoukairetsuden-vol14-okadatakeshi|access-date=5 January 2022|website=www.cinra.net|language=ja}}</ref> In 2020, the label launched an official YouTube channel, six years after the label was formed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ユニバーサル ミュージックEMI Records所属アーティストで繋ぐ、TikTokリレーがスタート！YouTubeでは過去ライブ映像も一挙公開！ {{!}} 最新ニュース {{!}} Fanplus Music|url=https://music.fanplus.co.jp/news/202004151226e0a4f|access-date=5 January 2022|website=music.fanplus.co.jp}}</ref>
On 16 June 2020, Universal rebranded Virgin EMI Records as EMI Records and named Rebecca Allen (former president of UMG's Decca label) as the label's president.<ref name=musicweek/>
In September 2020, Universal launched [[Motown]] UK, under EMI Records.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9448361/motown-records-launches-u-k-company|title=Motown Records Launches U.K. Company|author=Lars Brandle|date=14 September 2020|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
In January 2023, EMI launched EMI North, based in [[Leeds]], becoming the "first major to open a physical space outside of London".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Homewood|first=Ben|date=27 January 2023|title=EMI launches Leeds-based EMI North, helmed by Clive Cawley|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/emi-launches-leeds-based-emi-north-helmed-by-clive-cawley/087316|access-date=28 February 2023|website=[[Music Week]]}}</ref> In July 2023, Universal Japan announced a new imprint label, Holo-n, which will operate under their EMI Records division in partnership with [[Hololive Production]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-08 |title=ユニバーサル ミュージックとホロライブプロダクションが共同レーベル「holo-n」設立 |trans-title=Universal Music and Hololive Production Establish Joint Label "Holo-n" |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000236760 |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=BARKS |language=ja}}</ref>
In February 2024, [[UMG Philippines]] relaunched EMI Records as a successor to the former EMI Philippines label, now known as [[PolyEast Records]].<ref name="EMIPH1" /><ref name="EMIPH2" />
==See also== *[[Abbey Road Studios]] *[[List of record labels]] *[[List of EMI Records artists]]
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://emirecords.com/}} * {{Official website|https://www.universal-music.co.jp/|name=Official website (Japan)}} * {{YouTube|id=|channel=UCzNJEO9BvWbf07vL5caIKrg}} * {{YouTube|EMI Records (Japan)|channel=UCcuijrCs22iiS27d4avHR6A}} {{Universal Music Group}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:EMI Records]] [[Category:1972 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:2013 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:2020 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Record labels established in 1972]] [[Category:Record labels disestablished in 2013]] [[Category:Record labels established in 2020]] [[Category:2014 establishments in Japan]] [[Category:Pop record labels]] [[Category:Electronic music record labels]] [[Category:Rock record labels]] [[Category:EMI]] [[Category:British jazz record labels]] [[Category:Labels distributed by Universal Music Group]] [[Category:Universal Music Group]] [[Category:Universal Music Japan]]