EMI

EMI, originally Electric and Musical Industries, was a British multinational company whose activities extended from recorded music and music publishing to recording equipment, broadcasting technology, computers, radar, photomultipliers and medical imaging. It was formed in London in March 1931 through the merger of the Columbia Graphophone Company and the Gramophone Company, bringing together important recording catalogs, manufacturing capabilities and the His Master's Voice and Columbia traditions. The group opened Abbey Road Studios in the same year, creating one of the most influential recording facilities in popular and classical music. EMI's early business was broader than a conventional record label. Its engineering laboratories contributed to electronic television, radar, microwave technology, image conversion and computing. EMI engineer Alan Blumlein received a landmark stereophonic-sound patent in 1931, while Godfrey Hounsfield later led development of the first commercially successful computed-tomography scanner. The company's engineering identity nevertheless coexisted with a powerful international music operation. EMI maintained subsidiaries and distribution networks across Europe, the Commonwealth, Asia and other regions, and its Australian and New Zealand businesses were especially prominent during much of the twentieth century. In music, EMI controlled or operated labels including EMI Records, Parlophone, Columbia in territories outside North America, His Master's Voice, Capitol Records, Harvest, Liberty, Imperial, United Artists, Chrysalis, Virgin Records and Sparrow. Its roster included the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen, the Hollies, the Shadows, Cliff Richard, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and many major classical performers. George Martin, initially an EMI A&R executive at Parlophone, played a central role in signing and developing the Beatles. EMI's London studios and corporate offices became closely associated with the history and visual culture of British popular music. The company experienced substantial corporate change. It merged with Thorn Electrical Industries in 1979 to form Thorn EMI, later separating from Thorn in 1996. Thorn EMI's shareholders received the standalone EMI Group plc, which remained a major music business but faced increasing financial pressure. In 2007, EMI was acquired by Terra Firma Capital Partners and taken private. The leveraged transaction and subsequent restructuring left the group carrying heavy debt, and EMI was acquired by Citigroup in February 2011 after financial difficulties. In 2011, the music recording business was agreed for sale to Universal Music Group, while EMI's publishing arm was sold to a Sony/ATV-led consortium. The transactions were completed in 2012 after regulatory review and asset divestitures. Universal absorbed most of EMI's recorded-music operations, while Warner Music Group acquired Parlophone and associated assets required by European competition remedies. EMI Music Publishing ultimately became part of Sony Music Publishing after Sony acquired the remaining stake in 2018. As a result, EMI ceased to exist as an independent corporate music conglomerate, although the EMI name and selected label identities continue to appear in catalogs, archives and successor-company branding.

EMI was created in March 1931 when the Columbia Graphophone Company and the Gramophone Company combined. The merger united recording catalogs, record manufacturing and electrical-engineering capabilities. The Gramophone Company brought the His Master's Voice tradition, while Columbia contributed its own label and the Parlophone subsidiary. EMI established Abbey Road Studios in 1931, and the facility later became one of the defining institutions of recorded music. During the 1930s and 1940s, EMI recorded major classical and orchestral artists while continuing to develop technical businesses. Its research organization worked on electronic television, broadcast cameras, radar, microwave components, infrared devices and computing. An EMI team led by Isaac Shoenberg developed the Marconi-EMI television system used in the BBC's 1936 television service. Alan Blumlein's work helped establish modern stereo recording. After the Second World War, EMI resumed production of broadcast equipment and expanded its engineering research. The music operation grew through overseas subsidiaries, licensing arrangements and acquisitions. EMI had a particularly strong presence in Australia and New Zealand and operated or distributed recordings across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. It entered the United States more decisively in 1957 by acquiring a controlling interest in Capitol Records. The group issued early long-playing records in 1952 and stereophonic recordings from 1955 onward. From the late 1950s through the early 1970s, EMI became a dominant force in popular music. Its labels signed or developed the Beatles, the Hollies, the Shadows, Pink Floyd and many other influential acts. George Martin, working with Parlophone, became the Beatles' producer and an important A&R figure. EMI also maintained a prestigious classical catalog. In 1967, HMV was concentrated on classical releases, while Harvest Records was launched in 1969 to support progressive rock. The company reorganized its labels during the 1970s. In 1971, Electric & Musical Industries changed its name to EMI Ltd.; in 1973, many historic imprints were consolidated under the EMI name. United Artists Records was acquired in 1979. Later acquisitions included interests in Chrysalis Records, Virgin Records and Sparrow Records. In the same year as the United Artists deal, EMI merged with Thorn Electrical Industries to form Thorn EMI, combining media, electronics and rental businesses. The business models of Thorn and EMI increasingly diverged. Shareholders approved a demerger in August 1996, creating the standalone EMI Group plc and separating Thorn as Thorn plc. EMI continued operating as a large international music group through the 1990s and 2000s, but changing economics in recorded music, acquisition-related obligations and management restructuring weakened its financial position. Terra Firma bought the company in 2007 and took it private. The leveraged ownership structure left EMI with substantial debt, and Citigroup took control in 2011. EMI's final corporate breakup was agreed in 2011 and completed in 2012. Universal Music Group acquired most of the recorded-music business, subject to competition-related divestitures. Warner Music Group acquired Parlophone and related assets. A Sony/ATV-led consortium acquired EMI Music Publishing, which later became fully owned by Sony Music Publishing. EMI therefore ended as an independent group, although its catalogs, studios, labels and trademarks continued under successor ownership.

• 2012

  EMI is broken up

  [1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  Universal, Warner and a Sony/ATV-led consortium acquire different parts of the group.

• 2011

  Citigroup assumes ownership

  [1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  Citigroup takes control after EMI's financial difficulties.

• 2007

  Terra Firma acquisition

  [1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  Terra Firma acquires EMI and the company becomes private.

• 1996

  Thorn and EMI separate

  [1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  Shareholders approve the demerger of Thorn, leaving EMI Group plc as a standalone media company.

• 1979

  Thorn EMI is created

  [1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  EMI merges with Thorn Electrical Industries.

• 1969

  Harvest Records is launched

  [1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  EMI establishes Harvest as a label associated with progressive rock and adventurous contemporary music.

• 1957

  Capitol Records acquisition

  [1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  EMI acquires a controlling interest in Capitol Records, strengthening its United States presence.

• 1952

  EMI issues early LP recordings

  [1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  The company begins issuing long-playing records.

• 1931

  EMI is formed

  [1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  Columbia Graphophone and the Gramophone Company merge in London to create Electric and Musical Industries.

• 1931

  Abbey Road Studios opens

  [1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  EMI opens its major recording complex in London, later known as Abbey Road Studios.

Showing the 10 most recent.

A vertically integrated international music and technology group combining recording labels, publishing, studios, distribution and advanced engineering.

• record label · 1973

  EMI Records

  EMI Records was the group's principal international recording imprint after the consolidation of several historic labels in the 1970s. It released popular, rock, classical and international music and represented the corporate identity of EMI's recording business in many territories. Following the 2012 breakup, the catalog and operations were allocated among successor companies.

• record label

  Parlophone

  Parlophone was a historic label associated with EMI and became especially important through George Martin's work and the Beatles' recordings. Its catalog also covered British pop, rock and other contemporary music. As part of the remedies connected with Universal's EMI acquisition, Parlophone was sold to Warner Music Group.

• record label · 1957

  Capitol Records

  Capitol Records became EMI's principal United States label after EMI acquired a controlling interest in 1957. The combination connected EMI's international infrastructure with Capitol's American catalog and artist roster. Capitol remained part of the recorded-music assets transferred to Universal Music Group in the 2012 transaction.

• record label · 1969

  Harvest Records

  Harvest was established by EMI in 1969 as a home for progressive and experimental rock. The imprint became associated with artists including Pink Floyd and helped EMI participate in the expanding album-oriented rock market. Its catalog and later operations passed through successor-company ownership after EMI's breakup.

• recording studio · 1931

  Abbey Road Studios

  Opened by EMI in 1931, Abbey Road Studios served as a recording, production and technical center for classical and popular music. Its association with the Beatles and other major artists made it one of the most recognizable recording facilities in the world. The studio continued after EMI's corporate dissolution under successor ownership.

• music publishing

  EMI Music Publishing

  EMI Music Publishing administered and licensed song copyrights separately from the recorded-music operation. The publishing business was sold in 2012 to a Sony/ATV-led consortium and became fully owned by Sony Music Publishing after Sony acquired the remaining interest in 2018.

• medical imaging technology · 1973

  EMI scanner

  Developed by EMI research leader Godfrey Hounsfield with government and company support, the EMI scanner was an early computed-tomography system. It demonstrated that EMI's research organization could produce significant medical technology, although the company later divested its manufacturing and medical-imaging activities.

• 2011

  Sell the recorded-music and publishing businessesM&A

  Background

  Heavy debt and financial difficulties led to Citigroup ownership and a search for buyers.

  Action taken

  EMI agrees to sell recorded music to Universal Music Group and publishing to a Sony/ATV-led consortium.

  Aftermath

  Regulatory remedies required asset divestitures, including the sale of Parlophone to Warner Music Group, and EMI ceased to operate as an independent conglomerate.

  reported transaction consideration. (2011)

  • Warner Music Group — Acquired Parlophone and related assets required to address competition concerns.

  Source

• 1996

  Separate Thorn from EMIStrategy

  Background

  The businesses had developed increasingly different operating models and strategic priorities.

  Action taken

  Shareholders approve a demerger that creates EMI Group plc and Thorn plc.

  Aftermath

  EMI continues as a standalone music and media group.

  Source

• 1979

  Merge with Thorn Electrical IndustriesM&A

  Background

  EMI operated across media, electronics and related industrial businesses.

  Action taken

  EMI and Thorn Electrical Industries combine to form Thorn EMI.

  Aftermath

  The combined company operated diversified media, electronics and rental businesses until the 1996 demerger.

  Source

• 1957

  Acquire a controlling interest in Capitol RecordsM&A

  Background

  EMI needed a stronger direct position in the United States after changes to earlier licensing relationships.

  Action taken

  The group acquired 96 percent of Capitol Records' stock.

  Aftermath

  Capitol became EMI's principal American recorded-music platform and remained central to the group's international label structure.

  Source

• 2018

  Sony Music Publishing completes acquisition of EMI Music Publishing[1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Sony acquired the remaining interest in EMI Music Publishing, placing the publishing business within Sony's music-publishing division.

• 2012

  EMI is divided among successor companies[1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The EMI group was broken up following the sale of its recording and publishing businesses, with Universal acquiring most recorded-music assets and Warner acquiring Parlophone.

• 2011

  Citigroup takes control of EMI after debt difficulties[1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Bankruptcy

  Citigroup assumed ownership of EMI after the group's financial problems under Terra Firma ownership.

• 2011

  Universal Music Group agrees to acquire EMI's recorded-music business[1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Universal agreed to purchase EMI's recorded-music operations, while a Sony/ATV-led consortium agreed to acquire the music-publishing business.

• 2007

  EMI is acquired by Terra Firma and taken private[1]EMIen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Terra Firma Capital Partners acquired EMI in a leveraged transaction, after which the company underwent major restructuring and faced significant debt burdens.

1. 1EMIen.wikipedia.org