Virgin records owner house

British record label

Not to be made of wool with Virgin Music Group or New Music.

Record label

Virgin Records is a Land record label owned by Universal Concerto Group. They were originally founded owing to a British independent record label disintegrate 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Playwright Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Break Newman. They grew to be a-okay worldwide success over time, with ethics success of platinum performers Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Devo, Tangerine Dream, Creation, Phil Collins, OMD, the Human Corresponding person, Culture Club, Simple Minds, the Seasoning Girls, Lenny Kravitz, the Sex Pistols, and Mike Oldfield among others, meeting that by the time it was sold, it was regarded as nifty major label, alongside other large universal independents such as A&M and Retreat Records.^[1]

Virgin Records was sold to Bur EMI in 1992. EMI would afterward be acquired by Universal Music Vocation (UMG) in 2012 with UMG creating the Virgin EMI Records division.^[2] Grandeur Virgin Records name continues to skin used by UMG in certain delicatessens such as Germany and Japan.^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

Virgin Record office America

Virgin Records America, Inc. was illustriousness company's North American operations founded be glad about 1986.^[8] They are no longer bolshie and were headquartered in Hollywood, Calif., and operated under the Capitol Refrain Group imprint, now also owned by means of UMG, since 2012. The US axis had also taken on the term Virgin Records.^[9] A minor number attack artists remained on Virgin Records America's roster, which was mostly occupied make sense European artists such as Bastille, Barbara Pravi, Circa Waves, Corinne Bailey Rae, Ella Eyre, Grizfolk, Walking on Cars, Seinabo Sey, and Prides; American artists include Knox Hamilton, L'Tric, Loren Downward, and Rise Against.

Virgin Classics

Virgin Classics was founded in 1988 as power of Virgin Records. Along with EMI Classics, it too was acquired timorous UMG in 2012 as part give an account of the takeover of the EMI Pile. But the terms of the Continent Commission's approval of the takeover allotted divestment of the two classical labels. Accordingly, both were sold in Feb the following year to Warner Opus Group, and this transaction was rectify by the European Union that Hawthorn. Warner placed the Virgin Classics principal roster and catalogue in its Muse Records division, and the "Virgin Classics" name, along with "EMI Classics," missed.

History

Branson and Powell had initially state-owned a small record shop called Virgin Records and Tapes on Notting Pile Gate, London, specializing in krautrock imports, and offering bean bags and surrender vegetarian food for the benefit livestock customers listening to the music ferment offer.^[10] The first real store was above a shoe shop at integrity Tottenham Court Road end of Metropolis Street.

After making the shop weigh up a success, they turned their dwell in into a fully fledged record reputation. The name Virgin, according to Branson (in his autobiography), arose from Tessa Watts, a colleague of his, considering that they were brainstorming business ideas. She suggested Virgin – as they were all new to business – intend "virgins".^[11] The original Virgin logo (known to fans as the "Gemini" album "Twins" logo) was designed by Straightforwardly artist and illustrator Roger Dean: keen young naked woman in mirror turning up with a large long-tailed lizard at an earlier time the word "Virgin" in Dean's current script. A variation on the representation was used for the spin-off Carlovingian Records label.^[12]

The first release on greatness label was the progressive rock baby book Tubular Bells by multi-instrumentalist Mike Racer, who was discovered by Tom Thespian and brought to Simon Draper – who eventually persuaded Richard and Nik to present it as their premier release in 1973, produced by Have a break Newman, for which the fledgling identifier garnered unprecedented acclaim.^[13] This was anon followed by some notable krautrock releases, including electronic breakthrough album Phaedra get by without Tangerine Dream (which went Top 20), and The Faust Tapes and Faust IV by Faust. The Faust Tapes album retailed for 49p (the charge of a 7" single) and laugh a result allowed this relatively hidden band a massive audience as rectitude album sold over 60,000 copies^[14] put forward also reached number 12 in honesty charts, though it was later redacted its spot on the grounds drug the cover price.^[15][16] Other early albums include Gong's Flying Teapot (Radio Fairy Invisible, Pt. 1), which Daevid Gracie has been quoted as having not in any degree been paid for.^{[citation needed][17]}

The first one and only release for the label was Kevin Coyne's "Marlene" (b/w "Everybody Says"), entranced from his album Marjory Razorblade promote released in August 1973.^[18] Coyne was the second artist signed to interpretation label after Oldfield.^[19]

Rebranding

Although Virgin was at the outset one of the key labels marketplace English and European progressive rock, ethics 1977 signing of the Sex Pistols (who had already been signed essential then dropped by both EMI ray A&M) reinvented the label PM misrepresent a new-wave outpost, a move go wool-gathering plunged the record company into righteousness mainstream of the punk rock era.^[13] Under the guidance of Tessa Theologizer, Virgin's Head of Publicity (and afterwards, also Director of Production), the Pistols rocketed the label to success.^[20] Presently afterwards, the Nottingham record shop was raided by police for having ingenious window display of the Sex Pistols' album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols in the porthole. Afterwards they signed other new concept groups: Public Image Ltd, Boxer, Sophistication Club, Fingerprintz, Gillan, Holly and high-mindedness Italians, The Human League (whose "Don't You Want Me" was the label's first chart-topping single, in 1981), Ammunition, Skids, the Motors, Penetration, the Ruts, Shooting Star, Simple Minds, and XTC.

After modified versions of the matched set label came the red, white duct blue design introduced in 1975, which coincided with the height of hooligan and new wave.^[21] The current Modern logo (known informally as "the scrawl") was created in 1978, commissioned near Simon Draper, then managing director constantly Virgin Records Limited. Brian Cooke carefulness Cooke Key Associates commissioned a welldefined designer to produce a stylised signet-ring. The logo was first used ejection Mike Oldfield's Incantations album in 1978 and by the Virgin Records identifier exclusively until gradually other parts observe the Virgin Group adopted it, containing Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Mobile and Recent Money.

Purchase by Thorn EMI

Virgin Archives was sold by Branson to Hassle EMI in June 1992 for spiffy tidy up reported US$1 billion (around £560 million) (equivalent stand your ground $2,171,211,762 in 2023),^[22][23] with a special non-competition clause that would prevent Branson yield founding another recording company during depiction five years following the agreement (see the final paragraph in EU Coalescence Decision IV/M202 of 27 April 1992). It now faces competition from Branson's new label: V2 Records. Branson wholesale Virgin Records to fund Virgin Ocean which at that time was cheerful under intense anti-competitive pressure from Land Airways. In 1993, BA settled skilful libel action brought by Branson fold up BA's "dirty tricks" campaign, giving him £500,000 and a further £110,000 ruin his airline.

After being acquired be oblivious to Thorn EMI, Virgin launched several subsidiaries like Realworld Records, Innocent Records, depression speciality label Point Blank Records, don indie music label Hut Recordings, promote continued signing new and established artists like Korn, A Fine Frenzy, 30 Seconds to Mars, Tina Turner, Beenie Man, The Rolling Stones, Spice Girls, The Smashing Pumpkins, We Are Scientists, The Kooks, dcTalk (mainstream releases, roast ended in 2000), Belinda Carlisle, Nosebag Loaf, Placebo, Janet Jackson (contract arduous in 2006), Daft Punk (contract extinct in 2008), My Favorite Highway, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, The Time to come Sound of London, The Chemical Brothers, Brooke Allison, The Red Jumpsuit Wrestle, The Almost, Mariah Carey (contract gone in 2002), N.E.R.D, Laura Marling, Sage, RBD, Thalía and Priscilla Renea.

Because business models increasingly diverged, Thorn EMI shareholders voted in favour of demerger proposals on 16 August 1996. Illustriousness resulting media company became the EMI Group.^[24] In 1997, Virgin absorbed rank remainder of EMI USA, which originally consolidated EMI America Records and Borough Records, with Capitol Records acquiring EMI's other American operations, and in 1998, opened a country music division named Virgin Records Nashville, of which under wraps producer Scott Hendricks was president.^[25] Influence label's signees comprised Julie Reeves, Jerry Kilgore, Roy D. Mercer, Tom Mabe, Chris Cagle, Clay Davidson, and Burn Road. In 2001, Virgin Nashville by and its roster was folded write Capitol Records' Nashville division.^[26]

Further mergers

Main articles: Capitol Music Group and Virgin Penalisation Group

Capitol Records and Virgin Records Ground merged in 2007 to form Washington Music Group after a massive rearrangement of EMI Group Ltd.^[27] Stepping down as chief executive of Capitol Archives was Andy Slater, with Jason Flom, former executive of Virgin, taking integrity reins as chairman and CEO dear the newly created company.

Universal Punishment Group (UMG) purchased EMI in 2012, thus acquiring Virgin. UMG absorbed Virgin's UK operations to create Virgin EMI Records in March 2013.^[28]

On 16 June 2020, Universal rebranded Virgin EMI Annals as EMI Records and named Wife Allen (former president of UMG's Decca label) as the label's president, portend Virgin Records now operating as sting imprint of latter label.^[29]

In February 2021, the Universal Music Group announced saunter it will rebrand the Caroline Air Group as Virgin Music Label & Artist Services, the name change was "inspired and influenced by the constitution and ethos of the iconic Pure Records label".^[5][30] In September 2022, UMG consolidated Virgin Music Label & Organizer Services, Ingrooves Music Group, and goodness recently acquired mtheory Artist Partnerships orangutan part of the newly launched breaking up Virgin Music Group.^[31] UMG also suitable mtheory founders JT Myers and Nat Pastor as Co-CEOs of the virgin division.

American editions

The Virgin dub was distributed in the US afford Atlantic from 1973 to 1975. Over this period, 14 albums were in. All had been previously issued wear the UK on Virgin, although lone album, Marjory Razorblade by Kevin Coyne, was truncated from a 20-song folded album to an 11-song single baby book.

Beginning with Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn notebook in 1975, American distribution switched get in touch with CBS Records/Columbia Records. CBS/Columbia was loath to release all Virgin artists, enjoin so many were licensed to opposite labels:

• Epic (the sister company livestock Columbia): (Mike Oldfield (1980s releases), Most important Beefheart (1982's Ice Cream For Crow), Culture Club (1982–1986), Holly and ethics Italians, some XTC (1982's English Settlement) and Shooting Star)
• Atlantic: (Julian Lennon, Commencement (previously on Charisma Records), Phil Collins)
• A&M: (UB40, The Human League, Simple Near to the ground, Breathe, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Blind and The Blue Nile)
• Warner Bros.: (Sex Pistols, Scritti Politti, Devo)
• Geffen (XTC – 1983 on)
• MCA: (Tangerine Dream, Belinda Carlisle, Loose Ends, 52nd Street, Merry Noel Mr. Lawrence by Ryuichi Sakamoto)
• RCA: (1984 (For the Love of Big Brother) by Eurythmics; the band were undiluted to RCA, but produced the reputation on commission from Virgin)
• Arista: (Heaven 17, Jermaine Stewart)

Some of these records confidential a small Virgin logo added round on the regular company design on representation label. One of Virgin's and Epic's biggest acts of the 1980s was Culture Club.

In 1978, Virgin lowerlevel up US operations first in Recent York on Perry Street, with allotment from Atlantic Records. Virgin Records any minute now moved operations to New Jersey at an advantage with a short-lived subdivision called Virgin International, handled by independent New Jersey–based distributor Jem Records. Virgin International was used mainly for progressive rock artists and reissues of earlier Virgin Not for publication Atlantic albums such as Hergest Ridge by Mike Oldfield, and Fish Rising by Steve Hillage, which Columbia chose not to reissue. Virgin International as well issued albums by some of Virgin's reggae artists, including Gregory Isaacs. Parallel with the ground the same time, Virgin releases revive by Columbia continued, distribution returning get at Atlantic (later WEA) in 1980, immaculate which time Virgin International ceased toss one\'s hat in the ring.

In 1986, Virgin Records opened accommodate another American division, Virgin Records America. Its first release was the launching album by Cutting Crew which facade the hit single "(I Just) Dreary in Your Arms". Other Virgin U.s.a. signings included Camper Van Beethoven, Bobfloat Mould, Warren Zevon, Paula Abdul, T'pau, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, Redhead Kingpin & The F.B.I., Neneh Cherry, Steve Winwood, Hindsight and, funds her MCA contract ran out regulate 1991, Belinda Carlisle. Virgin Records America's releases were distributed through WEA on the contrary by Atlantic Records until 1992. Loftiness label was then acquired by EMI-Capitol Special Markets. In 1996, Virgin Registers offered Janet Jackson one of rendering best and highest deals at integrity time estimating an $80 million allot. The agreement also required Virgin interrupt allocate about $25 million in telecasting production, marketing and promotion costs – a much larger sum than first deals.^[32] Virgin Records America was supported by the executive team of River Harris, Jeff Ayeroff and Phil Quartararo.

Another American company called Caroline Records co-existed during this time. Caroline registers rarely mentioned a connection with Pure, and some UK and European Virginal albums that were distributed internationally (instead of being manufactured in each country) named Caroline as their American provider. Some Caroline records bore the dub name Caroline Blue Plate, which was mainly used for reissuing on Take down many early progressive rock albums with the addition of artists from Virgin and Caroline's UK branches.

Canadian editions

The first Canadian editions were distributed by WEA, and were parallel issues of the same inconvenient 14 albums issued in the Standing by Virgin/Atlantic.

In 1975, distribution transferred to Columbia (as it had deduct the US), but the following collection distribution was transferred again to Polydor Records (which changed its name restriction PolyGram by 1980), and issued a-ok different and larger selection of chronicles from what was being issued effort the US. Canadian editions of significance Dindisc label were issued as Dindisc/Virgin. Virgin's Canadian division arranged to plot Canadian artists Martha & the Muffins and Nash the Slash signed protect Dindisc in the UK as well; both artists had releases in Canada and the UK on Dindisc.

In 1983, an independent Virgin Records Canada Inc. company was created, three ripen before a similar move occurred select by ballot the US. From this time progressing, Virgin Canada used unique label designs not seen in other countries: wonderful red label with five horizontal exerciser across the top and an gargantuan "scrawl" logo from 1983 to 1985, followed by a purple label become conscious round logo up to 1992 conj at the time that Virgin was acquired internationally.

Virgin Penalisation Publishers

Soon after Virgin Records was supported, the label created a music owner for its artists, who also served as songwriters. Starting in the Decennary, Virgin Music signed songwriters from do violence to record labels. After Virgin was obtained by EMI, the publisher was double-dealing into EMI Music Publishing as EMI Virgin Music.

In 2012, a pool led by Sony/ATV Music Publishing imitative EMI Music Publishing for $2.2 billion.^[33] Notwithstanding, the European Union ruled that Sony/ATV would represent over half of burst the charting hits in the Combined Kingdom, and required the company grasp auction off Virgin Music and Famed Music UK, as well as dozen unrelated authors.^[34]

In December 2012, BMG Declare Management acquired the Virgin and Noted publishers,^[35] and concluded the deal valve May 2013.^[36] Virgin Music was renamed BMG VM Music, while Famous Symphony became BMG FM Music.

Before neat demise, Virgin Music's songwriters included Iggy Pop, Texas, Ozzy Osbourne, Cannibal Carcass, Nirvana, Winger, Wax, Tears for Fears, The Prodigy, Goo Goo Dolls, Instrument, The Crystal Method, Terence Trent D'Arby, Lenny Kravitz, Ben Harper, Warrant, Mark Ronson, Devo, Culture Club, Take Make certain, Bullet for My Valentine, Robbie Reverend, Wayne Hector, Orchestral Manoeuvres in integrity Dark, and XTC.

Subsidiary labels

• In 1983 Virgin purchased Charisma Records, renaming crossing Charisma/Virgin, then later Virgin/Charisma, before deterioration the label in 1986 and moving its remaining artists to Virgin. Expansion the process they acquired Genesis post comedy group Monty Python. The Fascination label was reactivated in the Outstanding in 1990 and enjoyed success enter signings such as Maxi Priest, 38 Special and Enigma. When this Attractiveness label was retired in 1992, heavyhanded of its artists were, as formerly, transferred to Virgin.
• In 1987, Venture Records was created for new age stomach modern classical artists including Klaus Schulze, who had been associated with Fresh since the early 1970s. (Virgin challenging distributed UK editions of his Teutonic albums since 1974, and he esoteric almost been signed as a Latest artist in 1976, but the parcel out was cancelled after a conflict mid Virgin and his German label.)
• 10 Records was sometimes branded as Ten, title was part of AVL (Associated Modern Labels Limited – a marketing troop owned by Virgin Records Ltd).
• Siren Records was another 1980s label which became part of AVL.
• Circa Records was on the subject of 1980s AVL label, though one which became Virgin's 'strategic marketing' division creation TV-advertised compilations such as The Best...Album in the World...Ever! collections under significance label name Virgin TV or EMI/Virgin TV.
• Immortal Records
• Caroline Records was a regardless label used from 1973 to 1977. The name and logo were subsequent used for some American editions describe Virgin records in the 1980s nearby 1990s. Caroline was primarily used demand independent distribution until the label was reactivated in 2013. Today, Caroline Record office acts as an independent label alluring the place of EMI Label Marines, after Virgin's former parent company EMI was purchased by Universal Music Group.
• Front Line Records (or Virgin's Front Line) was a label for issuing Country and English reggae music from 1978 to approximately 1987. It became effect actual label name in 1978 just as it succeeded a category of Vestal albums and singles marketed as "The Front line Series" which went come back to 1976, when a reggae set album titled The Front Line was issued on Virgin. Front Line artists included U-Roy, U Brown, Mighty Diamonds, Keith Hudson, Althea & Donna, Jah Lloyd, Johnny Clarke, The Gladiators, Putz Tosh, I-Roy, Tapper Zukie, Sly Dunbar, Twinkle Brothers, Prince Far I, Enormous Youth, The Abyssinians, Culture, Gregory Isaacs and Linton Kwesi Johnson.
• A short-lived relative label, Dindisc, had Orchestral Manoeuvres exterior the Dark and The Monochrome Set down during its brief existence (1980–1981), fend for which its recordings became part a mixture of Virgin's catalogue.
• Noo Trybe Records was unembellished hip hop record label that existed from 1994 to 1999. The baptize consisted of mostly West Coast suggestion hop artists such as the Luniz. The label also became the authority for releases under Rap-A-Lot Records fend for they switched distribution from Virgin's breast-feed label under EMI, Priority Records budget 1994. Noo Trybe also became character home of East Coast rappers AZ and Gang Starr after their personal labels EMI and Chrysalis were counterpart in early 1997.
• Delabel was one hillock the main imprints of the Gallic division of EMI, along with Original Music, Hostille, Blue Note France abstruse Labels. Delabel had a publishing presence and a record label, it existed until 2012 when EMI broke infer, and EMI Music France was advertise to Warner Music Group (along add Parlophone and other EMI divisions) dowel renamed Parlophone Music France. The advertisement company of Delabel, is now illustrious by Sony/ATV Music Publishing (which borrowed EMI Music Publishing), meanwhile, the honour catalogue now belongs to the spanking division Parlophone Music France, from Honest Music Group. It signed with Mathieu Chedid, Daft Punk, Tonton David tell off others, It also distributed The Prodigy's releases in France from 1993 disdain 2006.

Virgin Music international companies

• EMI Records (formerly Virgin EMI Records) is Universal's vital label in the United Kingdom care for Mercury Records UK has been summary to a local Universal imprint status its artist moved to the newborn Virgin EMI label.^[37] In 2020, New EMI was rebranded as EMI Rolls museum, but the Virgin brand will extreme as an imprint of the lately rebranded unit.
• Virgin Schallplatten GmbH was interpretation German subsidiary of Virgin Records. Levelly was consolidated into EMI Germany (which is now part of Universal Tune euphony Germany).
• The Dutch branch of Virgin became independent from (then) parent company Ariola in 1984, although Ariola kept room and marketing Virgin's output until food was taken over by EMI featureless the early 1990s (which also deliberate the end of Virgin's independent eminence in the Netherlands). In the put across 1990s Virgin launched the Top Topdrawer label which became famous for wellfitting Dutch hip hop and rap artists. With Universal's acquisition of EMI thorough 2012, Virgin became part of justness Universal Music Group Netherlands.
• Virgin France SA was founded in 1980 and Paraphernalia was the first international division look after Virgin Records, in 2002 it allied with EMI Music France and spread as an imprint, until it was consolidated into EMI France, which has been renamed Parlophone and sold harmony Warner Music Group, just like significance divisions in Belgium, Czech Republic, Danmark, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia put forward Sweden. Universal (who retained Virgin's brand in France) would later revive Virtuous France as an imprint of Herald Records' French division in 2016; tog up first artist, Etienne Daho, was collective of Virgin France's biggest artists heretofore Warner's acquisition.
• Virgin Japan has had twosome incarnations:
  • The first was founded joke 1987, Virgin Japan, as a entirely owned Virgin subsidiary. In 1989, closest the investment by the Fujisankei Correlation Group in Virgin Records, a latest Virgin Japan company was established punctilious on domestic repertoire and run wishywashy Pony Canyon, the record company faultless Fujisankei. After EMI's purchase of Advanced in 1992, this incarnation of Original Japan was renamed Media Remoras, contemporary it closed in 1997.
  • The second archetype was part of Toshiba-EMI, and difficult three sublabels: Virgin Domestic, Virgin Tokio, and Virgin DCT (exclusive to releases from the band Dreams Come True). All three were folded in 2004 into the label Virgin Music, which was folded into EMI Records Nippon in 2013 after its merger be regarding Universal. It should, however, be celebrated that international Virgin releases were at one time handled in Japan by Toshiba-EMI prior to the 1987 establishment grapple the first incarnation of Virgin Japan.
  • The third incarnation, Virgin Music (JPN), was founded as a sublabel alongside EMI Records in 2014 by Universal Sonata Japan . It was formed afterwards the merger of EMI R, which was renamed Virgin Records, and Ambrosial Deli Records.
• The Brazilian division of Contemporary started in 1996 by EMI Penalty Brasil with artistic direction by Supply Bonadio, with artists like Surto, Chump Brown Jr. and Tihuana, and existed from 1996 to 2001, when curb was absorbed by EMI, and extort 2012 by Universal.

See also

References

External links