- This article is about EMI, the company. The acronym EMI can also stand for electromagnetic interference and a short message
service centre protocol called EMI (protocol).
EMI Group plc was formed as Electric and Musical Industries Ltd in March 1931 from a merger of UK Columbia Records and the Gramophone Company/HMV. EMI was the largest record
company in the world for nearly fifty years.
The EMI company also includes the following labels; Capitol
Records, Pathé Records‚ Electrola in Germany, Columbia Nipponophone in Japan, Path Orient and the China Record Co. in
China, GramCo in India, and the Odeon, Parlophone, Regal-Zonophone, His Master's Voice and other labels.
Under the control of Sir Louis
Sterling, EMI opened the legendary Abbey Road
Studios in London, England in
November 1931.
In the early days, EMI had artists like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole,
Tennessee Ernie Ford, Gene Vincent, Wanda Jackson, and the Kingston Trio on its
roster.
In 1955, EMI bought American label Capitol Records.
By the mid 1960s, the label had the
Beatles, Cilla Black, the
Hollies, Billy J. Kramer, Cliff Richard, Gerry and the
Pacemakers, the Dave Clark Five, Peter and Gordon, the
Animals, Herman's Hermits, the Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, Joe Cocker, the Move and the Beach Boys.
In the 70s, 80s and 90s, the EMI roster included Duran Duran, Paul McCartney, Queen, Pink Floyd, The Knack, Sheena Easton, Kate Bush, Kim Carnes, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, George Michael, the Spice
Girls, Bob Seger, the J. Geils Band, Heart, Pet Shop Boys, Chumbawamba, Coldplay and others. Metal
bands on EMI during the 1980's included Great White, Iron Maiden, and, controversally, W.A.S.P..
The Sex Pistols were briefly signed to the label in 1976 in a relationship that was fraught with controversy, and that had lasting repercussions for the history of
the music industry.
See also:
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