# EMI > defunct British music recording and publishing company **Wikidata**: [Q183412](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q183412) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMI) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/emi ## Summary EMI was a public limited company[1] headquartered in London[1]. It operated across the music industry, consumer electronics industry, phonographic industry, and media industry[2]. The organization maintained a workforce of 15k employees.As a business[3][1], EMI functioned under the parent organization Universal Music Group[1]. The company was ultimately dissolved on January 1, 2012. ## Summary EMI was a British multinational music recording and publishing company, founded in 1931, that became one of the most influential record labels in the history of the music industry. It operated for over eight decades before being dissolved in 2012. EMI was known for its extensive catalog of artists, including Queen, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie, and played a central role in shaping global music culture. ## Key Facts - Founded on March 31, 1931, as the Electric and Musical Industries Ltd. - Operated under various names and structures, including EMI Records, EMI Music, and EMI Records Limited. - Became a major label and part of the "Big Four" record companies. - Headquartered in London, United Kingdom. - Employed approximately 15,000 people at its peak. - Operated subsidiaries including EMI Music Japan and EMI Records. - Was dissolved on January 1, 2012, and its assets were acquired by Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. - Associated with iconic artists such as Queen, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, and many others. - Operated under the brand names EMI Records, Regal Zonophone, His Master's Voice, and others. - Owned or operated numerous sub-labels including Blue Note, Liberty Records, and United Artists Records. - Notable for its historical role in the development of stereo sound and gramophone technology. - Affiliated with engineers and producers such as Alan Blumlein, Conny Plank, and Richard Hewson. - Key people associated with EMI include Isaac Shoenberg, Louise Mensch, and Richard Hewson. - Operated in the music industry, specifically phonographic and publishing sectors. - Was a holding company with a complex structure of subsidiaries and affiliated labels. - Operated in the United Kingdom, United States, and Japan, among other countries. - Was succeeded by Virgin EMI Records in 2013. - Was preceded by entities such as the Associated British Picture Corporation. - Was part of the major label ecosystem in the global music industry. - Operated under the ownership of major corporations including Universal Music Group and Vivendi. - Was involved in both consumer electronics and music production. - Operated from London, United Kingdom, and had a global presence. - Was a private company with a significant number of employees and a large market presence. - Was a business entity undertaking commercial and industrial activity in the music industry. ## FAQs ### What was EMI? EMI was a British multinational music recording and publishing company that operated from 1931 until its dissolution in 2012. It was one of the "Big Four" record labels and played a central role in the global music industry. ### When was EMI founded and when did it close? EMI was founded on March 31, 1931, and was officially dissolved on January 1, 2012. ### What kind of company was EMI? EMI was a record company and a major label in the phonographic industry, producing and selling music globally. ### What artists were associated with EMI? EMI was associated with iconic artists such as Queen, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, and many others. ### What happened to EMI after it was dissolved? After its dissolution in 2012, EMI's assets were acquired by Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. Virgin EMI Records was established in 2013 as its successor. ### Where was EMI headquartered? EMI was headquartered in London, United Kingdom. ### How many people did EMI employ? At its peak, EMI employed approximately 15,000 people. ### What subsidiaries did EMI operate? EMI operated subsidiaries such as EMI Music Japan, EMI Records, and Regal Zonophone, among others. ### What industries was EMI involved in? EMI was involved in the music industry, phonographic industry, and consumer electronics. ### What were EMI's key innovations? EMI was notable for its development of stereo sound and gramophone technology, and for its association with pioneering engineers like Alan Blumlein. ### What were EMI's affiliated organizations? EMI was affiliated with organizations such as EMI Records, EMI Music Japan, and record labels like Blue Note, Liberty Records, and United Artists Records. ### Who were some key people associated with EMI? Key people associated with EMI include Richard Hewson, Alan Blumlein, Isaac Shoenberg, and Louise Mensch. ### What was EMI's legal structure? EMI was a privately held company and a holding company with a complex structure of subsidiaries and affiliated labels. ### What was EMI's role in the music industry? EMI was a major label and played a central role in the global music industry, producing and selling music. ### What was EMI's relationship with other companies? EMI was part of the major label ecosystem and was succeeded by Virgin EMI Records in 2013. ### What was EMI's relationship with the consumer electronics industry? EMI was involved in the consumer electronics industry, particularly in the development of gramophone technology. ### What was EMI's relationship with the phonographic industry? EMI was a major player in the phonographic industry, producing and selling music. ### What was EMI's relationship with the music industry? EMI was a major label and played a central role in the global music industry, producing and selling music. ### What was EMI's relationship with the United Kingdom? EMI was headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and was a British company. ### What was EMI's relationship with the United States? EMI operated in the United States and had a global presence. ### What was EMI's relationship with Japan? EMI operated in Japan through its subsidiary EMI Music Japan. ### What was EMI's relationship with the major label ecosystem? EMI was part of the major label ecosystem and was succeeded by Virgin EMI Records in 2013. ### What was EMI's relationship with the music industry? EMI was a major label and played a central role in the global music industry, producing and selling music. ### What was EMI's relationship with the consumer electronics industry? EMI was involved in the consumer electronics industry, particularly in the development of gramophone technology. ### What was EMI's relationship with the phonographic industry? EMI was a major player in the phonographic industry, producing and selling music. ### What was EMI's relationship with the music industry? EMI was a major label and played a central role in the global music industry, producing and selling music. ### What was EMI's relationship with the United Kingdom? EMI was headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and was a British company. ### What was EMI's relationship with the United States? EMI operated in the United States and had a global presence. ### What was EMI's relationship with Japan? EMI operated in Japan through its subsidiary EMI Music Japan. ### What was EMI's relationship with the major label ecosystem? EMI was part of the major label ecosystem and was succeeded by Virgin EMI Records in 2013. ## Why It Matters EMI was one of the most influential and historically significant record labels in the world. It played a pivotal role in the development of the global music industry, launching the careers of countless legendary artists and pioneering innovations in sound technology. Its dissolution marked the end of an era in music history, but its legacy continues through the artists and recordings it helped bring to the world. ## Notable For - Being one of the "Big Four" record labels in the global music industry. - Pioneering stereo sound and gramophone technology. - Representing iconic artists such as Queen, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie. - Operating subsidiaries like EMI Music Japan and EMI Records. - Being succeeded by Virgin EMI Records in 2013. - Being headquartered in London, United Kingdom. - Employing approximately 15,000 people at its peak. - Being a major label and part of the phonographic industry. - Being involved in the consumer electronics industry. - Being a holding company with a complex structure of subsidiaries and affiliated labels. - Being a private company with a significant market presence. - Being involved in both music production and consumer electronics. - Being a business entity undertaking commercial and industrial activity in the music industry. - Being part of the major label ecosystem. - Having a global presence in the United States, Japan, and other countries. - Being associated with pioneering engineers like Alan Blumlein. - Being affiliated with key people such as Richard Hewson, Isaac Shoenberg, and Louise Mensch. - Being involved in the development of the phonographic industry. - Being a major player in the global music industry. - Being a British company with a significant impact on the music industry. - Being a major label and part of the phonographic industry. - Being involved in the development of the consumer electronics industry. - Being a holding company with a complex structure of subsidiaries and affiliated labels. - Being a private company with a significant market presence. - Being a business entity undertaking commercial and industrial activity in the music industry. - Being part of the major label ecosystem. - Having a global presence in the United States, Japan, and other countries. - Being associated with pioneering engineers like Alan Blumlein. - Being affiliated with key people such as Richard Hewson, Isaac Shoenberg, and Louise Mensch. - Being involved in the development of the phonographic industry. - Being a major player in the global music industry. - Being a British company with a significant impact on the music industry. ## Body ### History EMI was founded on March 31, 1931, as Electric and Musical Industries Ltd. It evolved over the decades into one of the most influential record labels in the world. EMI was dissolved on January 1, 2012, and its assets were acquired by Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. Virgin EMI Records was established in 2013 as its successor. ### Structure and Operations EMI was a major label and part of the phonographic industry. It operated as a holding company with a complex structure of subsidiaries and affiliated labels. It was a privately held company with a significant market presence. EMI was involved in both music production and consumer electronics. It was a business entity undertaking commercial and industrial activity in the music industry. ### Headquarters and Global Presence EMI was headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It operated in the United Kingdom, United States, and Japan, among other countries. It had a global presence and was involved in the consumer electronics industry. ### Employees and Market Presence EMI employed approximately 15,000 people at its peak. It was a major label and played a central role in the global music industry, producing and selling music. ### Subsidiaries and Affiliated Labels EMI operated subsidiaries such as EMI Music Japan, EMI Records, and Regal Zonophone. It was affiliated with organizations such as Blue Note, Liberty Records, and United Artists Records. ### Key People and Affiliations Key people associated with EMI include Richard Hewson, Alan Blumlein, Isaac Shoenberg, and Louise Mensch. EMI was involved in the development of stereo sound and gramophone technology. ### Industry Involvement EMI was involved in the music industry, phonographic industry, and consumer electronics industry. It was a major player in the global music industry and played a central role in the phonographic industry. ### Legacy and Succession EMI was succeeded by Virgin EMI Records in 2013. It was preceded by entities such as the Associated British Picture Corporation. Its dissolution marked the end of an era in music history, but its legacy continues through the artists and recordings it helped bring to the world. ## References 1. GRID Release 2017-05-22 2. Open Funder Registry 3. [annual report. 2017](https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00229231/filing-history/MzE3NzY5MjQzN2FkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0) 4. 20th Century Press Archives 5. Virtual International Authority File 6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 7. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/creators/14659) 8. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File 9. YouTube API 10. CollectieGelderland