Virgin EMI Records

Virgin EMI Records
Parent companyUniversal Music Group[1]
Founded2013; 12 years ago (2013) (as Virgin EMI Records)
StatusDormant & Rebranded as EMI Records and Virgin Records
Distributor(s)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
LocationLondon, England
Official websiteemirecords.com

Virgin EMI Records was a British record label owned by the Universal Music Group that was formed in 2013. In June 2020, the label was rebranded as EMI Records, and operates Virgin Records as an imprint of the new EMI Records.

History

Virgin EMI Records was founded in March 2013 through the merger of Mercury Records UK and Virgin Records.[2] It operated two distinct A&R and marketing streams—Virgin and EMI Records.[3] Virgin EMI became one of Universal Music UK's front-line labels, alongside Polydor Records, Island Records, Decca Records, and a newly established Capitol Records UK. Mercury Records UK, which traditionally released International Island and Def Jam artists in the UK will now operate as an imprint under Virgin EMI along with Universal Island, which also released Republic Records artists in that country[3] The new label will replace Mercury and Virgin as the releasing label in the UK, for Def Jam and Island US's international roster as well as Virgin Records America artists.[3]

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, and will continue to operate Virgin Records as an imprint of EMI Records.[4]

Artists

Main article: List of EMI Records artists

Virgin EMI's artists include Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Florence and the Machine, Lewis Capaldi, Katy Perry, Emeli Sande,Ruth Lorenzo,the Chemical Brothers, Jamiroquai, the Libertines, Fall Out Boy, Lorde, Chase & Status, Metallica, Avicii, Elton John, Tion Wayne, Chvrches, Paul McCartney, Bastille, Blossoms, Loyle Carner, Martin Solveig, Bon Jovi, Harris J, the Vamps, George Michael, Devo, the Stone Roses, HRVY, Vic Mensa, Massive Attack, Avenged Sevenfold, Paul Simon, Krept and Konan, Amy Macdonald, Duke Dumont, Kanye West, Westlife, Konirata and Four of Diamonds.[3][5][6] Furthermore, Mike Oldfield, whose Tubular Bells album launched the original Virgin Records, is also a Virgin EMI artist.

References

  1. ^ "UMusic". Universal Music UK. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  2. ^ "Universal Music UK Announces Launch of Virgin EMI Records". Billboard. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d "Universal launches Virgin EMI Records, Capitol UK coming next month". Music Week. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  4. ^ Mark Sutherland. "Virgin EMI rebrands as EMI, Rebecca Allen appointed as label president". Music Week.
  5. ^ "Universal Music launches Virgin EMI Records". BBC News. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Artists". Virgin EMI Records. Retrieved 21 June 2018.