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Polydor Records

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"Polydor" redirects here. Not to be confused withPolydore.
Polydor Limited
Parent companyUniversal Music Group(UMG)
Founded2 April 1913;111 years ago(1913-04-02)
Distributor(s)
GenreVarious
Country of originGermany
United Kingdom
LocationLondon, England
Official websitepolydor.co.uk

Polydor Limited,also known asPolydor Records,is a German-Britishrecord labelthat operates as part ofUniversal Music Group.It has a close relationship with Universal'sInterscope Geffen A&M Recordslabel, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. In turn, Polydor distributes Interscope releases in the United Kingdom. Polydor Records Ltd. was established in London in 1954 as a British subsidiary of German companyDeutsche Grammophon/Schallplatte GrammophonGmbH. It was renamed Polydor Ltd. in 1972. The company is usually mentioned as "Polydor Ltd. (UK)", or a similar form, for holding copyrights.

Notable current and past artists signed to the label includeRainbow,Yngwie J. Malmsteen,the Cure,James Brown,Ray, Goodman & Brown,Atlanta Rhythm Section,John Mayall,[1]Deep Purple,Cream,the Moody Blues,the Who,Jimi Hendrix,Bee Gees,Lana Del Rey,the Jam,Style Council,the Shadows,James Last,Eric Clapton,Gloria Gaynor,Level 42,Sam Fender,S Club,Girls AloudandEllie Goulding.[2]

Label history[edit]

Beginnings[edit]

Polydor Records was founded on 2 April 1913 by German Polyphon-Musikwerke AG inLeipzigand registered on 25 July 1914 (Nr. 316613). The label was founded as Firma Brachhausen & Riesener in 1887 by Gustav Adolf Brachhausen and Ernst Paul Riessner, for manufacturing their new mechanical disc-playingmusic boxPolyphon,invented in 1870.[3]DuringWorld War Ion 24 April 1917, Polyphon-Musikwerke AG acquired the GermanDeutsche Grammophon-Aktiengesellschaft record plant and company from the German government. The German state had taken over British-held Grammophon as enemy property during World War I.[4]

Polydor was originally anindependent branchof thePolyphon-Grammophon-Konzern group. It was used as an export label from 1924. After the British and German branches of theGramophone Companywere separated duringWorld War I,Deutsche Grammophon claimed the rights to theNipper-dog and gramophone trademark for Germany, whereHMVrecordings were to be released under theElectrolatrademarkreplacing the company lost during the war.

1920s vintage Polydor export label with its double-horn gramophone logo

In turn, Deutsche Grammophon records exported from Germany were released on thePolyphon MusikandPolydorlabels.[5]New foreign branches were founded, for example in Austria, Denmark, Sweden and France.

In 1941, Deutsche Grammophon (including Polydor) was purchased bySiemens & Halske.Polydor became apopular musiclabel in 1946, while the new Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft label became aclassical musiclabel in 1949.[4]The previously used label, Grammophon, was disbanded. DGG gave, by an agreement dated 5 July 1949, an exclusive license from 1 July 1951 to use the Nipper-dog with gramophone to the original owner's companyElectrola,the German branch ofEMI.(In Germany, it was impossible to sell the trademark without selling the company.)[6]Polydor remained Deutsche Grammophon's export label, including classical music, in France and the Spanish-speaking world for the remainder of the long-playing era, as a result of language and cultural concerns. DGG established a subsidiary in London called Polydor Records Ltd. in 1954.

In the early 1960s,orchestraleaderBert Kaempfertsigned unknownsTony SheridanandThe Beatles,credited asThe Beat Brothers,to Polydor.[7][8][9][10][11]Popular International entertainers such asJames Last,Bert Kaempfert,Kurt Edelhagen,Caterina Valenteand theKessler Twinsappeared on the Polydor label, as well as many French, Spanish and Latin-American figures.

Siemens entered into a joint venture withPhilipsin 1962 creating the Grammophon-Philips Group, of which Polydor became a subsidiary label. Late 1960s, Polydor released albums ofJohn Mayall & the Bluesbreakers,Cream,The Who,Jimi Hendrix,Bee GeesandEric Clapton.

Polydor opened a US branch in 1969 (in years prior, they licensed their catalogue toAtlantic Records),[12]but did not become a real presence in the US record industry until its purchase of the recording contract and back catalogue ofR&BperformerJames Brownin 1971, and the absorption of theMGM Recordslabel by its parent company PolyGram in 1972.

In 1970, Polydor acquired the Hong Kong–basedDiamond Records,which had been owned and founded by the localPortuguesemerchant Ren da Silva in the late 1950s.

PolyGram[edit]

In 1954 Polydor Records introduced their distinctive orange label.

In 1972, The Grammophon-Philips Group (GPG) reorganised to createPolyGram,fromPolydor and PhonoGram.ThePolydorlabel continued to run as a subsidiary label under the new company. Throughout the 1970s, Polydor Incorporated became a major rock label, also releasing records by hit makers such as theBee Gees,[13]Gloria Gaynor,Atlanta Rhythm SectionandRay, Goodman & Brown.[14]

Into the 1980s, Polydor continued to do respectable business, in spite of becoming increasingly overshadowed by its PolyGram sister labelMercury Records.Polydor took over management ofBritish Decca'spop catalogue.A&Rmanager Frank Neilson was able to score a major top ten hit in March 1981 for the label with "Do the Hucklebuck" byCoast to Coastas well as signingIan DuryandBilly Furyto the company. In 1984, the company name was parodied in therockumentaryfilmThis Is Spinal Tap(whosesoundtrack albumwas distributed by Polydor), where "Polymer Records" was the band's record company.

By the early 1990s, Polydor had begun to underperform. PolyGram subsequently trimmed most of Polydor's staff and roster, and shifted it to operate under the umbrella ofPolyGram Label Group(PLG), a newly constructed "super label" specifically designed to oversee the operations of PolyGram's lesser performing imprints, which includedIsland Records,London Records,Atlas RecordsandVerve Recordsat the time.

In 1994, as Island Records recovered from its sales slump, PolyGram dissolved most of PLG into it. Meanwhile, Polydor Records and Atlas Records merged, briefly called "Polydor/Atlas", and began operating throughA&M Records,another PolyGram subsidiary. In 1995, Polydor/Atlas became simply Polydor Records again.

Twilight years in the United States[edit]

Over the next few years, Polydor tried to keep itself afloat with new artist signings, new releases, and reissues, while still becoming more and more dormant. In 1998, PolyGram was purchased bySeagramand absorbed into itsUniversal Music Group.During the consolidation of these two music giants, Polydor's United States operations were folded intoInterscope-Geffen-A&MandUniversal Records,while its overseas branch remained intact, with its records continuing to be distributed domestically throughInterscopeand A&M.

Today, in North America, the Polydor Records name and logo is mostly used on reissues of older material from its 1960s and 1970s heyday.Island Recordshandles the US distribution of most pre-1998 Polydor releases, including the reissues from the British Decca pop/rock collections, whileRepublic Recordshandles reissues fromJames Brownand the MGM Records and Verve Records pop catalog. However, starting in the 2010s,Interscope Recordshas been signing acts such asAzealia BanksandLana Del Reyjointly to Polydor and its logo has been seen on both releases.

Polydor Nashville[edit]

Record producerHarold Sheddfounded Polydor'sNashville, Tennessee,division in 1994, which specialised incountry music.Among the acts signed to Polydor Nashville were Shane Sutton, Tasha Harris,4 Runner,the Moffatts,Chely Wright,Mark Luna,Clinton Gregory,Amie Comeaux,[15]along withToby KeithandDavis Daniel,who transferred fromMercury Nashvillein 1994.[16]The Nashville division was renamed A&M Nashville in March 1996 and closed in September of the same year, as PolyGram consolidated all its Nashville operations under the Mercury name. Today, Polydor, along withEMI Recordsin the UK and Australia and UMG itself in Canada distributeLost Highway Records' albums in theCommonwealth realms.

Polydor UK[edit]

In 1972 the British Polydor Records Ltd. was renamed to Polydor Ltd. In the early 1970s, the main source of income for the label was the successful UK bandSladeas well asThe New SeekersandThe Who.At the time, between the 1970s and 1980s, the Polydor/PolyGram Senior VP (who was originally the first head of their new at the time rock department) was Jerry Jaffe, who also signed acts such asMotörhead,Dexys Midnight Runners,andThe Jam.He also interacted with many famous and successful artists while in that position, includingNick LoweandJohn Lennon,as well as going on to work with groups such asThe Jesus and Mary ChainandSaint Etiennethe late 1980s and 1990s. Later, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the label was also home toThe WhoandThe Jam(as well as its successor actThe Style Council).

Although Polydor's American branch is nearly inactive, in the United Kingdom Polydor remains one of the most prominent labels in the country—with artists such asTake That,Cheryl,Duffy,Girls Aloud,S Club,The Saturdays,Kaiser Chiefs,Ellie Goulding,MabelandLawson.Polydor also has a strong indie roster through theFictionimprint with acts such asIan Brown,Bright Eyes,Elbow,White Lies,The Maccabees,Kate Nash,Snow Patrol,Filthy Dukes,andCrystal Castles.Polydor has also survived in Canada, becoming the home label forDrake.It also acts as the UK label for American-based acts underInterscope-Geffen-A&Msuch asEminem,the All-American Rejects,the Black Eyed Peas,Billie Eilish,Camila Cabello,Gwen Stefani,Dr. Dre,Lana Del Rey,Lady Gaga,Olivia Rodrigo,Selena GomezandSting.[citation needed]

In 2006, Polydor launchedFascination Records,a music label dedicated to pop music. BothGirls AloudandSophie Ellis-Bextortransferred to the new label and created groups such asThe SaturdaysandGirls Can't Catch.Several pop acts from US labelHollywood Records,such asDemi Lovato,Jonas Brothers,Miley Cyrus,andSelena Gomez & the Scenewere also signed to Fascination.

In 2008, A&M Records UK was founded as an imprint of Polydor UK. The same year Polydor obtained distribution ofThe Rolling Stones' back catalogue as well as new releases.[17]With the establishment of A&M Records UK, A&M Records' Canadian division became a separate entity for the first time since the formation of Universal Music Group. Polydor, meanwhile, continued to distribute Interscope, Geffen and selected Lost Highway releases in Canada throughUniversal Music Canada,as it does to this day.

Polydor UK rejected British singer-songwriterRaye’s albumMy 21st Century Bluesand one of its lead singlesEscapismfor release under the label, leading her to release the former independently.[18]At the2024 Brit Awards,Raye received 6 awards, all for works released with labels other than Polydor, breaking the record for the most nominations received by a single artist in a year.[19]

Polydor Japan[edit]

In December 2022,Universal Music Japanreorganized Universal J, which previously was known as Universal Polydor until 2002.[20]The label was split into two record labels, UJ and Polydor Records.[21]The changes took place on 1 January 2023.[21]

Polydor's Japanese division has three sub-labels which arePerfume Records,Asse!! Records (HY's exclusive label), and Utahime Records (Akina Nakamori's exclusive label). It also has distribution rights forNHKRecords.

The first release under Polydor in Japan wasKobayashi Touya[ja]'s debut studio album,Hiiragi.[22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Jon Mayall Polydor albums,Bluesmagazine.nl,Retrieved 13 March 2023
  2. ^"Artists".Polydor Official Website.Retrieved2 July2024.
  3. ^"Schellackplatten Label - Polyphon - Grammophon und Schellackplatten Portal 78rpm".grammophon-platten.de.Retrieved17 February2017.
  4. ^abStudios, Emil Berliner."EMIL BERLINER STUDIOS - About us - Chronicle".emil-berliner-studios.com.Retrieved17 February2017.
  5. ^Hoffmann, Frank (12 November 2004).Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound.Routledge.ISBN9781135949501.
  6. ^Dg-111.comArchived5 March 2012 at theWayback Machine
  7. ^"The Beatles with Tony Sheridan".Friktech.com.Archived fromthe originalon 7 July 2015.Retrieved19 April2015.
  8. ^Infosite,Beatlesource.com; accessed 19 April 2015.
  9. ^Coleman, Miriam (17 February 2013)."Beatles collaborator Tony Sheridan dead at 72".Rolling Stone.Retrieved23 February2013.
  10. ^"One-time Beatles frontman Tony Sheridan dies".Nme.com.18 February 2013.Retrieved23 February2013.
  11. ^Lewisohn, Mark:All These YearsVolume 1:The Beatles Tune In,Little Brown, London 2013,ISBN978-0-316-72960-4
  12. ^"College Music Contest Opens Talent Hunt".Billboard.Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 15 March 1969. p. 64.
  13. ^"Bee Gees - Album Discography - AllMusic".allmusic.com.Retrieved17 February2017.
  14. ^Ray, Goodman & Brown,AllMusic,Retrieved 5 May 2023
  15. ^Evans Price, Deborah; Flippo, Chet (21 September 1996)."A&M Nashville a Victim of Country Label Growth".Billboard.Nielsen Business Media Inc. p. 6.
  16. ^Morris, Edward (14 May 1994)."Mercury Focuses on Tighter Roster".Billboard.Nielsen Business Media Inc. p. 40.
  17. ^"Stones ditching EMI for Universal".BBC News.25 July 2008.
  18. ^Cragg, Michael (25 September 2021)."'I'm angry, I'm raging': how Raye took on her record label – and won ".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved15 March2024.
  19. ^"Raye: Singer-songwriter makes history winning six Brit Awards".BBC News.3 March 2024.Retrieved15 March2024.
  20. ^"ありがとうスピッツ, 20 niên ぶりに phục hoạt したPolydor Recordsが cảm tạ の tân văn quảng cáo"[Thank You Spitz, Polydor Records Revived After 20 Years Newspaper Ad].Music Natalie(in Japanese).Retrieved3 April2023.
  21. ^ab"ユニバーサル ミュージック, 1/1 phó の dịch viên nhân sự および tổ chức 変 canh と nhân sự dị động を phát biểu | Musicman"[Universal Music Announces Executive Appointments, Organizational Changes, and Personnel Changes on 1/1].Musicman(in Japanese).Retrieved28 February2023.
  22. ^"Hiiragi by Kobayashi Touya".15 February 2023.Retrieved28 February2023– viaApple Music.

External links[edit]

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