Parlophone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parlophone Records |
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| Parent company | Warner Music Group (WMG) (2013 – present)
Previously
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| Founded | 1896 (as Parlophon Parlograph Company) |
| Founder | Carl Lindström |
| Distributor(s) |
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| Genre | Various |
Parlophone Records Limited, usually just called Parlophone, is a famous record label that started in Germany way back in 1896. A record label is a company that finds talented musicians, records their music, and helps sell it to the world.
The company was first named Parlophon by its founder, the Carl Lindström Company. A British part of the company opened in 1923 and quickly became known for releasing great jazz music. Over the years, Parlophone was owned by several big music companies, including EMI and the Universal Music Group.
In the 1950s, a producer named George Martin took charge of Parlophone. He signed a variety of acts, including comedians like Peter Sellers and singers like Adam Faith.
But Parlophone's biggest moment came in 1962 when George Martin signed a new band from Liverpool called the Beatles. This turned Parlophone into one of the most famous record labels in the world. With other popular artists like Cilla Black and the Hollies, the label had amazing success in the 1960s.
Today, Parlophone is owned by the Warner Music Group and is one of its three main labels, along with Warner and Atlantic. It is the oldest of Warner's main record labels.
Contents
History of Parlophone
How It All Began
Parlophone was founded in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company in Germany. At first, the name "Parlophon" was used for gramophones, which were early record players. The company soon started making its own records.
The label's famous ₤ logo is a fancy letter L for the founder's last name, Lindström. It looks a bit like the British pound sign (£), but that's just a coincidence.
In 1923, a British branch of the company opened in London. It became very popular in Great Britain for its jazz records.
The EMI Years and Rise to Fame
In 1927, the Columbia Graphophone Company bought Parlophone. A few years later, in 1931, Columbia merged with another company to become the giant music corporation EMI. Parlophone was now a part of EMI.
In 1950, a young producer named George Martin joined the team. By 1955, he was the manager of the entire label. At the time, Parlophone mostly released classical music and recordings from stage shows. Martin decided to try new things, like comedy albums. An album of funny songs and sketches by Peter Sellers became a surprise hit in 1958.
The label's fortunes changed forever in 1962. Martin signed a band called the Beatles, who had been turned down by another label. This signing made Parlophone incredibly famous. The label also signed other popular acts like the Hollies and Gerry and the Pacemakers.
During the 1960s, Parlophone was on top of the music world. The Beatles' song "She Loves You" and their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band were huge best-sellers. In 1964 alone, the label had seven number-one hit singles in the UK.
After the 1960s, the Parlophone name was not used as much for new artists for a while. But it was brought back in 1980. In the decades that followed, it signed many more famous artists, including Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, Radiohead, Coldplay, Kylie Minogue, and Gorillaz.
Joining Warner Music Group
In 2012, the Universal Music Group (UMG) bought EMI. However, European officials were concerned that this would make UMG too powerful. They ordered UMG to sell some of the EMI labels, including Parlophone.
Several companies wanted to buy Parlophone. In the end, the Warner Music Group (WMG) bought the label in 2013 for over $765 million. This made Parlophone one of WMG's most important labels.
Today, Parlophone continues to release music by major artists. In the United States, its artists' music is often released through other Warner labels like Warner or Atlantic.
Famous Parlophone Artists
Parlophone has been the home for many popular artists over its long history. The label is known for its wide range of music, from pop and rock to electronic music.
Some of its most well-known artists include:
The Beatles and Parlophone
The Beatles' albums in the United Kingdom were released on Parlophone up to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. After that, their albums came out on their own Apple label, but EMI still made and sold them with Parlophone catalogue numbers.
George Martin's decision to sign the Beatles on June 6, 1962, was one of the most important in music history. When Universal Music Group had to sell Parlophone, it was allowed to keep the rights to the Beatles' original recordings. That music is now managed by a special company called Calderstone Productions.
Gallery of Parlophone Record Labels
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Vertinsky Parlophone B.23017, made in Germany
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An early 20th-century Parlophone record label from the 78rpm era.
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Please Please Me by the Beatles (side 1) – 1963. This is the Parlophone gold and black label.
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With the Beatles (side 1) – This shows the Parlophone yellow and black label.
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A British Parlophone record of the song West End Blues.
Here you can see how the design of Parlophone's record labels has changed over time. The labels for 7-inch single records often looked similar to other EMI labels, but in recent years, the designs have become more unique for each release.
See also
In Spanish: Parlophone para niños
