Development of general records

Universal Records is the largest record company in the world today. Founded in 19 12, the company was originally a division of Universal Pictures. From 65438 to 0998, Universal Pictures bought PolyGram, which specializes in publishing classical music and pop music records, and merged and reorganized into today's Universal Music Group, becoming a huge "record empire", with subsidiaries in dozens of countries around the world, distributing all kinds of audio-visual products.

Since 1998, Universal Records, SONY Records, EMI Records and Warner Records have been called the four largest record companies in the world.

20 1 1 year, Universal Records acquired EMI records in financial difficulties for 1200 million pounds (about 12 1. 1 100 million yuan), and its bid was five times that of Warner Records, another bidder. And the pattern of the world record industry has officially dropped from the "Big Four" to the "Big Three". After the annexation of rival assets, Universal's share in most of the global music market is close to and exceeds the upper limit stipulated by the local anti-monopoly law. The European Commission is worried that the transaction will give the world excessive market power, make the price of music products rise, significantly worsen the licensing terms provided by EMI to digital platforms, and reduce consumers' choices and cultural diversity. Therefore, in order to make the acquisition pass the anti-monopoly investigation of the European Union and the US regulatory authorities, Universal had to put forward a series of rectification plans, and finally abandoned the famous brands Parlophone, Chrysalis, Ensign and Mute owned by EMI, and the business of EMI Classics and Sanctuary, the original sub-brand of Universal, in the UK was also divested. Universal also abandoned EMI's business in France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden.

In terms of concrete tangible assets, Universal got the jazz label Blue Note under EMI, as well as its own sub-brand Capitol and the famous Virgin Records. At the same time, Universal Picture won the right to publish and distribute the records of the greatest rock band-The Beatles and British superstar robbie williams.

Universal Records has the publishing rights of many world-famous artists and artistic teams, including three tenors Pavarotti, Domingo and carreras; Pop singers such as Taylor Swift, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Rihanna; ; China pop singers include Jacky Cheung, Stephanie, Fish Leong, Eason Chan, Karen Mok and Wilber Pan. Classical musicians such as Holovitz, Porini, Zimmerman, Agrich, Di Yun and Wang Yujia. Conductors karajan, Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, etc. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and other orchestras.