The Rise and Fall of EMI Records

Electric and Music Industries Ltd (EMI) first saw the light of day in the UK in 1931. In a visionary move for the gramophone age, it manufactured both hardware (recording and playback equipment) and software (the records and tapes its machines would play).For over half a century, EMI dominated both sectors, its music division eventually becoming the most successful in the world with a roster that at various times included The Beatles, Maria Callas, Frank Sinatra, Cliff Richard, Pink...
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Electric and Music Industries Ltd (EMI) first saw the light of day in the UK in 1931. In a visionary move for the gramophone age, it manufactured both hardware (recording and playback equipment) and software (the records and tapes its machines would play).For over half a century, EMI dominated both sectors, its music division eventually becoming the most successful in the world with a roster that at various times included The Beatles, Maria Callas, Frank Sinatra, Cliff Richard, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, Queen, Robbie Williams, The Spice Girls, Kate Bush and Kylie Minogue. Then in the 1990s, things started to go wrong...Guy Hands bought EMI in 2007. Four years on - and on EMI's 80th birthday - the company has been bought by a French media giant and a consortium led by the music arm of a Japanese electronics corporation taking over ownership of EMI's legendary record business and its highly profitable publishing arm from an American bank. Do these two deals mark the final chapter in the story of the company that proudly bore the name Electric & Musical Industries? This is the continuing saga of Britain's greatest music company as it faces an uncertain future under new ownership. Since 2009 EMI has broken new acts and sold millions of records BUT the massive debts incurred by its owners Terra Firma have finally taken it to the brink of a break-up. Music industry experts and executives, financiers and commentators plus artists' managers assess EMI's fortunes as the company celebrates its 80th birthday. Includes interviews with many key players including former EMI Group/EMI Music executives Sir Colin Southgate, Jim Fifield, Eric Nicoli, Tony Wadsworth, David Munns, Rupert Perry, Ray Cooper and Jon Webster. He has also interviewed many managers, music journalists, financial analysists and rival record company executives.