Kinney Record Group Ltd.

UK division of [l=Kinney Record Group International] was active as [l=Kinney Record Group Ltd.] (formerly [l=Warner Bros. Records Ltd.]) from 1971 to mid 1972 when it was renamed to [l=WEA Records Ltd.].
[b]Note: Distributed by [l=Kinney Record Group Ltd.] also appears on later releases distributed by [l=WEA Records Ltd.], because in some cases the old covers were used.[/b]

[b]History:[/b]

[b]July 1969[/b] Kinney National Service Inc. acquires [l=Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records] which launches its first company-owned European outlet in UK ([l=Warner Bros. Seven Arts Records Ltd.]), with Ian Ralfini as managing director and general Manager Tony Roberts for the publishing company [l=Warner Bros. Seven Arts Music Ltd.].
Licensing pact with [l=Pye International] expires, but [l=Pye Records (Sales) Ltd.] will continue to manufacture and distribute records.
Publishing deal with [l=Leeds Music] expires.

[b]1970[/b] ‘Seven Arts’ removed from company name. UK branch renamed to [l=Warner Bros. Records Ltd.], publisher now called [l=Warner Bros. Music Ltd.]
[b]July 1970[/b] Kinney National Service Inc. buys [l=Elektra].
[b]November 1970[/b] [a=Nesuhi Ertegun] will be director of newly created international record department [l=Kinney Record Group International] ([b]Kinney Music International[/b] as publisher) with Phil Rose as managing director.

[b]1971[/b] UK branch renamed to [l=Kinney Record Group Ltd.] with [l=Kinney Music Ltd.] as publisher.
[b]January 1971[/b] [l=Elektra Records] licensing contracts in all European countries (in UK [l=Polydor Records Limited]) expires. [l=Elektra] joins existing Warner UK branch.
Distributing and pressing switches from [l=Polydor Records Ltd.] to CBS.
[b]July 1971[/b] [l=Kinney Record Group Ltd.] enters distribution and pressing deal with CBS instead of [l=Pye Records (Sales) Ltd.].
Elektra’s publishing companies [l=Paradox Music (3)], [l=Nipper Music] and [l=Nina Music] are now controlled by [l=Warner Bros. Music Ltd.]. The Kinney Group now has the publishing companies of [l=Atlantic], [l=Elektra] and its own all under one umbrella.
[b]The Use of the prefix 'K' for cat# and/or Matrix starts (not of [l=Atlantic]).[/b]

[b]February 1972[/b] Kinney Services Inc. (formerly Kinney National Service Inc.) renamed to [l=Warner Communications Inc.].
Reflecting of the initials of the parent record companies, [l=Warner Bros. Records], [l=Elektra] and [l=Atlantic],
[b]Kinney Music International[/b] will be called [l=WEA International Inc.].
Similar name changes will be undertaken for all WEA’s subdiary companies.
[b]March 1972[/b] [l=Atlantic] becomes fully part of [l=Kinney Record Group Ltd.] after negotiating the agreements with [l=Polydor Records Limited].
[b]The Use of the prefix 'K' for cat# and/or Matrix start also for Atlantic.[/b]
[b]June 1972[/b] [l=Kinney Record Group Ltd.] ([l=Kinney Music Ltd.]) renamed to [l=WEA Records Ltd.] as part of [l=WEA International Inc.].

[b]June 1974[/b] The [l=Warner Communications] Company began employing the 1974-designed [a=Saul Bass] 'W' logo on releases (in the UK 1974 on covers; late 1975 on labels), later to become the umbrella brand identity for the [l=Warner Music Group]