EMI Ltd.

[b]This is a company, not a label.[/b] Major British based multinational conglomerate, operating from 1st Jan 1971. (Formerly known / incorporated as [b](EMI)[/b] on the 20th April 1931). [b]EMI Ltd. (often simply referred to as EMI.) is represented on releases by it's corporate trademark "boxed EMI logo" mostly alongside primary branded labels such as His Master's Voice, Columbia or Parlophone etc, this branding simply indicates that it was released by one of its subsidiary company's or their labels, which formed part of its record division. For the label which was launched in 1973 please use [/b]

Also refered to as: EMI Limited / EMI Limited, England
[b]Please also do not confuse with [/b]

Principal activities through its worldwide subsidiary companies and divisions - included the manufacture and sale of records and tapes, sound recording, music publishing, film production and distribution, retail, medical, industrial and military defence electronics, domestic electronics, cinemas, bingo halls, hotels & restaurants. Via its (CRL) based at the Hayes complex, various types of research and development was carried out on behalf of its individual operating companies, including work undertaken on behalf of government departments, public corporations and other outside bodies. Pioneering research included - recording systems and lacquers, digitising, silicon technology, data handling, medical X-ray scanners, missile & radar systems.


Throughout the 1970s EMI Ltd. primarily operated as 2 main divisions - a records division and an electronics division. These 2 principal divisions formed the backbone of what was generically known as the EMI Group. [b](Not to be confused with , which was a successor company formed in 1996 and purely operating within the music / entertainment industry).[/b]

Its international record division , was headed by (the immediate registered owner of the various trademarks (labels), His Masters Voice, Angel, Angel Records, Columbia, Regal, Zonophone (Regal Zonophone), Parlophone, Odeon, Stateside, Harvest, etc) in the UK up until 1973, proceeded by renamed company who continued this role, including being reassigned direct ownership of the various music related trademark rights. North America operations were headed by (immediate parent of ) up until 1974, succeeded by renamed company

Acquisitions relating to the recorded music / publishing division of the business:
- In 1972 acquired Affiliated Music Publishers Ltd. from for $8.75M, a UK based holding company initially established in 1957 for the purpose of worldwide exploitation and exchange of copyrights by the "Big 3", Robbins, Feist, Miller, the US based partnership of publishing firms and the UK based Francis, Day & Hunter Group, companies held within this holding company included - , , , , , . Following this acquisition its other publishing companies and the "K.P.M. Music Publishing Group", which included - , , , , , were brought under the umbrella of this newly acquired company, on the 7th Dec 1974 Affiliated Music Publishers Ltd. is renamed

- In July 1974 acquired 50% holding in the US based record company

- On the 30th July 1976 its newly incorporated wholly owned subsidiaries in the USA - & acquired the music publishing division of , which included the operating assets (catalogues) of and for $23M, and certain other interests outside the US, including UK, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy & Australia.

In July 1978 the record division is reorganised and restructured, the worldwide companies that formed part of its music operations are unified under its newly established division , which initially consisted of 2 operational arms - "EMI Music Europe & International" headquartered in London, headed by , covering all interests outside North America, "EMI Music Worldwide" based in Hollywood, headed by its principal US subsidiary (later ) covering the music groups interests in North America.

As of 1978 the company was employing 51000 people worldwide and operating over 80 principal subsidiaries, 30 UK based companies of which 15 were music / entertainment related and formed part of EMI Music, the other 15 primarily formed part of its electronics division. Overseas operations consisted of over 50 wholly owned / majority owned principal subsidiaries in 30 countries. (not including various local subsidiaries and joint partnerships.)

Principal subsidiary (holding) companies that formed part of the recorded / entertainment / publishing / retail operations as of 1978 included:
- [b]UK[/b] - , , , [b]Austria[/b] - - [b]Belgium[/b] - - [b]Denmark[/b] - - [b]Finland[/b] - - [b]Ireland[/b] - - [b]France[/b] - - [b]Germany[/b] - - [b]Greece[/b] - , - [b]Netherlands[/b] - - [b]Italy[/b] - - [b]Switzerland[/b] - - [b]Spain[/b] - - [b]Sweden[/b] - - [b]Norway[/b] - - [b]Nigeria[/b] - , (25% - formerly wholly owned) - [b]South Africa[/b] - - [b]Kenya[/b] - - [b]Australia[/b] - - [b]New Zealand[/b] - - [b]USA[/b] , , , , - [b]Canada[/b] - - [b]Mexico[/b] - - [b]Singapore[/b] - - [b]Hong Kong[/b] - - [b]Thailand[/b] - - [b][Malaysia[/b] - - [b]Pakistan[/b] - - [b]India[/b] - (40%) - [b]Argentina[/b] - - [b]Brazil[/b] - - [b]Chile[/b] - - [b]Japan[/b] - (50%)

On the 13th Nov 1979 EMI Ltd. is acquired by Thorn Electrical Industries Ltd. forming one of the UKs largest conglomerates of its time Ltd. (later Plc as of 1981)., which becomes the ultimate parent. Following the merger the non music related companies that formed part of EMI Ltd., specifically the companies that formed part of its electronics division were amalgamated with Thorn Electrical Industries Ltd. business's under the divisional name "Thorn"., with the medical electronics business's, its substantial hotels and restaurant division being disposed of. EMI Ltd. however remained the principal (holding) company behind the "EMI Music" division.

As of 1995 Thorn EMI Plc was operating as 3 principal divisions Thorn (electronics), EMI Music & Group, in 1996 the conglomerate was demerged and renamed , with EMI Music & HMV Group divisions staying with this newly established (holding) company, thus EMI Ltd. becoming an immediate principal subsidiary (holding company) of EMI Group Plc.

In Sept 2012 immediate parent (formerly EMI Group Plc.) is acquired by Vivendi S.A. (The owner of the various independent companies that form part of the Universal Music Group), EMI Ltd. remained the immediate parent of EMI Music Publishing Ltd. up until 29th June 2012, and EMI Records Ltd. up until 20th Dec 2012 when it was sold (divested) to form PLG Holdco Ltd. (Parlophone Label Group) and subsequently acquired by Warner Music Group, Inc. Two other wholly owned subsidiaries Abbey Road Studios Ltd. and EMI Nominees Ltd. were transferred in 2013.

On 25 April 2017 the Bolloré Group became the ultimate parent.
As of 2022 EMI Ltd. is still controlled by EMI Group Ltd., through a complex corporate structure. The immediate parent is Virgin Records Limited (UK Company number 01070953).

Full legal entity name: EMI Limited
UK Company number: 00053317
Status: Active (dormant)

[b]Note[/b]
EMI Ltd.'s corporate trademark, the boxed EMI logo, was commonly placed on releases alongside primary branded labels such as - , , , , , , , , , , , , , EMI (the label), the logo simply indicates it was released by one of its operating companies (subsidiaries) who were the direct registered trademark owners of these primary labels / brands.