Index: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Home > Polydor
Polydor is a record label, originally an independent label of Deutsche Grammophon, later part of PolyGram and finally one of the many labels of Universal Music Group. Artists signed to Polydor include the Bee Gees, ABBA, Cole Porter, Plácido Domingo and Julio Iglesias.1 Timeline
- 1898
- Siemens founds Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft
- 1924
- Polydor Records established as the second label for Deutsche Grammophon abroad.
- 1950
- Netherlands-based Phillips Electronics creates Philips Phonographische Industries (PPI).
- 1960
- Phillips acquires Mercury Records.
- 1962
- Philips and Siemens establish a record company joint venture with Philips gaining 50% of Deutsche Grammophon and Siemens gaining 50% of PPI.
- 1972
- Phillips and Siemens subsidiaries reorganize as PolyGram. PolyGram acquires Verve Records.
- 1980
- PolyGram acquires the Decca Records.
- 1987
- PolyGram becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Phillips.
- 1989
- PolyGram acquires Island RecordsIsland Records is a record label that was founded in Jamaica in 1959 by Chris Blackwell. Initially focused on Jamaican music, Island Records branched out, and became one of the more important record labels of the 1980s. Their distinctive palm tree logo ha.
- 1990
- PolyGram acquires A&M RecordsA&M Records is a record label formed in 1962 by Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert. It began its life as Carnival Records in 1961, but after problems with an existing record label of that name, Alpert and Moss changed the name to "A&M. A&M releases were issued in.
- 1993
- PolyGram acquires Motown Records.
- 1994
- PolyGram acquires 50% of Def JamDef Jam is a hip-hop record label founded by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. It was merged by owner Universal Music with Island Records to form Island Def Jam Records. Successes include rap groups Run DMC Public Enemy Beastie Boys Ja Rule DMX Method Man R.
- 1995
- PolyGram acquires Rodven RecordsRodven Records was acquired by Polygram in 1995. See also List of record labels Record labels..
- 1996
- PolyGram acquires an additional 10% of Def Jam.
- 1998
- SeagramThe Seagram Company Ltd. was a large corporation headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was the world's largest producer of distilled alcoholic beverages, and towards the end of its independent existence also controlled various entertainment and ot acquires PolyGram, merging it with its own Universal Music Group, which owned or controlled MCA Records, Leeds Music , Duchess Music , ABC Records, Chess Records, Geffen Records, GRP Records, Universal Records, Hip-O Records and Interscope Records.
- 1999
- Universal Music Group acquires the rest of Def Jam.
- 2000
- Universal Music Group acquires Rondor Music .
- 2001
- Universal Music Group launches a new record label, Universal South Records in Nashville.
The Universal Music Group labels include: Barclay Records , DreamWorks Records , Interscope Records, Geffen Records, A&M Records, Island Records, Def Jam Records, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville Records, Mercury Records, Mercury Nashville Records , Motor Music Records , Polydor Records, Universal Records, Motown Records, Universal Classics Group (which includes Decca Records, Deutsche Grammophon, Philips and ECM) and Verve Music Group.
Read more »