Research into record labels: EMI

EMI (Electrical and Musical Industries) were formed by Columbia Graphophone company in 1931. It led to forty years of successful electrical engineering with a man called Alan Blumlein creating research into stereo sound recording. After World war 2 EMI employed analogue computers for broadcasting and providing the first transmitter for the BBC.

It also opened up the recording studios in London on Abbey Road with loads of artists firstly coming along to test their pieces of music. In 1990 EMI lost their rights for Columbia to Sony Cooperation of Japan. EMI also bought virgin records from Richard Branson in one of the highest deals ever made.

In 2000, EMI and stream-waves made a deal for EMI to have their songs digital format for users to stream on the internet, this was the first time EMI have ever streamed their music online.

Robbie Williams signed a 6 year deal from 2002 to 2008 being paid £80 million which became the second biggest music contract of all time after Michael Jackson.

Apple launched a suit against EMI for not paying their music rights when advertising their music on Apple itself, being sued roughly £50 million.

In 2007 EMI announced it would launch their music on DRM free formats which will roughly be £1.29 per track sold.

Then in 2009 EMI attempted to by Warner music group but failed to buy them out.