Polydor Records
On the 2nd of April 1913, German Polyphon-Musikwerke AG founded Polydor Records in Leipzig. The label began as a mechanical music box manufacturer called Firma Brachhausen & Riesener in 1887. Gustav Adolf Brachhausen and Ernst Paul Riessner created this company to produce their new disc-playing music box named Polyphon. This invention had been invented back in 1870 by the same founders. During World War I on the 24th of April 1917, Polyphon-Musikwerke AG acquired the German Deutsche Grammophon-Aktiengesellschaft record plant from the government. The German state had taken over British-held Grammophon as enemy property during that conflict. Polydor started as an independent branch of the Polyphon-Grammophon-Konzern group. It served as an export label starting in 1924. New foreign branches appeared in Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and France. In 1941, Siemens & Halske purchased Deutsche Grammophon including Polydor. Polydor became a popular music label in 1946 while Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft focused on classical music in 1949. DGG established a subsidiary in London called Polydor Records Ltd. in 1954.
Siemens entered into a joint venture with Philips in 1962 creating the Grammophon-Philips Group. Polydor became a subsidiary label under this new entity. Throughout the late 1960s, Polydor released albums by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Bee Gees, and Eric Clapton. In 1972, the Grammophon-Philips Group reorganized to create PolyGram from Polydor and PhonoGram. The Polydor label continued running as a subsidiary under the new company. By the early 1990s, Polydor had begun to underperform significantly. PolyGram subsequently trimmed most of Polydor's staff and roster during that period. They shifted it to operate under the umbrella of PolyGram Label Group (PLG). This was a newly constructed super label designed to oversee lesser performing imprints like Island Records, London Records, Atlas Records, and Verve Records. In 1994, as Island Records recovered from its sales slump, PolyGram dissolved most of PLG into it. Meanwhile, Polydor Records and Atlas Records merged briefly called Polydor/Atlas before becoming simply Polydor Records again in 1995. During the merger of these two music powerhouses in 1998, Polydor's operations in the United States were assimilated into the Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.
Polydor opened a US branch in 1969 after licensing their catalogue to Atlantic Records for years prior. It did not become a real presence in the US record industry until purchasing James Brown's recording contract and back catalogue in 1971. The absorption of MGM Records by parent company PolyGram happened in 1972. In 1970, Polydor acquired Hong Kong-based Diamond Records founded by Portuguese merchant Ren da Silva in the late 1950s. Polydor Records initially launched in Japan in 1926 as Nippon Polydor. During World War II, the company rebranded multiple times changing names several times. In 1952, Polydor Chikuonki rebranded as Japan Polydor K.K. later becoming Nippon Grammophon K.K. In 1972, the company became a subsidiary of PolyGram as part of its global expansion strategy. In December 2022, Universal Japan reorganized Universal J splitting it into two record labels UJ and Polydor Records. Polydor Records began operations as a division of Universal Japan on the 1st of January 2023. Today Polydor remains one of the most prominent labels in the UK with artists like Take That, Cheryl, Duffy, Girls Aloud, S Club, and Ellie Goulding.
In the early 1960s orchestra leader Bert Kaempfert signed unknowns Tony Sheridan and The Beatles credited as The Beat Brothers to Polydor. Popular international entertainers such as James Last, Bert Kaempfert, Kurt Edelhagen, Caterina Valente, and the Kessler Twins appeared on the label. Throughout the late 1960s Polydor released albums by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Bee Gees, and Eric Clapton. A&R manager Frank Neilson scored a major top ten hit in March 1981 for the label with Do the Hucklebuck by Coast to Coast. He also signed Ian Dury and Billy Fury to the company. Jerry Jaffe served as Polydor/PolyGram Senior VP who originally headed their new rock department. He signed acts including Motörhead, Dexys Midnight Runners, and the Jam during his tenure. In 2006 Polydor launched Fascination Records dedicated to pop music where both Girls Aloud and Sophie Ellis-Bextor transferred. Several pop acts from US label Hollywood Records like Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, and Selena Gomez & the Scene were also signed to Fascination.
Polydor operates as part of Universal Music Group with a close relationship to Interscope Geffen A&M Records. This label distributes Polydor's releases in the United States while Polydor distributes Interscope releases in the United Kingdom. In 1972 the British Polydor Records Ltd. was renamed to Polydor Ltd. Between the 1970s and 1980s the main source of income came from successful UK band Slade along with New Seekers and The Who. In 2006 Polydor launched Fascination Records a music label dedicated to pop music. Both Girls Aloud and Sophie Ellis-Bextor transferred to this new label creating groups such as the Saturdays and Girls Can't Catch. In 2008 A&M Records UK was founded as an imprint of Polydor UK. That same year Polydor obtained distribution of the Rolling Stones' back catalogue as well as new releases. With the establishment of A&M Records UK its Canadian division became separate for the first time since Universal Music Group formed. Polydor joined UMG's Interscope Capitol Labels Group in 2024. Today Polydor along with EMI Records in the UK and Australia distribute Lost Highway Records albums in Commonwealth realms.
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Common questions
When was Polydor Records founded and by whom?
Polydor Records was founded on the 2nd of April 1913 by German Polyphon-Musikwerke AG in Leipzig. The label originated from Firma Brachhausen & Riesener which began as a mechanical music box manufacturer in 1887.
What major companies acquired ownership of Polydor Records during the 20th century?
Siemens & Halske purchased Deutsche Grammophon including Polydor in 1941. Siemens later formed a joint venture with Philips in 1962 creating the Grammophon-Philips Group which became the parent entity for Polydor.
Which famous artists released albums through Polydor Records in the late 1960s?
Polydor released albums by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Bee Gees, and Eric Clapton throughout the late 1960s. These acts established the label as a popular music brand after World War II.
How did Polydor Records expand its operations into international markets like Japan and the United States?
Polydor Records initially launched in Japan in 1926 as Nippon Polydor before rebranding multiple times during World War II. The label opened a US branch in 1969 but gained real presence only after purchasing James Brown's recording contract and back catalogue in 1971.
When was Fascination Records launched and what type of music does it focus on?
Polydor launched Fascination Records in 2006 dedicated to pop music where both Girls Aloud and Sophie Ellis-Bextor transferred. This new label also signed several pop acts from US label Hollywood Records including Demi Lovato and Jonas Brothers.