Parlophone - Definition and Overview

Parlophone is a record label which was founded in Germany prior to World War I by the Carl Lindstrom Company. The "£" trademark is not the British pound sign, it's a German "L" for Lindstrom. During the war, the Transoceanic Trading Company was set up in the Netherlands to look after its overseas assets. In the 1920s, Parlophone had a master leasing arrangement with United States based Okeh Records. In 1927, Columbia Graphophone of the United Kingdom acquired a controlling interest in the Carl Lindstrom Company and thereby in Parlophone. In 1931, Columbia merged with The Gramophone Company to form EMI.

Under EMI, Parlophone was originally mainly a novelty/comedy label until 1962, when The Beatles signed for the label. They made it one of the world's most famous record labels in the world. Others artists on the label have included Radiohead, Coldplay, Queen, Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, and The Hollies. Blur, Jesus Jones and Dubstar from Food Records are also distributed through Parlophone

See also

• List of record labels