Gramophone Company

Gramophone Company
source
Name	Gramophone Company
Type	Private
Industry	Music
Founded	1898
Founder	Emile Berliner
Defunct	1931
Fate	Merged with Columbia Graphophone Company
Location	London, England

Gramophone Company. The Gramophone Company was a pioneering British record label founded by Emile Berliner in 1898, with the support of Joseph Sanders and William Barry Owen. The company played a significant role in the development of the music industry, with notable contributions from Fred Gaisberg, who worked closely with Enrico Caruso, Fyodor Chaliapin, and Adelina Patti. The company's early success was fueled by its innovative approach to sound recording, which involved the use of shellac and the development of the gramophone by Alexander Graham Bell and Charles Sumner Tainter.

● History

The Gramophone Company was established in 1898, with its headquarters in London, England, and quickly expanded its operations to Paris, Berlin, and New York City. The company's early history was marked by a series of innovations, including the development of the gramophone and the introduction of the 78 rpm record. The company worked closely with Victor Talking Machine Company, which was founded by Eldridge R. Johnson, and Pathé Records, which was founded by Charles Pathé. The Gramophone Company also established a strong presence in India, where it worked with Gauhar Jaan and K.L. Saigal to produce Hindustani classical music recordings. The company's success was also influenced by its relationships with His Master's Voice and RCA Records.

● Products and Innovations

The Gramophone Company was at the forefront of innovation in the music industry, introducing a range of new products and technologies, including the electrical recording process developed by Western Electric and AT&T. The company also developed the LP record, which was introduced by Columbia Records in the 1940s. The Gramophone Company worked closely with Decca Records and EMI to develop new recording technologies, including the stereo and quadraphonic sound systems. The company's products were marketed through a range of retail stores, including Harrods and Selfridges, and were also distributed through mail-order catalogs.

● Notable Artists and Recordings

The Gramophone Company worked with a wide range of notable artists, including Enrico Caruso, Fyodor Chaliapin, and Adelina Patti. The company also recorded Johannes Brahms, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Sergei Rachmaninoff, among others. The company's catalog included recordings by Dame Nellie Melba, Luisa Tetrazzini, and John McCormack, as well as opera performances by La Scala and The Metropolitan Opera. The company also recorded jazz and blues music, working with artists such as Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith. The Gramophone Company's recordings were often produced in collaboration with BBC and Deutsche Grammophon.

● Merger and Legacy

In 1931, the Gramophone Company merged with the Columbia Graphophone Company to form EMI, which went on to become one of the largest and most influential record labels in the world. The merger brought together the Gramophone Company's His Master's Voice label with Columbia's Columbia Records label, creating a powerful new entity that dominated the music industry for decades. The Gramophone Company's legacy can be seen in the work of EMI, which continued to innovate and expand the company's catalog, working with artists such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Queen. The company's influence can also be seen in the work of Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment.

● Operations and Subsidiaries

The Gramophone Company operated a range of subsidiaries and divisions, including His Master's Voice, Columbia Graphophone Company, and Parlophone. The company also established a number of international operations, including Gramophone Company of India and Gramophone Company of Australia. The company's operations were supported by a range of manufacturing facilities, including those in Hayes, Hillingdon and Blyth, Northumberland. The Gramophone Company also worked closely with retail stores and distributors, including WHSmith and HMV Group, to market and distribute its products. The company's subsidiaries and divisions included Angel Records, Capitol Records, and Virgin Records.

Category:Music companies of the United Kingdom