Universal Ponder Parlophone Sale

Queen's label may be sacrificed to make way for EMI purchase

Published 30th Jul 2012

Rolling Stone reports that the Universal Music Group is considering the sale of the iconic Parlophone label - home to bands such as Queen, Blur and Coldplay - as it tries to convince regulatory bodies that their purchase of EMI is legal.

Parlophone has been around since the latter couple of years of the 19th century and it originally sold gramophones. It was purchased in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company, who became EMI just a couple of years later.

It has since been the home to artists such as The Beatles, Deep Purple, Queen, Radiohead and many more.

If the Parlophone sale does happen, Universal is likely to retain the rights to the Beatles catalogue.

(Rolling Stone)