Britannia Music Club

Defunct British mail-order company

Britannia Music Club (1969–2007) was a British mail-order company owned by PolyGram which sponsored the Brit Awards. The company was acquired by Universal Pictures as part of PolyGram in 1998, and closed in 2007.[1][2]

The direct marketing format was to offer an unbeatable discounted offer from PolyGram's catalogue, such as an offer of four albums for £1 each - or Solti's recording of Wagner's Ring for the Britannia Classical Club - which then required the member to buy six CDs in the first year and three in the second year at full price. Together with bonus offers. The company also engaged in on-line sales from 1998 to 2007.[3][4][5]

The club is mentioned in the song "Uffington Wassail" on the 2000 album Trouble over Bridgwater by Half Man Half Biscuit.

## References

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1. ^ Billboard - 23 Dec 2000 - Page 64 Vol. 112, n° 52 - Magazine "Mark Williamson, marketing director of Britannia Music, which sponsored the Brit Awards for 10 years, says, "I think 'Record Of The Year' "
2. ^ Billboard - 4 nov. 1995 - Page 67 Vol. 107, n° 44 - Magazine "PolyGram-owned mail-order company Britannia Music Club is in the "final stages" of negotiations with the BPI, which organizes the Brit Awards, to renew its sponsorship of the event, according to Britannia chairman John Nelligan. Britannia "
3. ^ Mobilizing the Information Society Page 193 Robin Mansell, William Edward Steinmueller - 2000 "The Britannia Music Club entered the on-line market in early 1998 although its Marketing Director believed that there would be few advantages in being an early"
4. ^ Billboard - 23 jan. 1999 - Page 103 Vol. 111, n° 4 "Among other changes in the U.K.: • Sales forces will be combined, although not necessarily as one team; • PolyGram's distribution will be reorganized to take on Universal's catalog; • Direct-mail operator Britannia Music will not be affected; ..."
5. ^ Billboard - 25 Dec 1999 - 1 janv. 2000 - Page 90 "In the year ending in June, both companies are said to have had combined sales of $460 million and an operating profit of $50 million. Sales of $480 million are forecast for the year to June 2000. Britannia, launched in 1969 by Poly Gram, has ..."