PolyGram

German-Dutch global record label (1962–1999)

This article is about the former record company. For the defunct film production company bearing this title whose assets now belong to Universal Pictures, see PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. For Universal Music Group's current production company, see PolyGram Entertainment. For the geometrical figure, see Polygram (geometry).

PolyGram

Company type| Subsidiary
Industry|

* Music
* Film
* Entertainment

Predecessor|

* Hollandsche Decca Distributie
(as subsidiary of Decca)
* Philips Phonografische Industrie
(as subsidiary of Philips)

Founded|

* 1962; 62 years ago (1962) (original; as Grammophon-Philips Group), a joint venture of Philips and Siemens
* 2017; 7 years ago (2017) (relaunch as PolyGram Entertainment)

Founder| Polydor
Deutsche Grammophon
Defunct| 1999; 25 years ago (1999) (original)
Fate| Sold to Seagram and folded into Universal Music Group. Label still used by UMG's PolyGram Entertainment and for some of its label divisions in certain regions.
1996–1999 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment catalog currently owned by Universal Pictures.
(part of Comcast)
Pre-1996 PolyGram Filmed Entertainment catalog currently owned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
(part of Amazon)
Successor|

* Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
(Amazon MGM Studios/Amazon)
* Universal Music Group
* Universal Pictures
(NBCUniversal/Comcast)

Headquarters|

Baarn

Netherlands

Parent|

* Siemens (50%, 1962–1988, original)
Philips (original)
* Universal Music Group (relaunch)

PolyGram N.V. was a multinational major music record label and entertainment company formerly based in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1962 as the Grammophon-Philips Group by Dutch corporation Philips and German corporation Siemens, to be a holding for their record companies, and was renamed "PolyGram" in 1972. The name was chosen to reflect the Siemens interest Polydor Records and the Philips interest Phonogram Records.[citation needed] The company traced its origins through Deutsche Grammophon back to the inventor of the flat disc gramophone, Emil Berliner.

Later on, PolyGram expanded into the largest global entertainment company, creating film and television divisions. In May 1998, it was sold to the alcoholic distiller Seagram which owned film, television and music company Universal Studios. PolyGram was thereby folded into Universal Music Group, and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment was folded into Universal Pictures, which had been both Seagram successors of MCA Inc. When the newly formed entertainment division of Seagram faced financial difficulties, it was sold to Vivendi, and MCA became known as Universal Studios, as Seagram ceased to exist. Vivendi remains the majority owner of the Universal Music Group (while the film and television division was sold to NBCUniversal) until 2021. In February 2017, UMG revived the company under the name of PolyGram Entertainment, which currently serves as their film and television division.

## History

[edit]

### Hollandsche Decca Distributie (HDD), 1929–1950

[edit]

In 1929, Decca Records (London) licensed record shop owner H.W. Van Zoelen as a distributor in the Netherlands. By 1931, his company Hollandsche Decca Distributie (HDD) had become exclusive Decca distributor for all of the Netherlands and its colonies.[1] Over the course of the 1930s, HDD put together its own facilities for A&R, recording, and manufacturing.

HDD was commercially successful during World War II because of the absence of American and British competition. Van Zoelen wanted to sell to Philips so that HDD would have sufficient financial backing when their major competitors returned after the war. This led Philips to purchase HDD in 1942.[1]

In the mid 20th century, the majority of large recording companies manufactured both gramophones and records; Philips CEO Anton Philips noted the risk in creating gramophones without an interest in music recording and record manufacture, and that Radio Corporation of America (RCA) had merged with the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1929[2] for this reason. Philips' labs were developing magnetic tape and LPs, and they could support eventual new formats, although other record companies were notably unenthusiastic about experimenting with new formats.

After the war, Philips built a large factory in Doetinchem to produce 78 rpm records. Recording took place in Hilversum, whereas development took place in Eindhoven.[citation needed]

### Philips Phonografische Industrie (PPI), 1950–1962

[edit]

In the 1940s, the record business was spread out within Philips: research in the Eindhoven labs, development elsewhere in Eindhoven, recording in Hilversum, manufacturing in Doetinchem, distribution from Amsterdam, and exports from Eindhoven. During the late 1940s, Philips combined its various music businesses into Philips Phonografische Industrie (PPI), a wholly owned subsidiary.

PPI's early growth was based on alliances. A merger was first proposed with Decca of London in late 1945, but was rejected by Edward Lewis, Decca's owner. (PolyGram finally acquired Decca in 1980.)

In the early 1950s, Philips set itself the goal of making PPI the largest record company in Europe.

PPI's second attempt at a merger was with Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft (DGG). DGG, owned by Siemens AG, and well known for its classical repertoire, had been the German licensee for Decca from 1935. DGG also owned Polydor Records. Shortly after PPI was founded it had made a formal alliance with DGG to manufacture each other's records, coordinate releases, and refrain from poaching each other's artists or bidding against each other for new talent. PPI and DGG finally merged in 1962.

The alliance with DGG still left PPI without repertoire in Britain or the United States. But in 1951, after Columbia had failed to renew its international distribution agreement with EMI, PPI agreed to distribute Columbia recordings outside the United States. Columbia became PPI's distributor within the US. This agreement ran until 1961 when Columbia set up its own European network. PPI signed a worldwide distribution deal with Mercury Records in 1961. PPI's parent company Philips, through its U.S. affiliate Consolidated Electronics Industries Corp (a.k.a. Conelco), acquired Mercury in 1962.

PPI built or bought factories in smaller countries. In 1962, PPI had a large factory in Baarn and factories in France, Britain, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Italy, Egypt, Nigeria, and Brazil.

PPI played an important role in the introduction of the long-playing vinyl record to Europe. Columbia introduced their LP record in 1948, and Philips presented its first LP at a record retailers' convention in 1949. Philips' commitment to LP technology was an important factor in its 1951–1961 deal with Columbia.[3]

### GPG and PolyGram, 1962–1980

[edit]

In 1962, PPI and DGG formed the Grammophon-Philips Group (GPG) as a joint-venture holding company, with Philips taking a 50% share in DGG and Siemens a 50% share in PPI. In 1971, the UK record labels of Philips, Fontana, Mercury, and Vertigo were amalgamated into a new company called Phonogram, Ltd. In 1972, Grammophon-Philips Group reorganized all its operations and was renamed The PolyGram Group (in some countries, like Argentina, its name was Phonogram), of which Philips and Siemens each owned 50%. In 1977, both organizations merged operationally, integrating the recording, manufacturing, distribution and marketing into a single organization.

The various record labels within PolyGram continued to operate separately. PolyGram gave its labels, as A&R organizations, great autonomy.

After the merger, PolyGram began to move into the US and UK markets, and did so by a process of both formation and acquisition: Polydor Records established its American operations, Polydor Incorporated in 1969, Mercury Record Productions (US) was acquired in 1972 from sister company North American Philips Corp., and became Phonogram, Inc. MGM Records and Verve (US) were acquired in 1972. Subsequent PolyGram acquisitions included those of RSO (UK) in 1975, a 50% stake in Casablanca (US) in 1977 (with the remaining 50% in 1980), Pickwick in 1978, and Decca (UK) in 1980 (the latter acquisition basically brought PolyGram full circle, see the HDD section above). PolyGram acquired United Distribution Corporation (UDC) in 1973, and changed its name to Phonodisc, Inc., and signed international distribution deals with MCA and 20th Century Records in 1976.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Philips had been at work on a new consumer magnetic tape format for music. The Philips Compact Cassette was introduced in 1963. It was small and could play longer than an LP. In 1965 the cassette accounted for 3% of revenues, growing in 1968 to 8% and in 1970 to 10.6%.

In the late 1960s, and through the 1970s, GPG/PolyGram diversified into film and television production and home video. RSO's successes included Saturday Night Fever and Grease. PolyGram's highly successful marketing during the disco craze included the Casablanca FilmWorks production Thank God It's Friday (1978) and its associated soundtrack. During the boom in disco, PolyGram's US market share had grown from 5% to 20%. This can also be attributed to multi-million selling albums and 45s by the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, the Village People, Andy Gibb, Kool & the Gang, and rock band Kiss. For a short while in the late 1970s, it was the world's largest record company.[4]

In 1969, PolyGram established a direct mail-order business in the UK, Britannia Music Club, which ran till 2007.[5]

### Reorganization, 1980–1999

[edit]

Before 1978, PolyGram was losing money. When US operations were running at full capacity, PolyGram expanded aggressively, and would press large quantities of records without knowing the demand. In late 1979, PolyGram was caught off guard by the sudden end of the popularity of disco music, leaving it with an underutilized distribution network, profligate labels, and over optimistic product orders. PolyGram's Casablanca label was known for management spending on lavish industry parties and luxury cars. After 1980, PolyGram's losses had spiraled upwards of US$220 million.

Another contributing factor to PolyGram's financial woes was the massive failure of the big budget musical Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band (1978). The film starred the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton at the height of their popularity, and featured the Beatles covers by them as well as Aerosmith, Billy Preston, and Earth, Wind & Fire. The film was highly anticipated to surpass the box office success of both the Saturday Night Fever and Grease, mostly due to its popular music stars. The soundtrack LP, based on only advance orders, was released triple platinum.[citation needed] The movie was released to poor reviews and died at the box office. Despite its triple platinum start, the soundtrack LP's sales bombed after the film's release. In turn, record dealers flooded PolyGram with returned LPs. The resulting losses nearly wiped out the profits the company had made on both the Saturday Night Fever and Grease soundtracks. The company took further loses when the disco craze ended in 1979 and record sales for both the Bee Gees and Casablanca's Village People plummeted. PolyGram also experienced losses with the defection of Casablanca's Donna Summer to newly formed Geffen Records as well as the dropping of Andy Gibb, whose personal problems with cocaine and alcohol began to affect his recording career, from RSO. Summer and the Bee Gees also had legal disputes with their labels which further complicated matters. Summer ended her contract with PolyGram in 1980, and was awarded the rights to her songwriting catalog by the courts; she owed them one more album, and finished out her contract by recording her album She Works Hard For The Money (from which the title track was a huge hit in 1983).

In 1980, after PolyGram bought the other 50% of Casablanca Records and Filmworks, PolyGram renamed its existing Casablanca Records & Filmworks unit as PolyGram Pictures with Peter Guber becoming chairman of the company.[6] During the late 1980s and early 1990s, PolyGram continued to invest in a diversified film unit with the purchases of individual production companies.

In 1981, Philips executive Jan Timmer became a member of the Group Management of PolyGram and was appointed president and chief executive officer of newly formed parent company, PolyGram International Ltd. in 1983. He cut the workforce from 13,000 to 7,000, reduced PolyGram's LP and cassette plants from eighteen to five, and decreased the company's dependence on superstars by spreading the repertoire across different genres and nurturing national and regional talent. Also by 1983, PolyGram's U.S. roster of labels included:

* Polydor
* Mercury
* London
* London/FFRR
* Casablanca (until 1986, later to be reincarnated in 1994)
* RSO
* De-Lite
* Riva
* Threshold (owned by the Moody Blues)
* Total Experience (founded by Lonnie Simmons, from 1981 to 1984)
* Atlanta Artists (founded by Cameo lead singer Larry Blackmon)

...which were all consolidated into PolyGram Records, Inc. (now UMG Recordings, Inc.) In 1981, PolyGram launched domestic television syndication unit PolyGram Television (unrelated to the latter day incarnation that became Universal Worldwide Television in 1997), but it was soon folded after two years.[7]

Under its newly reorganized form, PolyGram decided to discontinue Philips as a pop and rock label in the UK and much of Europe, though it was still frequently issued records in France and South East Asia, where it issued many albums and singles by Chinese and Hong Kong pop artists. The majority of PolyGram's rock and pop music signings went to Mercury and Polydor. Philips became part of PolyGram Classics as a classical music label along with Decca Records and Deutsche Grammophon. By 1985, PolyGram had returned to profitability.

Wing Records was reincarnated in 1987 and became a very popular label over the following years, spawning the careers of Tony! Toni! Toné! and former Miss America, Vanessa Williams; the label was discontinued in the mid-1990s. Fontana was revived in the U.S. in 1989, but only for a short while. Today, Fontana Distribution is an independent label distribution unit of Universal Music Group. Vertigo Records still remained a rare U.S. PolyGram label, as most of its music was from Europe.

In April 1982, PolyGram assumed operational and managerial control of 20th Century Fox Records from its similarly named parent, which had just recently been bought out by oil magnate Marvin Davis, who was not interested in keeping the record company.[8] The assets of the former 20th Century Fox Records were fully acquired by the firm in July 1982,[9] and subsequently were consolidated with the Casablanca label.

After an attempted 1983 merger with Warner Elektra Atlantic failed, Philips bought 40% of PolyGram from Siemens, acquiring the remaining 10% in 1987.

In 1985, former CBS and Columbia executive Dick Asher was named president and CEO of PolyGram.[10] Asher was formerly the attorney for Don Kirshner's Aldon Music music publishing company.

The CD, invented by Philips and Sony, helped greatly in boosting the company's sales and market share. PolyGram's strength in classical music helped greatly, as many of the CD's early adopters were classical music lovers. Total US sales of CDs were $1 million in 1983, $334 million in 1990 and $943 million in 2000. Total UK sales were $300,000 in 1983, $51 million in 1990 and $202 million in 2000. The CD increased PolyGram's profit margin from 4-6% in the mid-1980s to 7-9% by the early 1990s. As well, videos were distributed by PolyGram Video.

In 1988, Philips acquired the remaining 50% of PolyGram from long-time partner Siemens and later in 1989, floated 16% of PolyGram on the Amsterdam stock exchange, valuing the whole company at $5.6 billion. PolyGram embarked on a new program of acquisitions, including A&M[11] and Island Records[12] in 1989, Swedish company Polar Music which held the rights to the ABBA catalogue, Motown and Def Jam in 1994 and Rodven (Venezuela) in 1995.

In 1990, after acquiring both Island and A&M, Alain Levy, (then) executive vice-president of PolyGram N.V., re-organized the U.S. operations of PolyGram Records, Inc. into a new expanded conglomerate: PolyGram Group Distribution, Inc. In addition to overseeing the sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution of music and video products created by PolyGram, PGD was also responsible for supervising a number of other divisions within PolyGram (U.S.) such as: PolyGram Music Group, PolyGram Video, PolyMedia, PolyGram Special Markets, PolyGram Merchandising, Independent Label Sales (ILS) and New Media & Business Development.

PolyGram and Granada TV formed a joint venture, Big Picture Productions, in 1990 as a music programing firm which, at Cannes in 1990, purchased exclusive international distribution rights to Brown Sugar (The two-hour special featured black female performers and was hosted by Billy Dee Williams) from the New York–based Gene David Group.[13]

In June 1991, Alain Levy was promoted to worldwide president and CEO of PolyGram N.V.

In 1993, PolyGram purchased the video arm of Virgin Group from General Electric Capital for $5.6 million and remodeled the label as Vision Video ltd.

In 1995, PolyGram purchased ITC Entertainment for $156 million.[14][15]

### Sale to Seagram and divestiture (1998–1999)

[edit]

In 1996, Cor Boonstra became CEO of Philips; by the time he took over, Philips was seen as a bloated company, laden with too many layers of management and unrelated companies that they could not leverage effectively. As a result, Boonstra began to sell or dispose of various non-core assets.[16] While Philips began to withdraw from other media activities, Boonstra denied that PolyGram was for sale.[17] However, by early 1998, he had changed his attitude, instead deciding to pursue a manufacturing-only business plan.[18] (In hindsight, analysts have pointed out how Philips ultimately benefitted from the manufacture and sale of blank CDs, which played a significant part in the music piracy that began to affect the industry in the early 2000s.)[19]

After weeks of speculation, on May 22, 1998, Philips announced that they would sell PolyGram to Seagram for $10 billion.[20] Some of the reasons cited for the deal were a lack of pop hits from the music side of the company, and an equal lack of box-office successes from the film side.[21] Alain Levy resigned as CEO of PolyGram on June 23 to prepare for the merger,[22] and the deal was closed on December 10, 1998, with PolyGram's operations folding into Universal Pictures and Universal Music Group.[23]

Seagram however, was only interested in PolyGram's music division, and in October 1998 they announced that they would begin divesting PolyGram's entertainment assets, while the remainder would be folded into Universal.[24] Prior to this announcement, the company announced the sale of their 75% stake in children's distributor Abbey Home Entertainment back to its original founders and the acquisition of Astrion plc.[25] On October 23, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer agreed to purchase PolyGram Filmed Entertainment's pre-April 1996 library for $250 million, which included over 1,300 films from various assets PolyGram had acquired within that point, but did not include the ITC Entertainment library, which was sold on January 19, 1999 to Carlton Communications for £91 million.[26][27] On April 8, 1999, USA Networks announced they would purchase PolyGram Filmed Entertainment's domestic division (including PolyGram Video's US & Canada operation), among other assets.[28] After the sale, the divisions were renamed USA Films and USA Home Entertainment respectively. The assets of Slash Records and London Records were sold to Warner Music Group. What remained of PolyGram was folded into both Universal Music Group and Universal Pictures.[29]

On February 10, 1999, Universal announced that they would pull out of their CIC Video and United International Pictures ventures with Paramount Pictures and rebrand PolyGram Filmed Entertainment's international division (including PolyGram Video's international operation) under the Universal name.[30]
Whilst the home video division rebranding was successful (with CIC rebranding under the Paramount umbrella toward the end of 1999[31][32]), the theatrical division rebranding would prove to be a failure, as films from the rebranded Universal Pictures International flopped at the box office, the company therefore announced in October 1999 that their operations would be downgraded to the home video market only and renewed their UIP deal with Paramount for five years, the remains of PolyGram's theatrical assets would then be folded into United International Pictures. Mickey Blue Eyes would become the last film distributed under the ex-PolyGram unit.[33]

The PolyGram name now survives via reissue of music under the Polydor Records label as well as a publishing arm of Universal Music Publishing Group. The Japanese branches of the PolyGram labels that were absorbed to form Universal Music Japan and were rebranded: Polydor remained until 2002, when it merged with the Universal label to form Universal J, Kitty Records and Mercury remained until 2000, when they merged and became the short-lived Kitty MME, which later in 2002, moved some artists to Universal J, and in 2004, Kitty MME became Universal Sigma.

## Notable labels

[edit]

* A&M Records (acquired in October 1989)
* Casablanca Records (fully acquired in 1980)
* Decca Records (British) (acquired in January 1980)
* Def Jam Recordings (acquired in June 1994)
* Deutsche Grammophon
* Fontana Records
* Island Records (acquired in August 1989)
* London Records
* Mercury Records
* Motown (distribution in September 1991 and acquired in August 1993)
* Philips Records
* Phonogram Inc.
* Polar Music (acquired in 1989)
* Polydor Records
* Slash Records
* Total Experience Records
* Vertigo Records

## See also

[edit]

* List of record labels
* Working Title Films
* PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
* Chocolate City Records

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Hardy, Phil (20 November 2012). Download! How The Internet Transformed The Record Business. Omnibus Press. pp. Chapter 4. ISBN 9780857128034. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
2. ^ Geisst, Charles R. (14 May 2014). "Radio Industry". Encyclopedia of American Business History. p. 352\. ISBN 9781438109879. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
3. ^ Bakker, p.17. "Philips' commitment to the LP technology was an important factor for Columbia's willingness to enter the long-term alliance with PPI in 1950. "
4. ^ Bakker, p.26. "During the disco-boom, Polygram's US market share had jumped from five to twenty percent. For a few years, it was the world's largest record company."
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 ..."
6. ^ "PolyGram Insures Home Video Base" (PDF). Billboard. 1980-03-29. p. 9.
7. ^ "PolyGram to fold" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1983-05-09. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
8. ^ "PolyGram, 20th Tie Seen As Foundation For Buyout" (PDF). Billboard. 1982-04-10. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
9. ^ "PolyGram Firms 20th Ownership" (PDF). Billboard. 1982-07-24. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
10. ^ "BUSINESS PEOPLE; Polygram Records Names President". The New York Times. 1985-10-18. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
11. ^ "PolyGram buys A&M Records for $500 million". Los Angeles Times. 1989-09-15. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
12. ^ Knoedelseder, Jr., William K. (1989-07-28). "Polygram Will Buy Island Records for About $300 Million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
13. ^ "Worldwide deal doings at Cannes" (PDF). Broadcasting: 39. April 30, 1990. ISSN 0007-2028. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
14. ^ PolyGram filmed entertainment acquires ITC Entertainment Group. Business Wire January 10, 1995.
15. ^ PolyGram buys Itc for $156m. The Times, Wednesday, January 11, 1995; pg. 25
16. ^ "CAN HE FIX PHILIPS? HECK, CAN ANYONE? NEW CEO COR BOONSTRA IS AN OUTSIDER WHO TALKS A GOOD TURNAROUND GAME FOR THE ELECTRONICS GIANT--BUT MAY HAVE TO MOVE FASTER. - March 31, 1997". money.cnn.com. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
17. ^ Staff, Variety (1997-07-22). "Philips quitting media biz, except for Polygram stake". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
18. ^ Week, Marketing (1998-06-11). "Why Phillips must sharpen up its act". Marketing Week. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
19. ^ McCullen, Aidan (2023-10-27). "Killing Your Business While It's Still Working: That (Kodak) Moment". The Innovation Show. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
20. ^ "Seagram buys PolyGram from Philips for $10.6bn". The Independent. 22 May 1998.
21. ^ Eller, Claudia; Philips, Chuck (1998-05-07). "Philips Puts PolyGram Empire Up for Sale". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
22. ^ "Chief Executive at Polygram Resigns". The New York Times. 23 June 1998. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
23. ^ "Seagram absorbs Polygram, creates world's largest music company". 11 December 1998.
24. ^ Eller, Claudia (October 9, 1998). "Seagram May Settle for Sale of Film Library". Los Angeles Times.
25. ^ "P'Gram Video Making Moves In U.K. Market". 18 July 1998.
26. ^ "MGM Agrees to Acquire PolyGram Movie Library". 23 October 1998 - via LA Times.
27. ^ "Thunderbirds are going, going, gone". BBC News. 1999-01-19. Retrieved 2013-06-22.
28. ^ "USA Will Buy Some Seagram Film Assets". 8 April 1999 - via LA Times.
29. ^ "Universal Music shake-up." The Times, Friday, January 15, 1999
30. ^ Carver, Benedict; Dawtrey, Adam (1999-02-10). "U to start int'l distrib". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
31. ^ "Paramount to retain CIC Video operations". Screen Digest. 1 March 1999. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018. (Partial rendition of story contained in HighBeam Research archive)
32. ^ Groves, Don (24 January 2000). "CIC Video builds new identity after split". Variety. Vol. 377, no. 10\. p. 24. Retrieved 6 April 2018 - via General OneFile.
33. ^ Petrikin, Chris (1999-10-15). "U, Par extend UIP pact". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-09.

## Sources

[edit]

* Bakker, Gerben. "The Making of a Music Multinational: The International Strategy of PolyGram, 1945-1988." Business History Review 80:1 (Spring 2006), pp. 81–123. (preprint)

## External links

[edit]

* Official Website

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* LG.Philips Displays
* LG.Philips LCD
* Marantz
* Navteq
* NEC Philips Unified Systems
* Philips Consumer Communications
* TP Vision
* TSMC
* SSMC
* Lumileds

Brands, products
and standards|

| Current|

* Ambilight
* Hue
* Norelco
* Philips Cinema 21:9 TV
* Philips GoGear
* Philips Intimate Massager
* Senseo
* ShoqBox
* Sonicare
* Streamium
* Trimension
* Video Content Protection System

|

Defunct|

* Philips Videopac
* Video 2000
* P2000
* VG5000μ
* VG-8000/8010
* VG-8020
* Philips :YES
* Philips VideoWriter
* VG-8230
* VG-8235
* NMS 8220
* NMS 8245
* NMS 8250/8255
* NMS 8280
* Philips CD-i
* Philips Velo
* Philips Nino
* Philishave
* SpeechMagic

People|

* Cor Boonstra
* Frans van Houten
* Anton Philips
* Gerard Philips
* Frits Philips

Places|

* Evoluon
* High Tech Campus Eindhoven
* Philips Arena
* Philips Stadion

Related topics|

* Carousel
* HDMI Licensing
* Philips Lecture
* Philips Sports Manager of the Year
* Phoebus cartel
* Philips Computers

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Siemens

Divisions and
subsidiaries|

| Current|

* Digital Industries
* Siemens Digital Industries Software
* Smart Infrastructure
* Siemens Building Technologies
* Siemens Mobility
* Siemens Financial Services
* Siemens Healthineers
* Varian Medical Systems

|

Former &
defunct|

* C. A. Parsons and Company1
* Dispolok2
* Duewag1
* Helios2
* Infineon Technologies2
* Mentor Graphics1
* Osram2
* Roke Manor Research2
* ROLM1
* Siemens Communications1
* Siemens Dematic2
* Siemens Home & Office Communication Devices2
* Siemens Hearing Instruments2
* Siemens IT Solutions & Services2
* Siemens Mobile2
* Siemens VAI1
* Siemens Nixdorf2
* Siemens Plessey2
* Siemens VDO2
* Wincor Nixdorf2
* Siemens Energy2
* Energy Sector
* Siemens Gamesa

Joint ventures &
investments|

| Current|

* Atos (15%)

|

Former &
defunct|

* A2SEA (49%)
* Areva NP (34%)
* BiiN
* BSH Bosch & Siemens Home Appliances
* Gaggenau
* NEFF
* Eurotrain
* Fujitsu Siemens Computers
* KraussMaffei
* Nokia Siemens Networks (49.9%)
* PolyGram2 (50%)
* Siemens Matsushita Components
* Unify (49%)
* Primetals Technologies2
* German Shanghai Metro Group

Predecessors|

* Siemens & Halske
* Siemens-Schuckert
* Siemens-Reiniger-Werke

Products,
services &
projects|

| Current|

* FINEX
* Locomotives
* Multiple units
* Siemens Modular Metro
* Siemens Inspiro
* Siemens Desiro
* Siemens SP260D
* Siemens SP90G
* Siemens Velaro
* Simatic
* Software products
* Tram vehicles
* Mobility projects

|

Defunct|

* Elektrische Viktoria
* Mobile phones
* SIMpad

People|

* Roland Busch
* Wilfried Feldenkirchen
* Karlheinz Kaske
* Klaus Kleinfeld
* Peter Löscher
* Bernhard Plettner
* Heinrich von Pierer
* John Rabe
* Jim Reid-Anderson
* Erich Reinhardt
* Ernst von Siemens
* Carl Friedrich von Siemens
* Carl Heinrich von Siemens
* Hermann von Siemens
* Werner von Siemens
* Georg Wilhelm von Siemens
* Carl Wilhelm Siemens
* Gerd Tacke

Places|

* Großsiedlung Siemensstadt
* Northampton Kings Heath Siemens Depot
* Siemens Goole
* Siemensstadt

Other|

* Phoebus cartel
* Siemens Competition
* Siemens Foundation
* Siemens Open
* Siemens scandals
* Japan, 1914
* Greece, 2008
* Siemens and unions
* Werner von Siemens Ring
* List of Siemens products

* 1Now integrated into other Siemens divisions or business groupings
* 2Sold

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Universal Music Group

People|

* Lucian Grainge
* Sherry Lansing
* James Mitchell
* Manning Doherty
* Bill Ackman
* Philippe Flageul
* Jody Gerson
* Boyd Muir

Interscope Capitol Labels Group|

| Capitol Music Group|

* Capitol Records
* Blue Note Records
* Astralwerks
* Harvest Records
* Capitol Christian Music Group
* ForeFront Records
* Motown Gospel
* Sparrow Records
* Priority Records
* Motown
* Quality Control Music

|

Interscope Geffen A&M|

* Interscope Records
* Geffen Records
* A&M Records
* Interscope Films
* Aftermath Entertainment
* Darkroom
* Dreamville Records
* Kidinakorner
* LVRN Records
* Mad Love and Friends Keep Secrets Records
* Shady Records
* Cinematic Music Group
* Downtown Records

|

Verve Label Group|

* Deutsche Grammophon
* Decca Records
* Decca Classics
* Mercury KX
* Impulse! Records
* Verve Records
* Verve Forecast Records

Republic Records|

* Mercury Records
* Cash Money Records
* Young Money Entertainment
* American Recordings
* Boominati Worldwide
* Brushfire Records
* Casablanca Records
* Federal Films
* Lava Records
* Universal Arabic Music
* XO
* Def Jam Recordings
* Island Records

Virgin Music Group|

* Virgin Records
* Caroline Records
* Fontana Records
* V2 Records
* PIAS Group

UM Latin Entertainment|

* Capitol Latin
* Disa Records
* Fonovisa Records
* Machete Music
* Universal Music Latino
* Universal Music México

UMG Nashville|

* MCA Nashville
* Mercury Nashville Records
* Lost Highway Records
* Capitol Records Nashville
* EMI Records Nashville

UM Australia|

* Island Records Australia
* Golden Era Records
* Modular Recordings
* Mercury Records Australia
* EMI Music Australia

UM Japan|

* Polydor Records
* EMI Records
* Universal D
* Virgin Music
* Def Jam Recordings
* Mercury Tokyo
* Universal Classics

UM UK|

* EMI Records
* Capitol UK
* Island UK
* Motown UK
* Polydor Records
* 0207 Def Jam
* Universal Music On Demand

UM Greater China|

* Capitol Records China
* EMI China
* PolyGram Records China
* Republic Records China
* Universal Music China
* Universal Music Hong Kong
* Universal Music Taiwan

UM France|

* Capitol Music France
* Decca Records France
* Island Def Jam France
* MCA France
* Polydor France
* Romance Musique
* PIAS France
* Virgin Records France

UM Philippines|

* Def Jam Philippines
* EMI Records
* Island Philippines
* Republic Records Philippines
* UMG Philippines

Universal Music Africa|

* U-Live Africa
* Motown Gospel Africa
* Def Jam Recordings Africa
* Universal Music Group Nigeria
* Universal Music South Africa
* Blue Note Records Africa
* Virgin Music Africa

Other UMG labels|

* Universal Music Enterprises
* Hip-O Records
* Universal Music Indonesia
* Universal Music Malaysia

Publishing division|

* Universal Music Publishing Group
* Universal Production Music

Film/TV units|

* Eagle Rock Entertainment
* PolyGram Entertainment
* Vevo

Non-UMG distributed labels|

* Big Machine Label Group
* Disney Music Group
* Hollywood Records
* S-Curve Records
* Walt Disney Records
* Roc Nation
* ECM Records
* Dew Process
* Nickelodeon Records
* Red Bull Records
* Because Music
* London Recordings
* Ed Banger Records

| International third-party licensees|

* Dreamus (South Korea (JYP Entertainment))
* Helicon (Israel)
* Tuff Gong (Caribbean)
* YG Plus (South Korea (HYBE Labels))
* Musica Studios (Indonesia)

|

* v
* t
* e

NBCUniversal

A division of Comcast

Predecessors|

* MCA Inc.
* PolyGram
* RCA
* Seagram Company Ltd.
* Vivendi Universal

Executives|

* Dick Ebersol
* Bonnie Hammer
* Donna Langley
* Steve Burke
* Pearlena Igbokwe
* Noah Oppenheim
* Cesar Conde

Studio Group|

| Universal Filmed
Entertainment Group|

* Universal Pictures
* Back Lot Music
* DreamWorks Animation
* Focus Features
* Illumination
* Illumination Studios Paris
* NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan
* United International Pictures*
* Universal Animation Studios
* Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
* Working Title Films
* Amblin Partners
* Amblin Entertainment
* DreamWorks Pictures

|

Universal
Studio Group|

* Universal Television
* Universal Content Productions
* Universal International Studios
* Carnival Films
* Matchbox Pictures
* DreamWorks Animation Television
* DreamWorks Classics
* Big Idea Entertainment
* Bullwinkle Studios*
* Harvey Entertainment

Destinations
& Experiences Group|

| United States|

* Universal Studios Hollywood
* CityWalk
* Universal Orlando
* Universal Studios Florida
* Islands of Adventure
* CityWalk
* Epic Universe
* Universal Kids Resort
* Universal Horror Unleashed

|

International|

* Universal Studios Japan
* Universal Studios Singapore
* Universal Beijing Resort
* Universal Studios Beijing
* Universal Studios United Kingdom (planned)

Media Group|

| Television networks|

* NBC
* Bravo
* E!
* Syfy
* USA Network
* Universal Kids
* Oxygen

|

Streaming|

* Hayu
* Peacock
* PictureBox Films
* Fandango Media (70%)
* Fandango at Home

NBC
Sports Group|

* NBC Olympics
* NBC Sports Ventures
* Alli
* Golf Channel
* NBC Sports Digital
* GolfNow
* NBC Sports
* part owner
* MLB Network
* NHL Network
* Regional Networks
* Bay Area (45%)
* Boston
* California
* Philadelphia
* SNY (8%)

International
Networks|

* v
* t
* e

NBCUniversal International Networks

A division of NBCUniversal

Asia|

* DreamWorks Channel
* Golf Channel (Indonesia)

Australia & New Zealand|

* Bravo
* New Zealand
* Australia
* Universal TV
* Australia
* New Zealand

Europe, Middle East and Africa|

* 13th Street
* France
* Germany
* Spain & Portugal
* Poland
* DreamWorks Channel
* Diva
* E!
* Golf Channel (France)
* Movies 24
* Syfy
* France
* Germany
* Poland
* Portugal
* Spain
* UK & Ireland
* Studio Universal
* Telemundo Africa
* Universal TV Germany

Latin America & Brazil|

* Universal TV
* E!
* Golf Channel
* Studio Universal
* USA Network
* Telemundo Internacional
* DreamWorks Channel
* Universal+ (outside of Brazil)

Defunct|

* 13th Street Netherlands and Flanders
* 13th Street Australia
* Diva TV
* Diva Universal Italy
* Diva Asia
* E! Asia
* E! Australia and New Zealand
* Hallmark Channel International
* Hallmark Channel Benelux & Scandinavia
* KidsCo
* Sci Fi Romania
* Steel
* Style Network Australia
* Syfy Netherlands and Flanders
* Syfy Russia
* Syfy Asia
* Syfy Australia
* Syfy Latin America
* Universal Channel Greece
* Universal Channel Poland
* Universal Channel Turkey
* Universal Channel Japan
* Universal Channel Asia
* Universal TV UK & Ireland

Other assets|

* Distribution
* Domestic
* International

Telemundo Enterprises Group|

* Telemundo
* Puerto Rico Studios
* Telemundo Studios
* Universo
* Telemundo Deportesw/NBC Sports Group
* Noticias Telemundo

Local Group
O&Os|

| NBC Owned
TV Stations|

* KNBC
* KNSD
* KNTV
* KXAS-TV
* WBTS-CD
* WCAU
* WMAQ-TV
* WNBC
* WRC-TV
* WTVJ
* WVIT
* K15CU-D
* KTEL-TV
* Other properties
* Cozi TV
* NBC LX
* NBC LX Home
* NECN

|

Telemundo
Station Group|

* KASA-TV/KTEL-CD/KUPT
* KBLR
* KCSO
* KDEN-TV
* KHRR
* KNSO
* KSTS
* KTAZ
* KTDO
* KTLM
* KTMD
* KTMW
* KUAN
* KVDA
* KVEA
* KXTX-TV
* WKAQ-TV
* WNEU
* WNJU
* WRDM-CD/WDMR-LP
* WRIW-CD
* WRMD-CD
* WRTD-CD
* WSCV
* WSNS-TV
* WTMO-CD
* WWSI
* WWDT-CD
* WYCN-LD
* WZTD-LD
* WZDC-CD
* Other properties: TeleXitos

Other units|

* Affiliate relations
* NBC
* Telemundo
* EMKA, Ltd.
* International Media Distribution

News Group|

| Main divisions|

* NBC News
* NBCNews.com
* NBC Out
* MSNBC

|

CNBC global channels|

* CNBC
* Africa (licensee)
* Asia
* Brazil (licensee)
* Europe
* World

CNBC Europe branches|

* Class CNBC (20%)
* CNBC-e
* Africa (licensee)
* Arabia

CNBC Asia branches|

* CNBC TV18
* CNBC Awaaz
* CNBC Indonesia
* JKN-CNBC
* Nikkei CNBC

Former/defunct
properties|

* 13th Street (Australia)
* A&E Networks (A&E)*
* Canal+ Group
* Castle Films
* Chapman Entertainment
* Chiller
* Chiller Films
* CIC Video
* Cloo
* Comcast Network
* Craftsy
* Diva
* Diva Universal (Italy)
* E! (Asia)
* Entertainment Rights
* Esquire Network
* Fearnet
* Filmation
* FilmDistrict
* G4
* Good Machine
* Gramercy Pictures
* Hallmark Channel (international)
* ITC Entertainment
* Interscope Communications
* Miss Universe*
* Multimedia Entertainment
* NBBC
* NBCSN
* NBC Sports (Chicago (25%)
* Northwest)
* NBC Weather Plus
* October Films
* Olympic Channel
* Pacific Data Images
* Peacock Productions
* PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
* Propaganda Films
* Savoy Pictures
* SBS CNBC
* Shift
* Seeso
* Spencer Gifts
* Style Network (Australia)
* Syfy (Asia)
* Syfy (Australia)
* Tell-Tale Productions
* The Entertainment Channel*
* Total Television
* UPA
* Universal Channel (Asia)
* Universal Channel (Greece)
* Universal Channel (Japan)
* Universal Channel (Poland)
* Universal TV (UK and Ireland)
* Universal Interactive
* Universal Music Group
* Universal Channel (Turkey)
* Vivendi Universal Games
* Walter Lantz Productions
* Western Publishing
* Gold Key Comics
* Whitman Publishing
* Golden Books Family Entertainment
* Golden Book Video
* Woodland Animations
* ZGS Communications

* Denotes joint ventures

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States

Other|

* IdRef
* MusicBrainz label
* 2
* 3

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