About
PolyGram was established in 1972. The company oversaw Phonogram International B.V. and Polydor International GmbH. It was formed following a reorganization of the "Grammophon-Philips Group". GPG was a joint venture between Philips Phonografische Industrie (PPI) and the Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, existing since 1962. The Polygram name was not new though. It had been used by Philips' Belgian affiliate Polygram SA since 1962. The New Zealand Philips company too was named PolyGram Records Ltd from June 1970 until November 1972 (when it was renamed Phonogram Ltd.). From 1978 onwards the Polygram name became more common as most of the Phonogram companies worldwide were renamed to Polygram. The local Polygram companies handled all PolyGram labels, most notably Philips, Verve Records Mercury and Deutsche Grammophon. Over the years some of the companies also started using the Polygram brand as a label. In 1985 Siemens reduced its stake in PolyGram to 10%. Two years later it sold its remaining stake to Philips' Gloeilampenfabrieken B.V. In 1989, Polygram completed a worldwide public stock offering, reducing Philips' ownership to 75%. PolyGram acquired the recorded music and publishing arm of Island International Limited in July 1989 and the recorded music business of A&M Records, Inc. in January 1990. This was followed by Motown Records in 1993, part of Def Jam Recordings in 1994, and Rodven Discos in 1995. In December 1998, Philips sold PolyGram to Seagram, which already owned the Universal Music Group. Seagram combined PolyGram with the Universal Music Group, forming the largest recorded music business in the world. Starting in the mid-1970s and continuing into the late 1980's, the center labels of US PolyGram sublabels began showing two-digit number ID codes signifying from which pressing plant the record originated. A partial list of confirmed plants and their corresponding numbers are as follows. 6 = 16 = Sonic Recording Products, Inc. (pre-ca. 1975), Goldisc Recording Products, Inc. (1975 to ca. 1983), Electrosound Group Midwest, Inc. (post-ca. 1983) 18 = 19 = 22 = 24 = 25 = 26 = 49 = 53 = (pre-1981), (post-1981) 54 = 56 = 57 = (post-1981) 60 = 70 = 72 = (post-Dec. 1972) 73 = 75 = GRT Record Pressing 76 = (post-1970) There are some numeral codes which have so far been unconfirmed as to their corresponding pressing plants, including 30 (either or ); plus other manufacturing codes (i.e. for cassettes) including 12, 15 and 35.
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Sub-labels
60 Chrom Dioxid Minuten
Compilation series made by PolyGram (released mainly as Polydor or Deutsche Grammophon). As the name implies, each release contained 60 minutes of music recorded on Chrome Dioxide (Type II, CrO2) ...
PolyGram Catalogue
PolyGram Special Markets, London
UK division of Polygram Special Markets. From 1996, name changed to PolyGram Commercial Marketing Division.
Jumbo Jet (4)
Jumbo Jet is a Polygram Kenya label for budget priced reissues. Jackets say: Budget Price Series Value for Your Money
L'art D'écouter
Canadian promotional series of discs issued in the 1990's by PolyGram.
Grandes Interpretes En Concierto
A collection of selected recordings by major performers and composers.
Coleção Obras-Primas
Brazilian Series. Mid-1990's CD compilations of Brazilian artists by and its acquired labels, for instance .
Schtroumpf Party
French album series dedicated to music from the renowned comic/cartoon television series, The Smurfs (2). See also Hupikék Törpikék Hungary on EMI Quint in Hungary, [l=Schlumpf Hörspiel...
Britannia Gold
Phonodisc (9)
U.S. record distribution company owned by PolyGram. Also credited as Phonodisc, Inc.; please credit that profile if printed that way on release.
Polygram Klassik - Decca
Same address as the earlier PolyGram Klassik, now linked with Decca.
Disco (27)
Series run by PolyGram on the late 70's and early 80's
PolyGram Label Group Solicitation
Promotional series created in the early 1990s to promote new artist and releases on PolyGram associated labels. Promoted by PolyGram Group Distribution.
Now Playing (2)
Monthly cassette series of retail compilations showcasing tracks from current and (occasionally) forthcoming releases on labels. Issued between 1984 and 1992 with an annually changing des...
Maxi Single Dance
Series of remix maxi singles marketed to the Spanish speaking audience in New York City and Miami.
Go! Discs
UK label, founded 1983 by former Stiff Records representative Andy MacDonald and Lesley Symons. In 1996 PolyGram acquired a majority...
Mighty
A record label based in Germany. ** For (unofficial) releases, see label: Labelcode: LC 02615/LC 2615
PolyGram Record Operations
Polygram Record Operations UK Can also appear as "Polygram Rec. Op."
RSO
Labelcode: LC 02970 Formed by Robert Stigwood, RSO Records began operations in January 1973 in the US and March 1973 in the rest of the world. The label's name stands for the Robert S...
Polygram Discos SARL
Portuguese division of PolyGram, founded in 1979. Previously known as Phonogram Portuguesa S.A.R.L. from July 1974 until the end of 1978, Polygram Discos SARL was used from then until ...