Formed in the UK in 1931, EMI entered the US market in 1955 by acquiring 96% of Capitol Records. The company enjoyed huge success during the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s.

In 1979 EMI acquired United Artist Records and in 1992 took over Virgin Records.

A move in 2006 to buy Warner Music Group has so far been rejected.

Other subsidiary labels include Parlophone, HMV, Blue Note, Chrysalis Records, Harvest Records and Mute Records (which includes Blast First).