Labels

EMI was founded back in 1931 and has a long and illustrious history as one of the most important and significant record labels of all time. In 2012 EMI and all of its then current artist roster were bought by Universal Music and in connection with the purchase, Universal Music chose to shut down the label. 8 years later, in 2020 EMI Sweden was relaunched and is today the home of artists such as Hov1, Björn Holmgren, BELL, Jakob Hellman & NOTD.

Capitol Records was founded in 1942 and is based in the iconic Capitol Records Towers building in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Capitol Music Group also includes 2101 Records, Astralwerks and Priority Records. Among Capitol’s artists are names such as 30 Seconds To Mars, Beach Boys, Beck, Capital Cities, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry and Norah Jones.

Def Jam was founded in 1983 in New York by Rick Rubin and Russel Simmons. Among Def Jam’s first releases are titles such as LL Cool J’s “I Need a Beat” and the Beastie Boys’ “Rock Hard”. Today, Def Jam is home to artists such as 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Fabolous, Frank Ocean, Jadakiss, Jeezy, Jhene Aiko, Justin Bieber, Kanye West.

By combining the legacies of the three major record labels Interscope, Geffen and A&M and creating a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, 1999 began a new tradition of musical performance and a global leader in music. Led by Jimmy Lovine, the label covers a wide spectrum of musical genres and artists including Eminem, Madonna, Billie Eilish, Gwen Stefani, Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Maroon 5 and Selena Gomez.

Polar Music startades 1963 av Stig Anderson och Bengt Bernhag. Under åren har labeln haft hand om artister som Ted Gärdestad, Hootenanny Singers, Harpo, Gemini, Skintrade, Joey Tempest och Frida med flera. Idag ägs Polar Music av Universal Music AB och har hand om alla ABBAs rättigheter för hela världen.

Republic Records has been recognized by Billboard as the industry’s #1 label over the last 10 years. It is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Drake, Glass Animals, Florence + the Machine, Greta Van Fleet, Jack Johnson, James Blake, James Bay, Jimmy Fallon, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Jonas Brothers, Kid Cudi, Kim Petras, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Metro Boomin, Nicki Minaj, Noah Kahan, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Shania Twain, Stephen Sanchez, Stevie Wonder, Swedish House Mafia, Tainy, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Twice, TXT, and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman.

Founded in 1956 by impresario Norman Granz in order to create a fair and just label home for Ella Fitzgerald, Verve Records has become home to some of the most pioneering acts in music, including Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, The Velvet Underground, Frank Zappa, Dizzy Gillespie, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughn, and of course Ella Fitzgerald. Today, the label continues this rich legacy with artists such as Jon Batiste, Kurt Vile, Samara Joy, Cynthia Erivo, Diana Krall, and more.

Polar Music International AB – home to ABBA’s extensive catalog. Polar Music was started in 1963 by Stig Anderson and Bengt Bernhag and over the years has housed not only ABBA but also Ted Gärdestad, Lena Andersson, Tomas Ledin, Gemini, Hellacopters, Infinite Mass and Lambretta. Today, Polar Music International AB is run under Universal’s roof and devotes all of its time to ABBA’s repertoire and rights worldwide.

Island Records was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell and Graeme Goodall in Jamaica. Some of the label’s legendary artists include Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley and U2. Today, Island Records is home to artists such as Ben Howard, Florence & The Machine, Jamie Cullum, Jessie Ware, John Martin, John Newman, PJ Harvey, Mika, Mumford & Sons and Robbie Williams.