Brandtree

Who owns Parlophone?

Parlophone is owned by Warner Music (the United States, NASDAQ: WMG), which has owned the brand since 1 July 2013.[1] Parlophone was founded in 1896 in London and was independent until 2013.

Key facts

Current owner
Warner Music Group Corp. verified
Owned since
Previous owner
Independent (1896–2013)
Owner HQ
🇺🇸 United States, New York, New York
Origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom, London
Founded
1896
Category
Media & entertainmentMusicRecord labels
Parent ticker
NASDAQ: WMG
Last verified
· 1 sources

About Parlophone

Parlophone signed the Beatles in 1962 after every other British label had turned them down. Warner Music acquired it in 2013 for about £487 million, in a divestment forced by regulators when Universal bought EMI. Its logo is a stylised pound sign, which was originally a German letter L for its founding company and has been misread as currency for a century.

Ownership timeline of Parlophone

Owners of Parlophone from 2013 to 2026 Warner Music 2013–present Warner Music 201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024202520262027
  1. 2013 – present Warner Music [1] verified

Where Parlophone sits in Warner Music

Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.

Where Parlophone sits in Warner Music Tree of 4 brands under Warner Music. Warner Music Parlophone Atlantic Records Elektra Records Warner Records

Open the full Warner Music ownership tree →

Other brands owned by Warner Music in media & entertainment

See the full Warner Music brand portfolio (4) →

Latest news about Parlophone

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the parent company of Parlophone?

The parent company of Parlophone is Warner Music, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.

Is Parlophone British or American?

Parlophone originated in the United Kingdom in 1896, but it is owned today by Warner Music, which is headquartered in the United States. So Parlophone is a British-origin brand under American ownership.

Since when has Warner Music owned Parlophone?

Warner Music has owned Parlophone since 1 July 2013.

Who owned Parlophone before Warner Music?

Parlophone was an independent company from its founding in 1896 in London until Warner Music acquired it in 2013.

Is Parlophone still owned by Warner Music?

Yes. As of 8 September 2026, Parlophone is still owned by Warner Music. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.

Sources (1) & corrections

Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.

  1. [1] Warner Music Group Corp. Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 2025-11-20 — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K, published 20 November 2025; retrieved 8 September 2026.

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