Parlophone is a record label founded in Germany in 1896 by Carl Lindström, as Parlophon (the ‘e’ was originally added for UK releases). The L in the logo represents his name. In 1923 an English branch was set up and this was taken over by The Columbia Graphophone Company in 1927, thus becoming a constituent part of EMI when that company merged with The Gramophone Company in 1931.

The label largely operated as a Jazz and Novelty label until manager, George Martin, signed The Beatles in 1962. As a result of its subsequent success and profile, it was the only pop label to retain it's identity when EMI merged all its non-US labels in 1973.

The brand is registered by each individual EMI operating company in its own territory and as such operates both as a global brand, with the exception of the US, and as a brand used territory to territory for its own acts.

Labelcode: LC 0299

This label contains releases on multinational markets. Do NOT create imprints for different countries. Cover that information on new releases with the country field and with notes about the release (releasing company, ℗&© note, mechanical rights etc.).