History Creator / CapitolRecords

Founded in 1942 by UsefulNotes/LosAngeles businessman Glenn Wallichs (owner of the Wallichs Music City record store) along with songwriters Johnny Mercer and Buddy [=DeSylva=], Capitol was the first West Coast-based label in the United States. By the end of the decade, having already acquired a stable of prominent artists including Music/NatKingCole, Stan Kenton, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Margaret Whiting, and many others, it had earned a place among the "Big Six" labels.[[note]](The other five were [[Creator/RCARecords RCA Victor]], [[Creator/ColumbiaRecords Columbia]], [[Creator/MercuryRecords Mercury]], [[Creator/DeccaRecords Decca]], and Creator/{{MGM}} -- all of which, along with Capitol, had their own pressing plants.)[[/note]] A Canadian division was established in 1949.

British music conglomerate Creator/{{EMI}} bought 96% of Capitol's stock in 1955, effectively acquiring the company.[[note]]EMI had already lost the right to distribute US Columbia releases in Europe, and their contract with RCA was about to expire, so they wanted to make sure they would still have access to top American talent. A few years later, EMI's Dutch competitor [[Creator/PhilipsRecords Philips]] bought Creator/MercuryRecords for similar reasons.[[/note]] The landmark Capitol Tower building in Hollywood (aka "The House That Nat Built") began construction soon after and was completed the following year. Several additional artists joined the label during the 1950s, including Music/FrankSinatra, Music/DeanMartin, Music/TheFourFreshmen, Creator/StanFreberg, and The Kingston Trio.

[[quoteright:320:[[Music/TheBeatles https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_beatles_i_want_to_hold_your_hand_1963_11.png]] ]]
[[caption-width-right:320:The iconic "swirl" label design used on Capitol singles from 1962 to 1968.[[note]]It was also used from 1979 to 1981 on singles by The Knack.[[/note]]]]

[[quoteright:300:[[Music/TheBeatles https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_beatles_i_want_to_hold_your_hand_1963_11.png]] ]]
[[caption-width-right:300:The iconic "swirl" label design used on Capitol singles from 1962 to 1968.[[note]]It was also used from 1979 to 1981 on singles by The Knack.[[/note]]]]

Founded in 1942 by UsefulNotes/LosAngeles businessman Glenn Wallichs (owner of the Wallichs Music City record store) with songwriters Johnny Mercer and Buddy [=DeSylva=], Capitol was the first West Coast-based label in the United States. By the end of the decade, it had already acquired a stable of prominent artists including Music/NatKingCole, Stan Kenton, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, Margaret Whiting, and many others, allowing it to rank among the "Big Six" labels.[[note]](The other five were [[Creator/RCARecords RCA Victor]], [[Creator/ColumbiaRecords Columbia]], [[Creator/MercuryRecords Mercury]], [[Creator/DeccaRecords Decca]], and Creator/{{MGM}} -- all of which, along with Capitol, had their own pressing plants.)[[/note]] The Canadian branch was established in 1949.

Founded in 1942 by UsefulNotes/LosAngeles businessman Glenn Wallichs (owner of the Wallichs Music City record store) with songwriters Johnny Mercer and Buddy [=DeSylva=], it was the first West Coast-based label in the United States. By the end of the decade, it had already acquired a stable of prominent artists including Music/NatKingCole, Stan Kenton, Peggy Lee, Margaret Whiting and many others, allowing it to rank among the "Big Six" labels.[[note]](The other five were [[Creator/RCARecords RCA Victor]], [[Creator/ColumbiaRecords Columbia]], [[Creator/MercuryRecords Mercury]], [[Creator/DeccaRecords Decca]], and Creator/{{MGM}} -- all of which, along with Capitol, had their own pressing plants.)[[/note]] The Canadian branch was established in 1949.

** 1970: ''Music/SongsOfTheHumpbackWhale''

* Creator/CarlReiner & Creator/MelBrooks [[note]]Capitol released two of their RecordedAndStandUpComedy albums.[[/note]]

British music conglomerate Creator/{{EMI}} bought 96% of Capitol's stock in 1955, effectively acquiring the company.[[note]]EMI had already lost the right to distribute US Columbia releases in Europe, and their contract with RCA was about to expire, so they wanted to make sure they would still have access to top American talent. A few years later, EMI's Dutch competitor Philips bought Creator/MercuryRecords for similar reasons.[[/note]] The landmark Capitol Tower building in Hollywood (aka "The House That Nat Built") began construction soon after and was completed the following year. Several additional artists joined the label during the 1950s, including Music/FrankSinatra, Music/DeanMartin, Music/TheFourFreshmen, Creator/StanFreberg, and The Kingston Trio.

In 2012, the American music operations of EMI were sold to the Creator/UniversalMusicGroup, bringing Capitol Records under UMG ownership.[[note]]EMI's British and European operations became part of Creator/ParlophoneRecords, which went to Creator/WarnerMusicGroup-- although UMG made sure they got the rights to the Beatles' catalog, and the backlogs of many of EMI's former talents (most notably Music/{{Radiohead}}, who were also previously signed onto Capitol in the US) would be granted to the independent labels they were now operating under. EMI's publishing division went to Creator/SonyMusicEntertainment.[[/note]] In 2014, the legendary label Creator/{{Motown}} became part of the UMG-owned Capitol Music Group.