COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 51222

Integrated Record Production/Distribution

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

7companies1912–1992founding years4still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedUniversal Studios, Inc.
1912
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedNew Line Cinema, Inc.
1967
FoundedVirgin Group
1973
FoundedZomba Records Ltd.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedTee Vee Toons, Inc.
1985
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedInterscope Music Group
1990
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedHOB Entertainment, Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
1999
TechnologyNapster ignites the digital disruption of recorded music.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Universal Studios, Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Universal Studios, Inc.
New Line Cinema, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
New Line Cinema, Inc.
Virgin Group →
Active · founded 1973 · United Kingdom
Virgin Group is a diversified grouping of more than 200 privately held companies.
Zomba Records Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1975 · United Kingdom
Zomba Records Ltd.
Tee Vee Toons, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1985
Tee Vee Toons, Inc., better known as TVT Records, is the leading independent record company in the United States.
Interscope Music Group →
Renamed · founded 1990
Interscope Music Group, with its Interscope Records label, is one of the most successful and controversial record…
HOB Entertainment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
HOB Entertainment, Inc.
Build It Today

Starting a integrated record production/distribution company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories with today's tools and capital.