COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3652

Prerecorded Records & Tapes

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

22companies1835–1996founding years18still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBertelsmann AGFoundedBertelsmann AG
1835
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedVictor Company of Japan, LimitedFoundedVictor Company of Japan, Limited
1927
FoundedThe Seagram Company Ltd.
1928
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedMuzak, Inc.FoundedMuzak, Inc.
1934
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedThe Atlantic GroupFoundedThe Atlantic Group
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedMotown Records Company L.P.
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedK-tel International, Inc.FoundedK-tel International, Inc.
1968
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedPolyGram N.V.FoundedPolyGram N.V.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedThe Really Useful Group
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedGeffen Records Inc.FoundedGeffen Records Inc.
1980
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedEMI Group plc
1996
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
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

Bertelsmann AG →
Active · founded 1835 · Germany
Bertelsmann AG is the largest media group in Germany and Europe, and the second-largest in the world to the U.S.-based…
Bertelsmann AG →
Active · founded 1835 · Germany
Bertelsmann AG is the largest media group in Germany and Europe, and the second-largest in the world to the U.S.-based…
Victor Company of Japan, Limited →
Active · founded 1927 · Japan
Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC) is one of several Japanese companies that has evolved to dominate the…
Victor Company of Japan, Limited →
Active · founded 1927 · Japan
Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC) is one of several Japanese companies that has evolved to dominate the…
The Seagram Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1928 · Canada
The Seagram Company Ltd., which is 32-percent owned by the Bronfman family, is a major international liquor giant…
The Seagram Company Ltd. →
Active · founded 1928 · Canada
The Seagram Company Ltd., which is 32-percent owned by the Bronfman family, is a major international liquor giant…
Muzak, Inc. →
Active · founded 1934
A fixture of the American soundscape, Muzak, Inc.
Muzak, Inc. →
Active · founded 1934
A fixture of the American soundscape, Muzak, Inc.
The Atlantic Group →
Active · founded 1947
The Atlantic Group consistently ranks among the most successful recording companies in the United States.
The Atlantic Group →
Active · founded 1947
The Atlantic Group consistently ranks among the most successful recording companies in the United States.
Motown Records Company L.P. →
Active · founded 1959
The New Republic has called it "the most successful Black-owned business in American history." Many first think of the…
Motown Records Company L.P. →
Active · founded 1959
The New Republic has called it "the most successful Black-owned business in American history." Many first think of the…
K-tel International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
An international marketing and distribution company, K-tel International, Inc.
K-tel International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
An international marketing and distribution company, K-tel International, Inc.
PolyGram N.V. →
Defunct · founded 1972
Netherlands-based PolyGram N.V.
PolyGram N.V. →
Defunct · founded 1972
Netherlands-based PolyGram N.V.
The Really Useful Group →
Active · founded 1977 · United Kingdom
The Really Useful Group is the umbrella corporation over a welter of entertainment and leisure companies that operate…
The Really Useful Group →
Active · founded 1977 · United Kingdom
The Really Useful Group is the umbrella corporation over a welter of entertainment and leisure companies that operate…
Geffen Records Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Geffen Records Inc.
Geffen Records Inc. →
Active · founded 1980
Geffen Records Inc.
EMI Group plc →
Defunct · founded 1996 · United Kingdom
EMI Group plc is the fourth largest of the world's "big six" music giants.
EMI Group plc →
Defunct · founded 1996 · United Kingdom
EMI Group plc is the fourth largest of the world's "big six" music giants.
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