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MCA Records (Record Label)

Music Corporation of America (MCA) was founded in Chicago in 1924 as a talent agency by Dr. Jules Stein and Mr. William R. Goodheart, Jr. and began to produce TV shows in the late 40s. In 1958 MCA acquired the Universal Studios property and also Paramount's pre-1948 film library for its MCA TV division.

In 1962, MCA's principal corporation, MCA Inc., acquired Decca Records, Inc. (the American Decca company), which had Brunswick and Coral imprints. "British Decca" then licensed recordings from American Decca for release on the Brunswick and Coral labels in the UK, until February 1968, when British Decca began using the yellow swirl MCA Records brand for these releases. American Decca followed suit, turning completely into MCA Records in 1973. In the following years (and decades) MCA Inc. purchased several other labels (ABC Records, Geffen Records etc.) and formed the MCA Music Entertainment Group around MCA Records.

In Australia and New Zealand the MCA Records labels were launched in late 1969. The Australian distributor was Astor Records Pty. Ltd. (also known as Astor Radios, Radiograms And Television), the New Zealand distributor was Pye Ltd.

In the UK, MCA Records signed a licensing deal with EMI Records Ltd. circa September 1973, which came into effect on 1st January 1974, thus ending MCA's 40-year relationship with The Decca Record Company Limited.

International distribution (outside of US) was handled by WEA from 1 January 1984 onwards (with some countries not moving to WEA until late 1984 because of existing deals), and then by BMG from 1990 onwards.

In 1995 Seagram acquired 80% of MCA Inc. It was the beginning of the end for the MCA trademark:
  • 1996 MCA Inc. was renamed Universal Studios, Inc. and the MCA Music Entertainment Group was renamed Universal Music Group.
  • Β­1999 MCA Music Publishing was renamed Universal Music Publishing, and MCA Inc. was renamed Songs of Universal Inc.
  • Β·2004 MCA Records was dissolved and merged into the Geffen Records roster.
This label includes many releases branded "MCA" or "MCA Records", regardless of which MCA corporate entity, if any, is mentioned as trademark owner, copyright owner, or point of contact. However, there are many other MCA brands and companies in Discogs, and some releases may be found there instead of (or in addition to) this label, depending on circumstances. These or other corporate entities such as MCA Records, Inc., Music Corp. of America Inc., or MCA Inc. may appear on releases with the "MCA" or "MCA Records" brands. Corporate groups may also be credited, including MCA Music Group, the MCA Entertainment Group, and the MCA Music Entertainment Group, as well as divisions of MCA Music Publishing like MCA Communications, Inc. and many regional "MCA Music" corporations which may be conflated with the aforementioned MCA Music Entertainment corporations.