Multinational record label active outside the US and Canada from 1967, and inclusive of US and Canada from December, 1972. It was also the name of MCA Inc.'s recorded music division from early 1970 when the US company Decca Records was renamed, to April, 1971 when it was folded into MCA Records, Inc.
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. MCA began to produce TV shows in the late 1940s. 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 launched MCA Records in the US in June, 1970 as a recorded music division (replacing Decca Records), followed by a label in the last week of November, 1972. The only releases in 1972 were Elton John's 'Crocodile Rock' and Neil Diamond's 'Hot August Night.' The rainbow label was introduced 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 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) and it took over the label January 1, 1970. The New Zealand distributor was Pye Ltd.
For the UK, Benelux countries and Greece, MCA Records signed a licensing deal with EMI Records Ltd. circa September, 1973, which came into effect on January 1, 1974, thus ending MCA's forty-year relationship with The Decca Record Company Limited. MCA moved to CBS in the UK and Ireland on July 1, 1979. In the Benelux countries EMI continued to distribute MCA Records for another six months until 31 December 1979, while in Greece the EMI-distribution contract lasted until 31 December 1983, before the international distribution deal with WEA kicked in (see below).
In Germany, MCA was originally licensed to TELDEC »Telefunken-Decca« Schallplatten GmbH. In early 1969 MCA, Inc. bought Miller International Schallplatten GmbH, then parent of German budget label Europa, renamed it to MCA Records GmbH, and took over distribution and manufacturing from TELDEC. On October 1, 1970. Distribution reverted to TELDEC due to MCA, Inc. being dissatisfied with distribution efforts from their German branch. The renewed TELDEC partnership (which once again included manufacturing at Teldec-Press GmbH) lasted until January 1, 1977, when Metronome Musik GmbH became the new distributor, switching manufacturing to Phonodisc GmbH. Starting January 1, 1980 Ariola became the new licensee, handling all distribution and manufacturing. At the same time, Ariola also became the licensee in Austria, Switzerland, the Benelux, France, Spain, Mexico and Brazil.
International distribution (outside of US) was handled by WEA from January 1, 1984 onwards (with some countries not moving to WEA until late 1984 because of pre-existing deals), and then by BMG from April 1, 1991 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 in the last days of that year. Internationally MCA was renamed Universal at a corporate level in 1997 (dates differ country by country).
• 1999 MCA Music Publishing was renamed Universal Music Publishing, and MCA Inc. was renamed Songs of Universal Inc.
• 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, 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.
USA LP Label Dating:
• Black label with rainbow used from inception in 1973, through Fall, 1977.
• Tan label with outer ring fading from brown at top to tan at bottom debuted October, 1977 with MCA-3027.
• Tan label with solid brown outer ring debuted July, 1978 with MCA-3046.
• Blue label with rainbow debuted 1980 with MCA-3189, used until label closure.
Label Code: LC 1056 / LC 01056