The rise & fall of EMI Records

Electric and Music Industries Ltd (EMI) first saw the light of day in the UK in 1931.

In a visionary move for the gramophone age, it manufactured both hardware (recording and playback equipment) and software (the records and tapes its machines would play).

For over half a century, EMI dominated both sectors, it's music division eventually becoming the most successful in the world with a roster that at various times included "The Beatles", Maria Callas, Frank Sinatra, Cliff Richard, Pink Floyd, "The Beach Boys", "Queen", Robbie Williams, "The Spice Girls", Kate Bush and Kylie Minogue.

Then in the 1990s, things started to go wrong.This title explores and investigates EMI's extraordinary decline from the greatness over two decades of rejected takeovers, unsuccessful mergers, executive changes, profit warnings, artist and staff cuts, press criticism and never-ending speculation.

It includes interviews with many key players including former EMI Group/EMI Music executives Sir Colin Southgate, Jim Fifield, Eric Nicoli, Tony Wadsworth, David Munns, Rupert Perry, Ray Cooper and Jon Webster. He has also interviewed many managers, music journalists, financial analysists and rival record company executives.

The result is the definitive account of a major international company's travails.

It is also an eye-opening expose of the speed at which the music industry has changed.