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The story is a bit deeper...

and I stand to be corrected.

The relationship between EMI and RCA went back to the 1890s when the UK Gramophone Company was set up for distributing Berliner's Gramophone. Records were pressed in Hannover by the German subsidiary until the Hayes factory opened in 1907/8ish.

After many many many many lawsuits over patent rights after about 1901 the situation was US = Victor Talking Machine Company, UK = The Gramophone Company.

The His Master's Voice painting was bought in London by the Gramophone Company but used not by them until about 1907/8. The UK Gramophone Company Trade Mark until then was the recording Angel.

Berliner, I think, saw "His Master's Voice" about 1900/1901 on a visit to London, liked it and took a copy back to the US. As I understand the US rights to the image and name stayed with Victor and later RCA when Victor sold out in the late 20s.

When EMI was created in 1931 The Gramphone Company acted as the major player and HMV remained the strongest player in the UK market, albeit a subsidiary of EMI.

As the HMV trade belonged to RCA Victor in the US, when EMI wanted to enter the US market on their own accord, probably in the 1950s when the tie with RCA ceased and UK Decca stepped in, they used the Angel Trade Mark again for their US releases.

This is all from memory so the dates and events may not be totally accurate.





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