Editing Parlophone (section)

===Acquisition by Warner Music Group===
On 28 September 2012, regulators approved [[Universal Music Group]]'s planned acquisition of Parlophone's parent group EMI for £1.2 billion, subject to conditions imposed by the [[European Commission]] requiring that UMG sell off a number of labels, including Parlophone itself (aside from the Beatles' catalogue, which was kept by UMG and moved to Universal's newly formed [[Calderstone Productions]]), [[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]] (aside from [[Robbie Williams]]' catalogue), [[Ensign Records|Ensign]], [[Virgin Classics]], [[EMI Classics]], worldwide rights to [[Roulette Records]] (and its sublabels), and EMI's operations in Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Universal's Capitol takes shape: Barnett in, Beatles on roster|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/steve-barnett-named-chairman-of-universal-s-capitol-records/052695 |work=Music Week |publisher=Intent Media |access-date=18 April 2013 |first=Tim |last=Ingham |date=26 November 2012}}</ref> These labels and catalogues were operated independently from Universal as Parlophone Label Group until a buyer was found. UMG received several offers for PLG, including those from [[Island Records|Island]] founder [[Chris Blackwell]], [[Simon Fuller]], a [[Sony Music|Sony]]/[[BMG Rights Management|BMG]] consortium, [[Warner Music Group]], and [[MacAndrews & Forbes]].<ref name=guardian-emiapproved>{{cite news |title=Universal's £1.2bn EMI takeover approved – with conditions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/21/universal-emi-takeover-approved |work=The Guardian |access-date=21 September 2012|location=London|first=Mark|last=Sweney|date=21 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Pakinkis |first=Tom |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/blackwell-fuller-eying-more-umg-emi-assets-as-parlophone-interest-stacks-up-report/052557 |title=Nine groups in Parlophone race, 12 eyeing other UMG/EMI assets |magazine=Music Week |access-date=1 March 2013 |date=15 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-emi-sonybmg-idUSBRE90600T20130107 |title=Sony, BMG in joint bid for Parlophone, EMI labels |work=Reuters |date=7 January 2013|access-date=1 March 2013 |first=Mayumi |last=Negishi}}</ref>

On 7 February 2013, it was confirmed that [[Warner Music Group]] would acquire Parlophone Label Group for US$765 million. The deal was approved in May 2013 by the European Union, which saw no concerns about the deal because of WMG's smaller reach compared to the merged UMG and Sony. Warner Music closed the deal on 1 July. Parlophone Label Group was the old [[EMI Records]] label that included both the Parlophone and the eponymous EMI labels. The EMI trademark was retained by Universal (as [[Virgin EMI Records]]) while the "old" EMI Records became defunct and was renamed "Parlophone Records Ltd."

Soon after acquiring Parlophone, WMG signed an agreement with [[IMPALA Independent Music Companies Association|IMPALA]] and the [[Merlin Network]] (two groups which opposed the EMI/Universal deal) to divest $200 million worth of catalogues to independent labels in order to help offset the consolidation triggered by the merger.<ref name=nyt-wmgparlophone>{{cite news|title=Warner Music Gains Approval to Buy Parlophone, a Last Piece of EMI |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/business/media/warner-music-gains-approval-to-buy-parlophone-a-last-piece-of-emi.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=17 May 2013 |first=Ben |last=Sisario |date=15 May 2013 }}</ref><ref name=nyt-wmgdeal>{{cite news |title=Warner Music Makes a Deal With Small Labels |url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/warner-music-makes-a-deal-with-small-labels/ |work=The New York Times |access-date=17 May 2013 |first=Ben |last=Sisario |date=19 February 2013 }}</ref> In April 2016, the back catalogue of British rock band [[Radiohead]], who had sued Parlophone and EMI over a dispute in music royalties, was transferred to [[XL Recordings]].<ref name=radiohead>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7318964/radioheads-early-catalog-warner-bros-xl |title=Radiohead's Early Catalog Moves From Warner Bros. to XL |website=Billboard.com |date=4 April 2016 |access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref>

WMG treats Parlophone as its third "frontline" label group alongside [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] and [[Warner Records|Warner]].<ref name=billboard-wmgplan>{{cite web|title=Warner Music Group Outlines Parlophone Integration Process, Expects $70 Million in Annual Cost Savings |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/1559599/warner-music-group-outlines-parlophone-integration-process-expects |publisher=Billboard.com |access-date=30 January 2014 |date=25 April 2013}}</ref> In the US, most of Parlophone's artists are now distributed under Warner Records except [[Dinosaur Pile-Up]], distributed by [[300 Elektra Entertainment]]'s  [[Roadrunner Records]], Coldplay and Tinie Tempah, both distributed by Atlantic Records, and [[David Guetta]], distributed by Atlantic's electronic music imprint [[Big Beat Records (American record label)|Big Beat Records]].<ref name=billboard-wmgshuffle>{{cite web |title=Coldplay, David Guetta Go To Atlantic Records; Radiohead & Pink Floyd Catalogs, Kylie Minogue, Damon Albarn To Warner Bros: WMG's US Plans for Parlophone |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/5840082/coldplay-david-guetta-go-to-atlantic-records-radiohead-pink-floyd |publisher=Billboard.com |access-date=30 January 2014 |date=18 December 2013}}</ref>