Editing MCA Records

{{Short description|American record label}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2016}}
{{infobox record label
| bgcolor     = #000000
| name        = {{color|white|MCA Records, Inc.}}
| image       = [[File:MCA Records Logo 1990s.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| caption     = Final logo, used from 1991 to 2003
| parent      = {{unbulleted list|[[MCA Inc.]] (1967–1996)|[[MCA Music Entertainment Group]] (1989–1996)|[[Universal Music Group]] (1996–2003)}}
| founded     = {{Start date and age|1934}} (as [[Decca Records]])<br />{{Start date and age|1972}} (became MCA Records)
| founder     = [[MCA Inc.]]
| country     = United States
| location    = 70 Universal City Plaza, [[Universal City, California]] (1972–2000)<br />2220 Colorado Avenue, [[Santa Monica, California]] (2000–2003)
| defunct     = {{end date and age|2003}} (Absorbed into [[Geffen Records]])
| distributor = [[Interscope Capitol Labels Group]]
| genre       = Various
}}

'''MCA Records''' was an American [[record label]] owned by [[MCA Inc.]] established in 1972, though MCA had released recordings under that name in the UK from the 1960s.  The label achieved success in the 1970s through the 1980s, often by acquiring other record labels, from [[ABC Records|ABC]] to [[Motown records|Motown]] to [[Geffen Records Inc.|Geffen]].  MCA Inc. became Universal Studios, Inc., in 1996, and the MCA record label was folded into [[Universal Music Group]]'s Geffen Records in 2003, but Universal's [[MCA Nashville]] {{as of|2024|alt=continues to}} use the moniker.

==History==
===Background===
The U.S. arm of Britain's [[Decca Records]] was established in [[New York City|New York]] in 1934<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/label/Decca+Records|title= Decca Records Profile|publisher=[[Discogs]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907173358/http://www.discogs.com/label/Decca+Records|archive-date=September 7, 2007|access-date=November 22, 2008}}</ref>  In 1937, the owner of Decca, [[Edward Lewis (Decca)|Edward R. Lewis]], chose to split off the UK Decca company from the U.S. company (keeping his U.S. Decca holdings), fearing the financial damage that would arise for UK Companies if the emerging hostilities of [[Nazi Germany]] should lead to war – correctly foreseeing [[World War II]]. Lewis sold the remainder of his American Decca holdings when war did break out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=liEEAAAAMBAJ&q=foresight+hard+work+raise+decca+baby&pg=PA14|title=Billboard|work=google.com|date=August 28, 1954}}</ref> U.S.-based Decca Records kept the rights to the Decca name in North and South America and parts of Asia including Japan. UK Decca owned the rights to the Decca name in the rest of the world. After the war, British Decca formed a new U.S. subsidiary, [[London Records]].  During this time, American Decca issued records outside North America on the [[Coral Records]] and [[Brunswick Records]] labels.

===The early years===
In 1962, MCA, a talent agency and television production company, entered the recorded music business with the acquisition of American Decca, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary.  As American Decca owned [[Universal Pictures]], MCA was forced to exit the talent agency business in order to complete the merger.  MCA assumed full ownership of Universal and made it into a top film studio, producing several hits.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,896402,00.html?promoid=googlep|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001002802/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,896402,00.html?promoid=googlep|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 1, 2007|title=After the Octopus|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=July 20, 1962|access-date=November 22, 2008}}</ref>

In 1966, MCA formed [[Uni Records]]<ref name="bsnpubs">{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Edwards|author2=Patrice Eyries|author3=Mike Callahan|url=https://www.bsnpubs.com/mca/uni.html|title=Universal City Records [UNI&#93; Album Discography|date=April 24, 2007|access-date=November 22, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013213311/http://www.bsnpubs.com/mca/uni.html|archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref> and in 1967, purchased [[Kapp Records]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/label/Kapp+Records|title= Kapp Records Profile|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=November 22, 2008}}</ref> which was placed under Uni Records management.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MygEAAAAMBAJ&q=uni+%2B+decca+%2B+kapp&pg=PA7|title=Billboard|work=google.com|date=December 9, 1967}}</ref>

Brunswick and Coral were replaced by the new MCA label, which was used to release U.S. Decca and Kapp label material outside North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/label/MCA+Records|title= MCA Records Profile|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=November 22, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MygEAAAAMBAJ&q=Gallagher+%2B+%22mca+records%22&pg=PA5|title=Billboard|work=google.com|date=December 9, 1967}}</ref> Initial activity as MCA Records was based in [[London]] and MCA Records UK was formally launched on February 16, 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rAcEAAAAMBAJ&q=mca+%2B+%22united+kingdom%22+%2B+feb.&pg=RA1-PA45|title=Billboard|work=google.com|date=February 3, 1968}}</ref> Among the early artists on the MCA label, around 1971, were groups [[Wishbone Ash]], [[Osibisa]], [[Stackridge]] and [[Budgie (band)|Budgie]], and solo artists [[Tony Christie]], [[Mick Greenwood]] and [[Roy Young (musician)|Roy Young]].<ref>Billboard Magazine, November 13, 1971 – MCA Records advertisement, p. L28 (Spotlight on London)</ref>

Early MCA UK releases were distributed by Decca, but moved to [[EMI]] in 1974. As the U.S. division of MCA Records was not established until 1972, the earliest UK MCA Records material was released in the U.S. on either Kapp or Decca. MCA UK also issued American Brunswick material on the MCA label until 1972, two years after MCA lost control of Brunswick, after which American Brunswick material was issued in the UK on the revived Brunswick label. Uni label material was issued on the Uni label worldwide.

=== MCA Records formation in Canada and the United States ===
In 1970, MCA reorganized its Canadian record company [[Compo Company]] Ltd. into MCA Records (Canada).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/label/MCA+Records+(Canada)|title= MCA Records (Canada) Profile|publisher=[[Discogs]]|access-date=November 22, 2008}}</ref> In April 1970, former [[Warner Records]] president Mike Maitland joined MCA and initially served as Decca's general manager. Maitland was unsuccessful in his attempt to consolidate Warner Records with co-owned [[Atlantic Records]] which led to his departure from Warner.

In April 1971, Maitland supervised the consolidation of the New York–based Decca and Kapp labels plus the [[California]]-based Uni label into MCA Records based in [[Universal City, California]], with Maitland serving as president.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3AgEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22mike+maitland%22+%2B+%22mca+records%22+%2B+uni+%2B+decca&pg=PA3|title=Billboard|work=google.com|date=April 10, 1971}}</ref> The three labels maintained their identities for a short time, but were retired in favor of the MCA label in 1973.<ref name="bsnpubs"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NgkEAAAAMBAJ&q=kapp+%2B+decca+%2B+logos&pg=PA1|first=Claude|last=Hall|title=MCA Drops Vocalion, Decca, Kapp and Uni|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=February 10, 1973}}</ref> "[[Drift Away]]" by [[Dobie Gray]] became the final Decca pop label release in the U.S. in 1973. Beginning the same year, the catalogs of Decca, Uni and Kapp were reissued in the U.S. on the MCA label under the supervision of veteran Decca producer [[Milt Gabler]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUUEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22mca+records%22+%2B+maitland+%2B+%22crocodile+rock%22&pg=PA3|title=Billboard|work=google.com|date=March 3, 1973}}</ref>

=== Early success ===
The first MCA Records release in the U.S. was former Uni artist [[Elton John]]'s "[[Crocodile Rock]]" single in 1972, which appeared on a plain black and white label.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ig8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22mca+records+presents+its+first+single%22&pg=PA15|title=Billboard|work=google.com|date=December 2, 1972}}</ref> Immediately following this, the American MCA label used a black with curved rainbow design until the late 1970s. This design was directly inspired by the U.S. Decca label of the 1960s.

In December 1972, [[Neil Diamond]], another Uni artist, reached  superstar status with his first MCA release, the live multi-platinum ''[[Hot August Night]]''. Elton John's [[double album]] ''[[Goodbye Yellow Brick Road]]'' was released in October 1973 and was number one on the U.S. [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] albums chart for eight straight weeks. The management of former Decca artists [[the Who]] had formed their own label [[Track Records]] in the UK, but were still under contract with MCA for American distribution. The Who's double album ''[[Quadrophenia]]'' was  released by Track/MCA also in October 1973. ''Quadrophenia'' peaked at number 2 as it was held back from the number 1 slot by ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.''

Other successful artists on MCA, after the consolidation, included former Kapp artist [[Cher]], and Uni artist [[Olivia Newton-John]]. In 1973 MCA released the highly successful soundtrack album to the film ''[[The Sting]]''. The movie used the [[Ragtime]] music of [[Scott Joplin]], arranged and conducted by [[Marvin Hamlisch]]. It won an [[Academy Award for Best Original Score]] (MCA issued many other soundtracks to films from Universal, along with some non-Universal films).

One of the most successful MCA artists in this era was the rock band [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]], who would become one of the most popular in the [[Southern rock]] genre. The group was discovered by [[Al Kooper]] and initially released on his Sounds of the South label imprint of MCA. The song "[[Free Bird]]" became one of the most popular songs of all time on [[album-oriented rock]] radio stations. On ''[[Second Helping]]'', the group recorded a song about their relationship with the label called, "Workin' for MCA". ''[[Street Survivors]]'' was released in October 1977, just prior to a tragic [[Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash|plane crash]] in which members of the group were either killed or severely injured. The original ''Street Survivors'' cover had a picture of the band members surrounded by flames, but this was quickly substituted for a design without flames. Lynyrd Skynyrd's streak of hits ended after the crash. Eventually, three Lynyrd Skynyrd albums reached the double platinum sales level and at least two others reached platinum or gold levels.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

During the 1970s and 1980s, MCA profited from reissuing classic early [[rock and roll]] recordings made by artists who recorded for the numerous labels absorbed by MCA. One notable example was the 1954 Decca recording "[[Rock Around the Clock]]" by [[Bill Haley & His Comets]], which was featured as the lead track of MCA's number one–charting ''[[American Graffiti (soundtrack)|American Graffiti]]'' soundtrack album, and as a single returned to the American top 40 that year, 20 years after it was recorded.

=== Expansion and struggles ===
In 1977, MCA president [[Sidney Sheinberg]] set up the [[Infinity Records]] division, based in [[New York City]] with Ron Alexenberg as CEO. Alexenberg had been with the [[Epic Records|Epic]] division of CBS Records, now [[Sony Music Entertainment]]. The intention was to give MCA a stronger presence on the East Coast. The only big hit the Infinity label had was "[[Escape (The Piña Colada Song)]]" by [[Rupert Holmes]], a number one single at the end of 1979. Infinity also had some success with [[Hot Chocolate (band)|Hot Chocolate]], [[Spyro Gyra]], [[New England (band)|New England]] and [[TKO (band)|TKO]]. But MCA pulled the plug on Infinity after it failed to sell most of the one million advance copies of an album featuring [[Pope John Paul II]] in October 1979. Infinity was fully absorbed by the parent company in 1980.

In 1979, Bob Siner replaced Maitland as MCA Records president.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCUEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22mike+maitland%22+%2B+%22mca+records%22+%2B+%22bob+siner%22&pg=PT16|title=Billboard|work=google.com|date=January 20, 1979}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, MCA acquired [[ABC Records]] along with its subsidiaries [[Paramount Records (1969)|Paramount]], [[Dunhill Records|Dunhill]], [[Impulse! Records|Impulse!]], [[Westminster Records|Westminster]], and [[Dot Records|Dot]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LiUEAAAAMBAJ&q=february+%2B+1979+%2B+billboard|title=Billboard|work=google.com|date=February 10, 1979}}</ref> ABC had acquired the Paramount and Dot labels when they purchased [[Gulf+Western]]'s record labels and [[Famous Music|Famous Music Corp]]. Thus, MCA now controlled material once owned by Paramount Pictures, the music released by Paramount's record labels, and the pre-1950 films by Paramount as well.

Also included in this deal were recordings controlled by ABC, including albums by [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]] which were originally released by [[Shelter Records]]. Petty was furious about the reassignment of his contract and refused to record for MCA. This led to a series of lawsuits, which resulted in his bankruptcy in 1980. Petty and other ABC/Shelter artists eventually had their contracts transferred to the [[Backstreet Records]] label, which was distributed by MCA. ABC Records' independent distributors sued ABC and MCA for $1.3 million in damages for being stuck with unsold ABC recordings they could not return to MCA.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BM58F-yOS3IC&q=abc+records+mca+distributors&pg=PA203|title=Jimmy Buffett|isbn=9780312168759|last1=Eng|first1=Steve|date=October 15, 1997|publisher=Macmillan }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISUEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22abc+records%22+%2B+losses&pg=PT15|title=Billboard|work=google.com|date=March 17, 1979}}</ref> The better selling ABC Records catalog albums were reissued on the MCA label.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Edwards |author2=Patrice Eyries |author3=Mike Callahan|url=http://bsnpubs.com/abc/abcstory.html|title=ABC-Paramount Records Story|date=July 30, 2007|access-date=November 22, 2008}}</ref>

MCA distribution in Europe and Asia moved to [[Sony Music Entertainment|CBS]] in 1979, while releases in the 1980s were self-distributed, or through [[Warner Music Group|WEA]]. Distribution moved to [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] during the 1990s.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

=== The 1980s<span class="anchor" id="Superstar pricing"></span> ===
The combined effects of the Infinity Records failure, the purchase of ABC, rising vinyl costs and a major slump in record sales produced tremendous losses for the company between 1979 and 1982. It was not until the mid-1980s that the record labels returned to significant profitability. In late 1980, MCA received negative publicity when it attempted to raise the list price of new releases by top selling artists from $8.98 to $9.98 (${{Inflation|US|8.98|1980|r=2}} and ${{Inflation|US|9.98|1980|r=2}} in {{Inflation/year|US}} dollars respectively). This policy, known as "superstar pricing", ultimately failed. The ''[[Xanadu (soundtrack)|Xanadu]]'' soundtrack album and ''[[Gaucho (album)|Gaucho]]'', by former ABC act [[Steely Dan]], were the first releases with the higher list price. Backstreet artist Tom Petty succeeded in his campaign to force MCA to drop prices back to $8.98 for the release of his album ''[[Hard Promises]]'', in May 1981.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yd2Hm8BlzZUC&q=%22tom+petty%22%2B+%22hard+promises%22%2B+price&pg=PA31 |title=Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry ... – Steve Knopper – Google Books |isbn=9781416594550 |access-date=February 28, 2013|last1=Knopper |first1=Steve |date=January 6, 2009 |publisher=Simon and Schuster }}</ref>

MCA had a distribution deal with the independent label Unicorn Records, which in turn signed an agreement with another rising independent label, [[SST Records]] to manufacture and distribute [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]]'s first album ''[[Damaged (Black Flag album)|Damaged]]''. Reportedly, MCA executive Al Bergman heard an advance copy of the album and refused to let MCA Distributing Inc. handle it, stating that it was "an anti-parent record". The members of Black Flag found themselves covering the MCA Distributing logo on the first 25,000 copies with a sticker reading "As a parent... I found it an anti-parent record."{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

SST Records partner [[Joe Carducci]] later said that Bergman's comments were actually a red herring for MCA to cut ties with Unicorn, which had not produced any successful releases; the fact that MCA would, not soon afterward, directly commission a new recording of "TV Party" from Black Flag and SST Records for the  ''[[Repo Man (soundtrack)|Repo Man]]'' soundtrack seemed to bear this out.{{according to whom|date=February 2024}} Unicorn would later go out of business after going bankrupt, partially the result of a lawsuit between themselves and Black Flag.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

=== Recovery, further expansion and MCA Music Entertainment Group ===
[[Irving Azoff]] became the head of MCA Records in 1983. Azoff is known as an experienced music industry veteran who received credit amongst MCA management and staff for saving the company from bankruptcy.

In 1983, rock musician [[Frank Zappa]] negotiated a distribution agreement for his [[Barking Pumpkin]] label with MCA. As the records were being manufactured, a woman in the quality control department objected to the lyrics of Zappa's album ''[[Thing-Fish]]''. After this MCA cancelled the Zappa contract.<ref name="pent1989">{{cite web|url=https://www.afka.net/Articles/1989-05_Penthouse.htm |title=The Porn Wars |first=with Peter Occhiogrosso |last=Frank Zappa |work=Penthouse - May 1989 |access-date=July 18, 2022}}</ref> At about the same time, Zappa publicly argued with members of the [[Parents Music Resource Center]] (PMRC) over censorship and warning stickers for albums with potentially offensive content. The experience with MCA prompted Zappa to create a satirical "WARNING/GUARANTEE" sticker of his own. ''Thing-Fish'' was released with Zappa's sticker in December 1984 under a new agreement with [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]/[[EMI Records|EMI]].<ref name="pent1989"/> Despite the conflict with Zappa, MCA later became the biggest label to oppose the PMRC and the use of warning stickers. In October 1985, Azoff said "Never will you find a sticker on one of our records."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-10-10-8503090238-story.html|title=Warning Stickers Won't Appear on Mca Albums|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=October 10, 1985 }}</ref>

In the 1980s, MCA became commonly nicknamed "Music Cemetery of America" due to a huge surplus of unprofitable records sitting unsold in MCA warehouses. A number of MCA associates, including Azoff and Zappa, disparaged the company in this way.<ref name="pent1989"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/e82076d0d7ee78a6b2b13d06eaaa30c5 |title=Azoff Quits as Chairman of MCA's Music Unit |publisher=AP News |date=September 6, 1989 |accessdate=March 9, 2022}}</ref>

Starting in 1984, [[William Knoedelseder]] wrote a series of articles for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' about the connections between [[organized crime]] and MCA. Knoedelseder told the story of mobster Sal Pisello and the corrupt deals he arranged with MCA for the liquidation sales of unsold [[Cut-out (recording industry)|cut-out]] recordings that had been [[Deletion (music industry)|deleted]] from the MCA catalog. The story was later adapted into the book ''Stiffed: A True Story of MCA, the Music Business, and the Mafia'', which was published in 1993.

The [[Chess Records]] catalog was acquired from the remnants of [[Sugar Hill Records (rap)|Sugar Hill Records]] in 1985. [[Motown Records]] was bought in 1988. In the late 1980s, MCA formed Mechanic Records as a sub-label for releasing [[heavy metal music]]. Bands signed to Mechanic included [[Voivod (band)|Voivod]], [[Dream Theater]], [[Bang Tango]], and [[Trixter]].{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

MCA created a new holding company in 1989 called MCA Music Entertainment Group, headed by Al Teller, former President of United Artists Records, and co-chairman of Turf Classics, a concert production company, run by Producer Richard Flanzer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/06/business/business-people-mca-music-group-names-new-chairman.html?pagewanted=1 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |title=BUSINESS PEOPLE; MCA Music Group Names New Chairman |first=Geraldine |last=Fabrikant |date=September 6, 1989 |access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> The same year the MCA Inc. parent company was purchased by the [[Panasonic Corporation|Matsushita group]].

Azoff resigned from MCA in 1989 to form his own record label, the now-defunct [[Giant Records (Warner)|Giant Records]]. [[Richard Palmese]] was named president of MCA Records after Azoff in 1990.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-07-fi-39-story.html|title=Richard Palmese has been named president of MCA Records. He previously was executive vice president and general manager of MCA Records.|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 12, 2010 |date=August 7, 1990}}</ref>

=== The 1990s ===
[[GRP Records]] and [[Geffen Records]] were acquired in 1990. Unlike most of MCA's previous acquisitions, GRP (which began managing MCA's jazz holdings) and Geffen (which became a second mainstream subsidiary) labels kept their identities. MCA sold [[Motown Records]] to [[PolyGram]] in 1993.

Singer and songwriter [[Alanis Morissette]] became a noteworthy MCA artist in Canada with her debut album in 1991. After her second album in 1992 she was dropped following disagreements in artistic direction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thatericalper.com/2016/04/09/the-moment-alanis-morissette-got-dropped-from-her-label-and-what-she-did-next|title=The moment Alanis Morissette got dropped from her label, and what she did next.|date=April 9, 2016}}</ref> However, the company kept her on their song publishing roster, both being owned by Universal Music. Morissette's next album, [[Jagged Little Pill]] (written and produced independently, but released through [[Warner Music]]'s [[Maverick Records]] label) eventually sold more than 30 million copies.

=== Universal Music Group ===
In 1995, drinks conglomerate [[Seagram Company Ltd.]] acquired 80% of MCA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2003/05/22/mca-is-history-long-lived-record-label-to-be-merged-into-geffen/|title=MCA IS HISTORY – LONG-LIVED RECORD LABEL TO BE MERGED INTO GEFFEN|last=Arango|first=Tim|date=May 22, 2003|website=New York Post|access-date=September 8, 2017}}</ref>  In November of that year, Teller was fired and replaced by former [[Warner Music Group]] head [[Doug Morris]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-17-fi-4210-story.html | newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] | first=Chuck | last=Philips | date=November 17, 1995 | access-date=May 12, 2010 | title=Company Town : SHAKE-UP AT TIME WARNER : A Very Bizarre Year at Time Warner : Chronology: Industry waits to see if established and new artists defect to rivals in wake of executive turnover at music giant}}</ref> Palmese left MCA a week later.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/21/business/the-media-business-mca-fills-a-powerful-position-head-of-motion-picture-group.html?pagewanted=1 | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS;MCA Fills a Powerful Position, Head of Motion Picture Group | first=Bernard | last=Weinraub | date=November 21, 1995 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> Afterwards, [[Jay Boberg]] was named as the new president of MCA.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff |date=January 16, 2003 |title=Jay Boberg Resigns As MCA President |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/jay-boberg-resigns-as-mca-president-72656/ |access-date=January 16, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> On December 9, 1996, the new owners dropped the MCA name; the company became Universal Studios, Inc. and its music division, MCA Music Entertainment Group, was renamed [[Universal Music Group]] (UMG), headed by Morris.

In 1997, MCA Records adopted a new logo that featured the parent company's former full name, Music Corporation of America. That many younger people had been unaware of what MCA had stood for in the past inspired the new logo. In conjunction with the new logo, the first MCA Records website was launched. In 1998, MCA released the sophomore album [[Feeling Strangely Fine]] by [[Semisonic]], which had the number one hit single and video, "[[Closing Time (Semisonic song)|Closing Time]]", about the use of alcohol in local night clubs and taverns.

On May 21, 1998, Seagram acquired [[PolyGram]] (owner of British Decca) from [[Philips]] and merged it with Universal Music Group. Unlike several labels under PolyGram and UMG, who faced closure and job cuts of employees, MCA was the only label that was not affected by the merger.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 22, 1999 |title=Hundreds of Jobs Lost in Universal Mega-Merger |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hundreds-of-jobs-lost-in-universal-mega-merger-114582/ |access-date=January 16, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> When Seagram's drinks business was bought by [[France]]-based [[Pernod Ricard]], its media holdings (including Universal) were sold to [[Vivendi]] which became Vivendi Universal which was later renamed back to Vivendi SA after selling most of the entertainment division (which included [[Universal Pictures]]) to [[General Electric]]. Morris continued to head the combined company, still called Universal Music Group.

=== MCA label phaseout ===
On January 16, 2003, Jay Boberg resigned from his position as president of MCA Records.<ref name=":0" /> Boberg's resignation arrived in the wake of slumping sales at MCA, which had seen the label's overall album market share decline to just 2.61% in 2002, down from 9% the previous year.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Oppelaar |first=Justin |date=January 16, 2003 |title=MCA's Jay walking |url=https://variety.com/2003/music/markets-festivals/mca-s-jay-walking-1117878891/ |access-date=January 16, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> His demise was hastened by the relative commercial failure of [[Shaggy (musician)|Shaggy]]'s ''[[Lucky Day (album)|Lucky Day]]'', released in October 2002, which MCA hoped would sell well enough to turn around their declining fortunes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff |date=May 20, 2003 |title=Plan Could Signal End Of MCA Brand |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/plan-could-signal-end-of-mca-brand-70994/ |access-date=January 16, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Richard Nichols, manager of [[The Roots]], felt that MCA had been attempting to spend lots of money on different projects, and subsequently many acts on MCA were "underfinanced" by the label, leading to poor sales.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Newman |first=Melinda |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8A0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=mca+geffen+merger+2003&pg=PA3 |title=Billboard |date=June 21, 2003 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |pages=3, 68 |language=en |chapter=MCA Braces for Merger with Geffen}}</ref> Rob Hitt of [[Midtown (band)|Midtown]] (who was signed to MCA through [[Drive-Thru Records]]) stated that MCA had lost a substantial amount of money that year from investing in several unsuccessful bands.<ref name="TNTFresh2">{{cite news |author=Friedman, David |date=December 13, 2004 |title=Fresh start |url=https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Fresh-start-91783.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423101508/https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Fresh-start-91783.php |archive-date=April 23, 2018 |access-date=April 23, 2018 |work=[[The News-Times]] |publisher=Shawn Palmer}}</ref>

Management of the label was subsequently handed over to the [[Interscope Geffen A&M Records|Interscope Geffen A&M]] umbrella label and [[Jimmy Iovine]], although UMG [[chairman]] [[Doug Morris]] promised that MCA would continue to operate as a "full-service, free standing label".<ref name=":0" /> Craig Lambert, previously the [[vice president]] of the label, was named as the interim head of MCA, with a successor expected to be chosen within a few months.<ref name=":0" /> Following Boberg's resignation, it was rumoured that MCA could possibly be merged into [[Universal Records (1995−2006)|Universal Records]], something which would have given the latter, New York City–based label a stronger presence in the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] of the United States.<ref name=":3" />

On May 20, 2003, insider sources at Universal reporting to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' revealed that the MCA label was to be absorbed by sister UMG label [[Geffen Records]] by the end of the year. The reported reason behind the MCA brand phaseout was due to declining sales, as well as the MCA brand becoming "tarnished" by "a history of acquisitions and mergers".<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news |author=Billboard |author-link=Billboard (magazine) |date=May 20, 2003 |title=MCA & Geffen Merger |publisher=ISM Sound Network |url=http://www.ismsound.net/index/news/id.77 |access-date=November 22, 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051226220437/http://www.ismsound.net/index/news/id.77 |archive-date=December 26, 2005}}</ref> On June 9, 2003, MCA laid off 75 of their staff, equivalent to a third of their personnel, although no employees from Geffen were let go.<ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff |date=June 10, 2003 |title=MCA Cuts Precede Expected Geffen Merger |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/mca-cuts-precede-expected-geffen-merger-70662/ |access-date=January 16, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Geffen's president, [[Jordan Schur]], was named president of the newly merged entity, which continued under the Geffen branding. In the subsequent months, the MCA name was phased out entirely.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bA8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=mca+geffen+merger+2003&pg=PA56 |title=Billboard |date=December 27, 2003 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |pages=YE-10 |language=en |chapter=Year In Music {{!}} Year In Business}}</ref> The last album to be released under the MCA Records branding was [[Twisted Method]]'s ''[[Escape from Cape Coma]]'', which was released on July 15, 2003.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ghGxEXpetmAC&dq=twisted+method+escape+from+cape+coma&pg=PA43 |title=CMJ New Music Report |date=July 21, 2003 |publisher=CMJ Network, Inc. |language=en}}</ref>

Today, [[Interscope Capitol Labels Group]] and [[Universal Music Enterprises]] manage MCA's rock, pop, and urban back catalogues (including those from ABC Records and Famous Music Group) in conjunction with Geffen – UME and Geffen have re-released various albums from MCA in the years since, as well as several compilations. Its [[country music]] label [[MCA Records Nashville]] is still in operation, and is one of the only businesses using the MCA trademark as of 2016 along with MCA Records France (imprint of Universal Music France). MCA's [[jazz]] catalogue is managed by [[Verve Records]] (through the [[Impulse! Records|Impulse!]] and [[GRP Records|GRP]] imprints, depending on whether the recording was acquired from ABC or not), while its [[classical music]] catalogue is managed by [[Deutsche Grammophon]]. MCA's [[musical theatre]] catalogue is managed by [[Decca Records]] on its [[Decca Broadway]] imprint.

Following a lengthy two-decade hiatus, Universal Music Group rebranded its country music subsidiary company as MCA, marking the return of the Music Corporation of America to the UMG umbrella once more.

== Logos ==
<gallery>
Image:1960sMCAlogo.jpg|First MCA Records logo, with lowercase name, used outside the United States from 1967 through 1972.
Image:1970sMCARecordsLogo.jpg|MCA Records logo used from 1972 through 1991.
Image:MCA Records Logo 1990s.svg|Final MCA Records logo; currently used by active label [[Universal Music Group Nashville|Music Corporation of America]], [[Universal Music Group Nashville|MCA Nashville]] and MCA Records France, used from 1997 until its absorption into Geffen Records in 2003. It adds the founding company's original full name, Music Corporation of America.
</gallery>

== Labels ==
<gallery>
Image:MCARecordsCover1970s.jpg|White promotional label used for second logo, 1972 until 1991 (vinyl version)
File:Oh boy! (MCA-UK).JPG|Black Rainbow label used logo 1972 until 1980 (Vinyl Version)
Image:MCARecordsCover1990s.jpg|Label used for third logo, 1991 until 1997 (CD version)
</gallery>

== MCA Records recording artists ==
{{For-multi|a list of performers who have had recordings with MCA|List of MCA Records artists|MCA Records' country music performers|List of UMG Nashville artists#MCA Nashville Records}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070605021505/http://www.collectable-records.ru/labels/E_M/M.C.A/index.htm A collection of MCA record labels]

{{Universal Music Group}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:MCA Records| ]]
[[Category:Defunct record labels of the United States]]
[[Category:Record labels based in California]]
[[Category:Universal Music Group]]
[[Category:Record labels established in 1934]]
[[Category:Record labels disestablished in 2003]]
[[Category:American jazz record labels]]
[[Category:Soundtrack record labels]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in the United States]]