PolyGram

PolyGram was a major entertainment company, and one of the largest record labels in the world, operating from 1972 to 1999. It was formed by the merger of the Dutch Philips and German Siemens record divisions, namely Philips Phonografische Industrie (PPI) and Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft (DGG) respectively.

Initially, PolyGram focused on managing the diverse music catalogs of its parent companies. Over time, it grew through acquisition, acquiring labels like Casablanca Records, Mercury Records, A&M Records, Island Records, Motown Records, and others. This acquisition strategy gave PolyGram a significant presence in various music genres.

The company had a powerful international distribution network, enabling it to promote and sell records globally. In addition to music, PolyGram also diversified into film and television production, though music remained its core business. PolyGram Filmed Entertainment produced and distributed a range of movies.

Despite its success, PolyGram faced challenges in the late 1990s due to internal restructuring and market shifts. In 1998, Seagram, the parent company of Universal Studios, acquired PolyGram for $10.6 billion. The merger resulted in the creation of Universal Music Group (UMG), which absorbed PolyGram's assets. The PolyGram name was largely retired, although certain film assets continued to operate under variants of the name for a period.