EMI Records and Island Records – two sub-labels under Universal Music UK – are set to merge as part of a new restructuring.
According to Billboard, the move will be finalised on 1 October 2024, and will result in the creation of the Island EMI Label Group.
Per Billboard, Universal Music UK CEO David Joseph shared news of the merger in an internal company memo on Tuesday, 9 July. In it, he revealed it would bring a number of redundancies, though the exact number was not stated.
The union of EMI and Island follows a similar recent move by Universal Music UK, when it announced the Polydor Label Group, which houses Capitol UK.
Joseph’s memo said that both the Polydor Label Group and the Island EMI Label Group will be home to multiple smaller labels, “all with creative autonomy”.
“As a company, we must continue to be forward-looking, innovative, and bold,” the memo read [via Billboard]. “Developing artists now requires more creativity and patience than ever before.”
It added that the restructure hopes to “strengthen our labels’ capabilities” while “deepening artist and fan connections”.
“We are committed to being the number one place for artists, fans and talent,” Joseph wrote. “I have an incredible appreciation for our team given what we have achieved in the past and what I know we will achieve in the future.”
