The Universal years have, thus far, resulted in tremendous dilution of brands; releases are inconsistently marketed as being "on" any number of labels which range from historic brands like Island to conglomerate holding companies, music groups, label groups, and miscellaneous divisions of Universal Music that formed from numerous mergers and acquisitions in the 1990s and 2000s:

• In December 1998 and the first three months of 1999, Universal Music Group put the Island brand in the control of three divisions: one in the UK, one in the U.S., and one in Germany. In each territory, these companies were merged under umbrella groups:
  • In the UK, Island and Mercury merged to become divisions of Island Mercury Group.
  • In Germany, Island and Mercury merged to become divisions of Island Mercury Labelgroup.
  • In the U.S., Mercury dissolved, and Island and Def Jam Recordings merged to become divisions of Island Def Jam Music Group.
• In March 1999, in the UK, Island Records Ltd. (the Island half of Island Mercury Group) was renamed Universal-Island Records Ltd., and Mercury took over the marketing of Island's roster of U.S. artists in that territory. Thus, Island and Universal-Island became synonymous with primarily UK and European artists. Island Mercury is sometimes used as a brand, as well.
• Releases bearing the Island brand are also sometimes issued via Universal Music Enterprises (UM^e) and UM3 (UM³), umbrella organizations formed in October 1999 to handle special-market releases and catalogue reissue compilations for the U.S. and the rest of the world, respectively. UM^e and UM³ releases are coordinated by a constituent label company like Hip-O Records and bear its logo, but also typically promote a confusing array of other Universal-owned brands, including Island, with varying degrees of prominence.
• Around 2002, Island Mercury Group became Island Records Group.^{[citation needed]}
• Some early 2000s releases by U2 are credited to "Interscope/Island Records". This is not a separate company, but rather just a co-branded alias for Interscope Records, much the way "Manhattan Island Records" was used for a handful of Grace Jones releases on Manhattan Records (a division of Capitol Records) in the mid-1980s.
• In January 2003, four divisions of Universal Music Germany merged into two: Motor Music and Urban/Def Jam become Motor Urban Def Jam, and Polydor Records merged with Island Mercury Labelgroup to form Polydor Island Group. In 2004, these divisions merged again, and Universal Music Germany restructured to have only two divisions: Universal Music Domestic Division and Universal Music International Division. Any of these divisions, or even Universal Music Germany itself, may be credited as the label on a given release, alongside or in place of Island.
• Island Records Australia was launched in 2007 by Universal Music Australia.

[

Artists

Main article: List of current Island Records artists

Main article: List of former Island Records artists

[

Recordings

This article deals mostly with the commercial history of the label, and over the years its output has been prolific. For a comprehensive list of releases, see the Discography.

[

Subsidiaries & Labels

This list is probably incomplete, and some of the dates are uncertain.

• Al's Records (1996–1997)
• Aladdin Records (UK) (mid-1960s)
• Antilles Records (1972–1998)
• Apparent Records (2007-Present)
• Apollo Recordings (2006–2007)
• Black Swan Records (1963-1965 and mid-1970s)
• Blue (1999–2001)
• Blunted (1993–1996)
• Brown Brigade (2003-present)
• Europa Recordings (2006–2007)
• Fallout Records (UK division)
• 4th & Broadway (1982–1997)
• Gee Street Records (1990-1997)
• Great Jones (1988–1994)
• Island Black Music (1995–1998)
• Island Jamaica (1995–1996)
• Island Jamaica Jazz (1996)
• Island Masters (1980s–1990s; reissues)
• Island Records Australia (2007-Present)
• Island Reggae Greats (1985, compilation series; re-issued in several forms)
• Island Trading Company (importer; 1982–mid-1990s; still exists)
• Island Urban Music (2007)
• Island Visual Arts (1985)
• Manga Entertainment (1991-1997, moved to Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures, then was sold to Starz Media)
• Mango Records (1972–1997)
• Mango Street (1989–1992)
• MonarC Entertainment (2002)
• Sense ("Sense of Island"; 1990–1991)
• Stiff Records (1984–1986 only)
• Stolen Transmission Records
• Sue Records (UK division)
• Surprise Records (mid-1970s)
• Trade 2 (1996–1997)
• Trojan Records (1967–1968 only)
• Tuff Gong (UK division)
• Witchseason Productions (Joe Boyd)

[

References

[

External links

• Island Records (U.K.) — official web site (UK)
• Island Records (U.S.) — official web site (US)
• Island Records label gallery at collectable-records.ru
• Island Book 1962–1977 — Just out! Island Records collectors guide - limited edition, numbered and signed
• Island Records Listing with picture sleeves and label design at collectable-records.ru
• Island Records (UK) and Island Records (US) sections of black-music-collectors.com
• Island Records (UK) and Island Records (US) sections of Discogs.com
• Island Records research — Island research wiki for Discogs.com

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