Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Limited is a part of Sony Music International, the head office of which is based in New York. Originally, the Company was CBS Inc which was purchased by the Sony Corporation in 1988. The UK Company is an important source of repertoire to Sony Music affiliate companies in over 60 different countries around the world, employing over 13,000 people.

Our name reflects the range of entertainment related activities now undertaken by the Company which started in the UK in 1965 purely as a record company.

In the early days, the Company had two main functions; to discover and promote British talent as well as to break international artists in the growing British marketplace. The UK was introduced to major artists such as Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, The Byrds, Janis Joplin and Johnny Mathis. CBS UK launched the Tremeloes, Georgie Fame and Marmalade into the world market.

The Company went from strength to strength throughout the 70s and 80s, with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Paul Young, Alison Moyet, Deacon Blue, Sade, George Michael, Billy Joel, Gloria Estefan and Julio Iglesias, to name but a few.

During the early 90s the Company moved not only into new businesses which reflected Sony's world-wide strategy of growth through diversification and creating synergy between its various
business activities, but also continued its expanding success with a generation of new stars - Pearl Jam, Mariah Carey and Michael Bolton.

Sony Music Publishing was created to sign potentially successful songwriters and acquire a profitable back catalogue. The Licensed Repertoire Division, now known as Sony (Music) Independent Network Europe - SINE, was set up to sign marketing and distribution deals with acts and labels which prefer to retain their independent status, but can benefit from the world-wide Sony Music marketing and distribution network. SINE now has deals with labels including Nude, Independiente and Setanta.

The Sony Soho Square label, known as S2, was created in 1991 to concentrate on discovering and breaking UK acts, and has been successful with artists such as Reef, Des'ree and Jamiroquai.

Now Sony Music has two other small labels - Higher Ground and INCredible. Higher ground is a dance label that has had success with artists including Leftfield. INCredible, which also concentrates mainly on dance, releases compilation albums including 'The INCredible Sound of...' series.

We are involved in new media/multi media developments in the UK and Europe including the Internet, E-Commerce, MiniDisc, CD ROM, CD Extra, Digital TV and other emerging technologies that will impact on Sony Music in the business and creative areas.

Sony Music also works closely on marketing initiatives with sister Sony companies Sony UK (the hardware company), Columbia Pictures and Columbia Tri-Star Home Video, Sony Signatures and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.