Richard Branson Linked with Virgin Records Bid

Posted on 18 July, 2012 by Neil Bird

Sir Richard Branson has been linked with a takeover of Virgin Records, the company which launched his business empire, from Universal Music. Reports suggest Sir Richard has held talks with Patrick Zelnick, who launched the French arm of the label in 1980, with a view to supporting a bid.

Universal may be ready to dispose of Virgin Records in order to gain regulatory approval for a £1.2 billion takeover of British group EMI, the company to whom Mr Branson sold his music business in 1992. Mr Zelnik told the Financial Times (FT) that the move is a real possibility.

He said; “If Universal is ready to sell Virgin Records, then Richard Branson will support a transaction and support me in doing it. He wants Virgin to be in my hands.”

However it is believed that Sir Richard has not yet committed himself to an offer and that he may only take a small stake in the business if the deal goes ahead. A source close to the entrepreneur said; “Richard’s a good businessman. He has to see the business plan and the price before committing.”

If the deal goes ahead it would be a nostalgic return to the music business for Sir Richard who launched the company in 1970. Virgin Records began life as a mail-order service and moved into its first retail commercial property in 1972. The London store became a popular haunt for music fans who could sit around on bean bags eating the vegetarian food Branson provided.

The company’s breakthrough came with the release of Mike Oldfield’s critically acclaimed Tubular Bells in 1973. This was followed by a succession of progressive rock releases from the likes of Gong and Tangerine Dream.

In 1977 Virgin Records came to national attention when Branson signed punk rock band the Sex Pistols and released the infamous God Save the Queen, which is incorrectly remembered as the record that called the monarch a moron.

This was swiftly followed by the signing of other new wave acts such as Magazine, Human League, Simple Minds and Culture Club. At the same time Virgin Records became a familiar feature on the high street with commercial property outlets in cities throughout the country. Sir Richard eventually parted with the company to help finance the launch of Virgin Airlines.

Were you a fan of Richard Branson’s Virgin Records? Do you have a favourite from the company’s back- catalogue such as Tangerine Dream or Culture Club? Share your memories with us below.




2 responses to “Richard Branson Linked with Virgin Records Bid”

  1. Steve, London says:

    Interesting. Richard Branson was one of the first in the industry to grasp the commercial potential of punk rock and it’s still being marketed today. I spotted Sex Pistols aftershave in a shop last week. Seriously !!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Recent Posts

Interest Rates Impact on Commercial Property

Commercial Property Investment Outlook for 2023

The best places to stay on the Riviera

The latest property data has identified Newquay as the fastest property seller’s market in the UK

Investing in your garden can increase your property’s value

French Riviera temping high-end homebuyers

How can the ownership rights of my commercial property impact a business sale?

Should I incorporate virtual property viewings permanently?

Investment expected to increase across Asia-Pacific in 2021

UK property industry slows as the conclusion of tax break looms

BNP Paribas cautioned investors on Friday as debt-trading bonanza that increased its earnings this past year

Over 300,000 property purchases fell through in 2020 – we show the most frequent motives and the best way to get your house sale back on track

House Prices in the Capital Surpass £500,000

Optimism from the Bank of England’s chief economist

The most expensive commercial properties.

Businesses operating from shared premises will miss out on grants