Virgin Music, known as Virgin Music Label & Artist Services until 2022 and originally as Caroline Distribution, was a music distributor of independent artists and record labels, most prominently Death Grips,
Weezer
Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1992. Since 2001, the band has consisted of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Patrick Wilson (drums, backing vocals), Brian Bell (guitar, keyboards, backing ...
, and
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon-on-Thames, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band members are Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Gre ...
. Virgin Music operates as a subsidiary of Virgin Music Group, and is owned by
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...
. The company focuses on the distribution of new or emerging partners. Virgin Music has its operation in United States, with its flagship operating in Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and across Latin America.
History
In 1983, Caroline Distribution was established by
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950) is an English business magnate who co-founded the Virgin Group in 1970, and controlled 5 companies remaining of once more than 400.
Branson expressed his desire to become an entrepreneu ...
&
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label owned by Universal Music Group. They were originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman (musician), ...
. In 2019, Universal Music Group acquired the digital music and network company INgrooves (including the independent label distributor Fontana Distribution).
According to ''Billboard'' reporter Ed Christman; “Between Caroline and Ingrooves, UMG’s indie owned distributors will have a combine market share of about 4.4 percent Billboard estimates, based on year-end numbers”. On 18 February 2021,
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...
announced Virgin Music Label & Artist Services, a new global network to deliver premium and flexible artist and label services.
Following its launch, Universal Music Group retained Caroline Distribution president Jacqueline Saturn, to head Virgin Music label and artist services division of Virgin Music Group.
In September 2022, Universal Music Group announced the launch of Virgin Music Group. Following its launch, its Label & Artist Services began operating as Virgin Music. On 22 September 2022,
Sumerian Records
Sumerian Records is an American record label based in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and London. The label was founded in 2006 by Ash Avildsen.Virgin Music Group established Virgin Music Nigeria.
In October 2023, Virgin Music Group combined with Virgin Music