Virgin Records no longer belongs to Richard Branson or the wider Virgin Group — it’s owned today by Universal Music Group (UMG). Branson co-founded the label in 1972 alongside Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman, but sold it to Thorn EMI back in 1992, ending Branson’s direct ownership decades ago.
The label’s path to its current owner ran through EMI’s own eventual sale: Universal Music Group acquired EMI in 2012 and folded Virgin’s UK operations into a new Virgin EMI Records division in March 2013. In June 2020, Universal rebranded Virgin EMI Records as EMI Records, with Virgin now operating as an imprint under that label rather than a standalone company. Separately, UMG also owns Virgin Music Group, a global music distribution business launched in September 2022 that borrows the Virgin name but operates as a distinct modern entity.
Quick Facts
| Label | Virgin Records |
|---|---|
| Current Owner | Universal Music Group |
| Founded | 1972, by Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and Tom Newman |
| Sold by Branson | 1992, to Thorn EMI |
| UMG Acquired EMI | 2012 |
| Current Status | Imprint under EMI Records (rebranded from Virgin EMI Records in 2020) |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1972 | Richard Branson and co-founders launch Virgin Records as an independent British label |
| 1992 | Branson sells Virgin Records to Thorn EMI |
| 2012 | Universal Music Group acquires EMI, bringing Virgin Records under UMG’s ownership |
| 2013 | UMG creates Virgin EMI Records, merging Virgin’s UK operations into the new division |
| 2020 | Universal rebrands Virgin EMI Records as EMI Records, with Virgin continuing as an imprint |
| 2022 | UMG separately launches Virgin Music Group, a global distribution business using the Virgin name |
Key Ownership Highlights
- Virgin Records has had no ownership connection to Richard Branson or the wider Virgin Group (which still runs businesses like Virgin Airlines) since his 1992 sale — the music label and the airline are entirely separate ownership stories despite sharing the Virgin name.
- The label’s journey from independent British start-up to a UMG-owned imprint mirrors the broader consolidation of the recorded music industry into a handful of major labels over the past three decades.
- UMG’s decision to keep the Virgin name alive — both as an EMI Records imprint and through the separate Virgin Music Group distribution business — shows the brand still carries commercial value even decades after Branson’s exit.
FAQ
Who owns Virgin Records?
Universal Music Group owns Virgin Records today, following its 2012 acquisition of EMI, which had owned the label since Richard Branson sold it in 1992.
Does Richard Branson still own Virgin Records?
No. He sold the label to Thorn EMI in 1992 and has had no ownership stake in it since.