Universal Music Australia

Australian label and distributor, which started appearing on releases during July 1997. [u]Company / Label Timeline:[/u] - 1996 'MCA Music Entertainment Limited' was renamed 'Universal Music Australia Limited' in Australia after the Universal Music Group takeover of MCA Music Entertainment Group (from 1994 to 1999 'MCA' related Australian releases were distributed by BMG Australia Limited). - During mid-1996 releases started attributing Marketed By and/or Manufactured By 'Universal Music Australia Limited'. From mid-1996 'Universal Music Australia' was also being attributed to some releases. - Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Report Issue #360, dated January 19th 1997, sees the first references to 'UMA' in this industry publication. - By July 1997 'Universal Music Australia' is reliably printed on Australian releases — initially as Marketed By and/or Manufactured By, then as a label in its own right. - During May 1998 negotiations started regarding the merger between PolyGram and the Universal Music Group. - On March 22nd 1999 'Polygram Pty Limited' was renamed 'Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd' when PolyGram and Universal were merged through acquisition by Seagrams. It was at this juncture that PolyGram's Sydney warehouse was used to distribute numerous labels in the Australian market for UMA (including, but not limited to, 'A&M Records', 'Geffen Records', 'Grudge', 'Interscope Records', 'MCA Records', 'Mercury', 'Universal Records', etc.) - Present day: 'Universal Music Australia' continues as a major label and distributor.