Caroline Records, Inc.

This is the company that existed from 1983 to 2011. It operated the Caroline Records label from 1986 to 2011, and under EMI ownership starting in 1993, used the Caroline Distribution name for its distribution operations. A more detailed history: The company was established July 1983 as Caroline Imports, Inc., initially operated out of Richard Branson's NYC apartment. It was renamed Caroline Records, Inc. later that year. Under pressure from major labels upset with "parallel imports" competing with domestic product, Caroline largely discontinued importing in 1986 and focused more on distribution and development of indie labels & artists, including running its own label, Caroline Records. When EMI bought the company in 1993, the distribution activity was rebranded Caroline Distribution and began operating under separate leadership; EMI Music Distribution (EMD) handled the larger accounts. The company was merged out of existence in Aug. 2011, after Citigroup's takeover of EMI Group from Terra Firma (in 2010) but before the sale of EMI to Universal (announced later in 2011, completed in 2012). Universal began using the Caroline brand in 2012, and fully relaunched Caroline in 2013. However, Caroline Records, Inc. is gone and should not appear on anything after 2011.