The Beatles were signed to more than just one record label over their career and, in fact, they had several. However, the two main labels they recorded with were Parlophone (an EMI subsidiary) and Capitol. The Beatles signed to Parlophone in 1962, after being declined by Decca records in an incident now known as the "Decca audition". Having heard the material the band recorded in the audition, Decca rejected the Beatles and claimed, "guitar groups are on the way out" and "the Beatles have no future in show business". This decision has since been credited with being the worst decision in the history of the music industry.
The band decided to use Parlophone for the UK market and Capitol for the US. Most of the Beatles' studio albums were released by these companies, but various other compilation or live albums have been released by a variety of different labels including the band's own record label, Apple Records. Most of the lesser-known labels were used to distribute albums in other countries.
The Beatles record labels
Parlophone
Capitol
Apple
Vee - Jay
United Artists
Polydor
MGM
Odeon
Atco
Amiga
