Imperial Records
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAmerican record label founded in 1947 that became closely associated with New Orleans R&B, rock and roll, jazz, pop, and later urban music.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Imperial Records is an American record label founded in 1947 by Lew Chudd. It began as an independent label focused primarily on rhythm and blues and country music, but its catalogue soon expanded across rock and roll, jazz, pop, and related popular genres. The label's historical identity is especially tied to the postwar New Orleans recording scene. Through its work with producer and songwriter Dave Bartholomew, Imperial released important recordings by Fats Domino and other New Orleans artists, helping bring the city's distinctive piano-led R&B sound to a broad American audience. During its independent period, Imperial also issued records by artists including Frankie Ford, Ricky Nelson, and Slim Whitman. Its catalogue was distributed in the United Kingdom by London Records, giving the label an international route for selected releases. Imperial's genre range was broader than its best-known rock and R&B repertoire: during the 1950s and 1960s it released jazz recordings by musicians such as Sonny Criss, Charlie Mariano, Papa Celestin, Erskine Hawkins, and Harold Land. The company expanded through acquisitions and distribution arrangements. Imperial acquired Aladdin Records in 1961, adding another important body of R&B and popular-music recordings to its catalogue. It had distributed Minit Records from 1960 and purchased Minit in 1963. Minit's New Orleans connection reinforced Imperial's position in regional R&B, with artists such as Irma Thomas becoming associated with the broader Imperial-Liberty record operation. Imperial's independent era ended after it lost major artists Fats Domino and Ricky Nelson to rival companies. In 1963, Lew Chudd sold the label to Liberty Records. Under Liberty's ownership, Imperial continued to release successful material by artists including Irma Thomas, Johnny Rivers, Jackie DeShannon, Classics IV, and Cher. Liberty also used Imperial as a United States outlet for recordings licensed from British artists during the British Invasion, including the Hollies, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, and the Swinging Blue Jeans. Releases by the Bonzo Dog Band and Kim Fowley also appeared through the label. After Liberty became part of a wider United Artists structure around 1970, Imperial was phased out and its active roster was transferred to United Artists. EMI later acquired the Imperial catalogue through its 1979 acquisition of United Artists Records. For much of the following period, Imperial functioned primarily as a catalogue identity, with EMI issuing compact-disc compilations and reissues that preserved the original label branding. EMI reactivated Imperial in 2006 as an urban-music imprint operated through Caroline Distribution, then associated with Virgin Records. Neil Levine was appointed to lead the initiative, which was intended to provide development resources for urban artists while working with EMI's major labels, including Capitol Records and Virgin Records. Raptivism Records was announced as the first signing to the revived imprint, and Fat Joe was associated with both Virgin and Imperial. The revival produced a limited number of releases before the imprint again became dormant. Following Universal Music Group's acquisition of the majority of EMI's recorded-music operations in 2012, Imperial's catalogue and corporate lineage came under UMG ownership through the Capitol Music Group structure. In 2021, Republic Records, a UMG company, revived the name through Imperial Music. The modern use of the brand therefore combines a historic catalogue label with occasional contemporary imprint activity rather than representing a continuously operating independent record company.
History
Imperial Records was established in the United States in 1947 by Lew Chudd. Its initial business focused on rhythm and blues and country music, two commercially important areas of the postwar American recording market. The label developed a particularly strong connection with New Orleans R&B through its relationship with producer and songwriter Dave Bartholomew. This connection helped Imperial build a nationally visible catalogue around Fats Domino and other artists whose records combined blues, boogie-woogie, gospel, jazz, and emerging rock-and-roll elements. The label's early and mid-century roster also included Frankie Ford, Ricky Nelson, and Slim Whitman. In Britain, London Records distributed Imperial releases. Imperial was not limited to singles or to one regional style: it issued jazz albums by Sonny Criss, Charlie Mariano, Papa Celestin, Erskine Hawkins, and Harold Land during the 1950s and 1960s. Its catalogue therefore covered both commercially oriented popular music and specialist jazz repertory. Imperial expanded its corporate footprint in the early 1960s. It purchased Aladdin Records in 1961, obtaining the catalogue and assets of another historically important R&B label. Imperial had distributed Minit Records from 1960 and acquired Minit in 1963. The Minit relationship strengthened Imperial's involvement in New Orleans music and connected its operations with artists such as Irma Thomas. These transactions also made Imperial part of a broader consolidation trend in the American record industry, in which successful independent labels were increasingly assembled into larger corporate groups. The company faced a major turning point in 1963 when Fats Domino moved to ABC Records and Ricky Nelson moved to Decca Records. After losing two of its most prominent artists, Chudd sold Imperial to Liberty Records. Liberty's ownership gave Imperial access to a larger corporate infrastructure while preserving the label as a recognizable release imprint. During this period, Imperial scored releases by Irma Thomas, Johnny Rivers, Jackie DeShannon, Classics IV, and Cher. Liberty also used its relationships with British companies to license recordings for the American market. Imperial-issued or Imperial-associated releases included material by the Hollies, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, the Swinging Blue Jeans, the Bonzo Dog Band, and Kim Fowley. Around 1970, Liberty became part of a structure involving United Artists Records. Imperial was subsequently phased out as an active label, and its roster was transferred to United Artists. In 1979, EMI acquired the Imperial catalogue as part of its acquisition of United Artists Records. For years afterward, Imperial's principal public role was as a historical catalogue identity. EMI issued compact-disc compilations and reissues using Imperial branding and original-label artwork, keeping the label visible to collectors and listeners interested in early R&B, rock and roll, jazz, and pop. In June 2006, EMI reactivated Imperial as an urban-music imprint under Caroline Distribution, which was then associated with Virgin Records. The project was led by urban-music executive Neil Levine and was designed to help develop urban artists while drawing on the resources of EMI's larger Capitol and Virgin operations. Raptivism Records was announced as the first signing, and Fat Joe was associated with the Virgin and Imperial arrangement. The revival was short-lived, and after a limited run of releases the imprint again became dormant. The 2012 acquisition of most of EMI's recorded-music operations by Universal Music Group transferred Imperial's catalogue into UMG's corporate family. In 2021, Republic Records revived the name through the formation of Imperial Music, giving the brand another contemporary imprint phase. The label's present identity is therefore best understood as a UMG-controlled brand with a historically important catalogue and intermittent new-release activity. Its enduring significance rests on the recordings made during its independent and Liberty-era periods, particularly its role in documenting and popularizing New Orleans R&B.
- 2021
Imperial Music is formed
[1]Republic Records revives the Imperial name through the Imperial Music imprint.
- 2012
Imperial enters the Universal Music Group family
[1]Universal Music Group acquires the majority of EMI's recorded-music operations, including the Imperial catalogue.
- 2006
EMI reactivates Imperial for urban music
[1]EMI brings back the Imperial imprint as an urban-music division of Caroline Distribution, associated with Virgin Records.
- 1979
EMI acquires the Imperial catalogue
[1]EMI obtains the Imperial catalogue through its acquisition of United Artists Records.
- 1970
Imperial is phased out under the United Artists structure
[1]Following Liberty's integration with United Artists, Imperial is discontinued as an active roster label and its artists are transferred to United Artists.
- 1963
Minit Records is acquired and Imperial is sold to Liberty
[1]Imperial acquires Minit after distributing it and, following the loss of Fats Domino and Ricky Nelson, Lew Chudd sells Imperial to Liberty Records.
- 1961
Imperial acquires Aladdin Records
[1]The company purchases Aladdin Records, expanding its R&B catalogue and label assets.
- 1947
Imperial Records is founded
[1]Lew Chudd establishes Imperial Records in the United States, initially emphasizing rhythm and blues and country music.
Products and positioning
A historically significant American catalogue and record-label brand associated with New Orleans R&B, rock and roll, jazz, pop, and periodic urban-music imprint revivals.
Recorded music catalogue · 1947
Historical Imperial Records catalogue
The core Imperial catalogue consists of singles, albums, and other recordings released from the label's founding in 1947 through its independent and Liberty-era operations. It is strongly associated with Fats Domino and New Orleans rhythm and blues, while also encompassing country, rock and roll, pop, and jazz. The catalogue later became an EMI asset and remains part of Universal Music Group's recorded-music holdings.
Jazz recordings · 1950
Imperial jazz catalogue
Imperial issued jazz albums during the 1950s and 1960s by performers including Sonny Criss, Charlie Mariano, Papa Celestin, Erskine Hawkins, and Harold Land. These releases broadened the label's profile beyond its best-known R&B and rock-and-roll singles and later became part of the label's reissue and compilation repertory.
Contemporary urban-music imprint · 2021
Imperial Music
Imperial Music is the modern revival of the Imperial name associated with Republic Records and Universal Music Group. It was created to function as a contemporary imprint rather than simply a historical catalogue label. Publicly documented artists and associations from the revival include Fat Joe, MC Jin, Rasheeda, Julian Park, and The Score, although the long-term operating status of the imprint is unclear.
Brand decisions
2021
Republic Records revives Imperial through Imperial MusicStrategyBackground
After the Imperial catalogue had become part of Universal Music Group through the EMI acquisition, UMG used the historic name for another contemporary imprint.
Action taken
Republic Records formed Imperial Music and revived the brand for new activity.
Aftermath
The imprint's current operating status and release strategy are not sufficiently documented in the supplied sources.
2006
EMI reactivates Imperial as an urban-music imprintStrategyBackground
EMI sought to use the historic label name for a contemporary urban-music operation connected to Caroline Distribution and Virgin Records.
Action taken
EMI relaunched Imperial, led by Neil Levine, with Raptivism Records as the first announced signing and resources linked to Capitol and Virgin.
Aftermath
The revival produced several releases but subsequently became dormant.
1970
Imperial is discontinued as an active roster labelStrategyBackground
Liberty's corporate combination with United Artists changed the structure under which Imperial operated.
Action taken
The Imperial imprint was phased out and its roster was transferred to United Artists Records.
Aftermath
Imperial continued primarily as a catalogue identity, later passing to EMI and then Universal Music Group.
1963
Lew Chudd sells Imperial Records to Liberty RecordsM&ABackground
Imperial had lost two of its leading artists, Fats Domino and Ricky Nelson, to ABC Records and Decca Records respectively. At the same time, the label was expanding through the acquisition of Minit Records.
Action taken
Chudd sold Imperial to Liberty Records, moving the label from independent ownership into a larger corporate group.
Aftermath
Under Liberty, Imperial continued to release successful records and licensed British material before eventually being absorbed into the United Artists structure.
Sources1 sources
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