Decca Records, Inc.
799 Seventh Ave. New York, NY (1934)
50 East 57th Street, New York, NY (1943)

Decca Distributing Corp.
445 Park Ave. New York, NY (1943)

Decca Records, Inc. was established in the United States in August 1934 as a subsidiary of the Decca Record Company in Great Britain.

The company merged with MCA Inc. in December 1965

In August 1934 an announcement “Decca Records, Inc., "Formed With Veteran Executive Staff” was made in the US magazine Radio Merchant as;

The music-radio industry learned with considerable interest ten days ago of the formation of Decca Records, Inc., with headquarters at 799 Seventh Avenue, New York.
The executives of this company, who have all been identified with the record industry for many years, are F. R. Lewis, chairman of the board, Jack Kapp, president; E. F. Stevens, Jr., vice-president and general manager, and Milton Rackmil, treasurer.

E. R. Lewis has for years been managing director of the Decca Record Co., Ltd., of London, England. Jack Kapp needs no introduction to the music radio industry for he has been identified with the music arts for over twenty years. During the past two decades he has been one of the recognized leaders in the development of the record industry and in recent years has not only been in close touch with recording activities in this country but has made several trips abroad in order to thoroughly familiarize himself with available recording talent in the world's greatest musical centers.

In addition to his thorough familiarity with every phase of recording, Mr. Kapp was also identified with the merchandising of records many years ago and therefore knows the requirements of the dealer so far as the successful merchandising of records is concerned. E. F. Stevens, Jr., is another veteran of the record industry, having a host of friends among dealers from coast to coast. For a number of years, he was associated with the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., subsequently joining the Brunswick Radio Corp. as general sales manager of the record division and also becoming identified with the Brunswick Record Corp. as vice-president and sales manager. More recently he was the general sales manager of the Columbia Phonograph Co., Inc., and he brings to his new activities an exceptionally comprehensive knowledge of record merchandising which will undoubtedly enable him to cooperate to maximum advantage with Decca dealers in the profitable development of their sales volume. Milton Rackmil, treasurer. of Decca Records, Inc., was formerly identified with the Brunswick Radio Corp. and the Brunswick Record Corp. in important executive positions.

Jack Kapp, in commenting upon the formation of Decca Records, Inc., stated: "I believe a few simple facts concerning our newly organized company will be of interest to the trade. We have completed our line-up of talent, which we believe includes the greatest group of outstanding names ever assembled under one label, such as Bing Crosby, Guy Lombardo, Mills Brothers, Ethel Waters, Dorsay Brothers, and many others. Detailed announcements will be made within the next thirty days regarding these artists and their first recordings. We are not quite ready to outline our complete advertising, merchandising, and selling plans, but we can assure the trade that we are going to offer them an opportunity to make real money backed up by sound, substantial sales policies." [1]

By June 1940 their 26th branch was opened in Oklahoma City. [2]

In June 1941 an announcement was made by Jack Kapp, president, that Decca Records, Inc. had consummated the purchase from Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. of all of the capital stock of Brunswick Radio Corporation, one of the Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. wholly owned subsidiaries. The Brunswick Radio Corporation owns, among other things, plant properties in Dubuque, Iowa, and Muskegon, Michigan. [3]

The Decca Distributing Corp. was advertised as a new source of sales of gramophone records including the Brunswick Collectors Series. [4]

In July 1943 Decca Records Inc. acquired all outstanding stock of the World Broadcasting System (WBS). This gave Decca for the first time a transcription service similar to the other two major phonograph record producers RCA Victor and Columbia Recording Corp. The Decca-World setup has no radio connection such as the other two companies. [5]

Decca Records Inc. was merged with MCA Inc in December 1965. [6]

[1] Radio Merchant Aug 1934, Page 34.
[2] Radio & TV Retailing Jun 1940, Page 83.
[3] Radio & TV Retailing Jun 1941, Page 40.
[4] Radio Retailing Today Jun 1943, Page 6.
[5] Broadcasting, Jul 12, 1943, Page 13.
[6] Sound Format, Dec 11, 1965, Page 16.