MCA Records (formerly known as Music Corporation of America) was a record label that was active from the 1940s to the 1990s. It was founded in 1944 by Jules Stein, a jazz band leader and eye surgeon, as a way to promote the music of his band, the Swing Band. Over time, the label grew and expanded, signing a variety of different artists across different genres, including rock, pop, country, and R&B.
MCA Records was known for its roster of successful artists, which included some of the biggest names in music of the time, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who, Bob Seger, Eric Clapton, George Thorogood, Elton John, and many more. The label had several sub-labels including Decca Records, Kapp Records, and Dunhill Records.
In the 1970s and 1980s, MCA Records was one of the most successful record labels in the industry, with a number of hit songs and albums. The company was also involved in the music publishing and film industries, distributing the soundtracks for movies like The Big Chill, Footloose and others.
In 1990, MCA was acquired by Japanese conglomerate Matsushita Electric. The label was later rebranded as Universal Music Group, which is now one of the largest music companies in the world and continues to operate today.