Music publisher.
J. Albert and Son Pty Ltd, or Albert Music as it is commonly known today, is one of Australia's oldest independent music and entertainment companies. The business began in Newtown, Sydney, in 1885 as a clock and violin repair shop run by a Swiss immigrant, Jacques Albert (1850-1914). By 1890 Albert had begun importing violins. He also moved his premises to King Street in the city and began publishing handbooks on health, diet, cookery and conundrums. Four years later his son, Michael Fancois (1874-1962), better known as Frank, joined his father as a partner in the business which they called J. Albert and Son. The company also adopted around this time its distinctive boomerang logo as its trademark. When Frank took control of the company's operations in 1896 it had by then become largely a music publishing house with additional income from music and instrument sales. The company sold its retailing operations, however, in 1933 to concentrate on publishing. Over the next 50 years it expanded its operations to become one of the country's largest music publishers. Alberts continues publishing popular music today and represents the entire AC/DC and Harry Vanda and George Young catalogues.
A pioneer in commercial and public radio Albert and Son helped set up the Australian Broadcasting Company in 1929 when it joined forces with Union Theatres Ltd and Fullers Theatres Ltd (q.v.) to put in a successful tender to the Commonwealth government to provide nationally broadcast radio programmes. Frank Albert became one of the company's founding directors. When their contract expired in 1932 the government set up its own authority, the Australian Broadcasting Commission, and Alberts subsequently acquired a licence for 2UW in Sydney. It later expanded into a radio network by establishing stations Melbourne, Brisbane (4BC), Toowoomba, Maryborough, Rockhampton and Canberra. Frank Albert also became a founding director of the Australian Performing Rights Association.
Albert Productions, the company's record label, in tandem with Albert Studios, has been at the forefront of the Australian music industry since the 1960s, most notably recording AC/DC, but also producing a string of hits for Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, the Easybeats, John Paul Young, the Ted Mulry Gang, Rose Tattoo, the Angels and the Choirboys. Between 1972 and 1980 the label produced 20 top 10 singles and 18 top 20 albums. Albert Productions was launched in the United Kingdom in 2003.
