G.A. Wooller & Co. Ltd

A New Zealand company that controlled a number of labels over the years. Formed by George Wooller on 13 October 1945 as a radio distributor. In 1953 G. A. Wooller Ltd approached the newly formed Australian label Festival Records and obtained the distribution rights for New Zealand, including right to some of American Decca. In 1954 he also contracted to establish Pye Records in N.Z. with Pye Records UK, the G. A. Wooller company itself was acquired by Pye Ltd., a company controlled day to day by George Wooller. G.A. Wooller & Co. Ltd oversaw the record activities of the group. In 1961 it purchased Phil Warren's and cinema chain Kerridge Odeon's shares in Top Rank Records (N.Z.) Ltd. which was renamed Allied International Records Ltd. (with the label Allied International), including ownership of Prestige Records (N.Z.) Ltd. (absorbing the latter's catalogue). G. A. Wooller also acquired Radio Corporation Of New Zealand Ltd. in 1964 This included Tanza label and the New Zealand licenses for RCA Victor USA. Wooller lost right to Festival to Kerridge Odeon in 1966 who setup Festival Records (NZ) Ltd.. They lost the also N.Z. rights to RCA Victor in 1972. But Pye Ltd. did pick up the N.Z. rights to the MCA Records label from 1969 to 1976. Also in 1976 the recording-pressing plant in Paeroa was closed down and the staff was transfered. George Wooller retired in 1970 and in 1976 G.A. Wooller & Co. Ltd was renamed Pye Security Systems Limited. When Pye Ltd. was taken over by Philips in NZ between 1977 and 1980, the former Wooller company went with it. It was struck off as a company in 1983. The Allied International, AIR (2), Pye Ltd. NZ signed releases, TANZA, Family ,[Prestige Records (3)] and Radio Corporation Of New Zealand Ltd. NZ signed releases, catalogues and copyrights are now owned by Universal Music New Zealand.