He began working for EMI in 1950 . Following his graduation , he worked for the BBC 's classical music department , then joined EMI in 1950 , as an assistant to Oscar Preuss , the head of EMI 's Parlophone Records from 1950 to 1955 . Although having been regarded by EMI as a vital German imprint in the past , it was then seen as a joke and only used for EMI 's insignificant acts .