Universal Music gifts entire Canadian EMI archive to University of Calgary

A massive music collection has a new home in Calgary.

Universal Music Canada has donated the entire Canadian EMI archive to the University of Calgary.

The archive is made up of more than 5,000 boxes of original recordings from acts like the Rankin Family, Anne Murray and Tom Cochrane.

Universal Music Canada's president and chief executive officer Jeffrey Remedios says the archives are an important part of Canadian history.

"It's to be studied and I have a feeling it's going to have a respectful home here. So go to town on it, have a good time with it, and study it," Remedios said.

"This donation represents an opportunity not only to preserve EMI Canada's archives, but to make available Canada's history for students, researchers, scholars and music lovers."

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"So I think it will appeal to those who are interested in business, who are interested in cultural studies, who are interested in video music production," Murray said.

EMI operated in Canada from 1949 until 2012, when it was bought by Universal Music.