Record Label
Multinational label. Also appears as "RCA Records" or "RCA Record" (Australia/New Zealand). **Consider adding [[label:RCA Victor]] as 2nd label if it also appears on the release**. RCA is a record label that is used worldwide and currently owned by [[label:Sony Music Entertainment]]. The name RCA refers to the [[label:Radio Corporation of America]] (RCA), a US electronic and communications company formed in 1919. In 1929, RCA acquired the [[label:Victor Talking Machine Co.]] The Victor Company had released records on the [[label:Victor]] and [[label:Victrola]] labels. The record division became known as RCA Victor until late 1968, when it became RCA Records. In 1985, RCA Records became part of [[label:RCA/Ariola International]]; At the end of that year, [[label:General Electric]] purchased the [[label:RCA Corporation]]; In 1986, GE sold the remainder of RCA Records to Bertelsmann (Ariola's owner) and formed the [[label:Bertelsmann Music Group]] (BMG). Since then, RCA Records has switched owners twice. First it became a label of [[label:Sony BMG Music Entertainment]] and currently is owned by Sony Music Entertainment. On September 26, 2011, Sony Music Entertainment reorganized [the RCA Records group](https://www.discogs.com/label/38468-RCA-Music-Group) into its own label banner. Therefore, the labels under that group, [[label:Jive]], [[label:Arista]], [[label:LaFace]] and [[label:J Records]], were all merged into RCA, bringing all of its artists from these aforementioned four imprints to the RCA family. Furthermore, reissues from Jive, Arista, J and LaFace by Sony will be handled by RCA as well. Note: Though Sony Music Entertainment owns the RCA label, it doesn't own the RCA trademarks. The RCA trademarks are currently owned and licensed by Talisman Brands, Inc. (d/b/a Established.), which acquired them from French company [[label:Technicolor S.A.]]'s [[label:RCA Trademark Management S.A.]] Also has a series of Spanish releases called [L=Serie Discoteca (2)]. **For 70's-80's French releases with a 'RCA éditeur' mention, please add [[label:895]] as Record Company and a note 'RCA éditeur'**. Colors on French EP labels: Black labels: 1955-December 1959 Yellow labels: October 1959-July 1962 - "Made in France by [[label:Area S.A.]]" disappears from labels in January 1960 / "Super 45" appears at the bottom of EP labels, "45" at the bottom of single labels. - From Spring 1962, [[label:RCA Victor]] may appear next and/or above [[label:RCA]]. Black labels: May 1962-March 1963 Blue labels: April 1961-1968 (only used before for the series [[label:Série En Or]]) Orange labels ([[label:RCA Victor]] only): 1968+ RCA-branded CDs debuted in October 1983.