Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Aug 5, 2004 – Oct 1, 2008)
~ Label
Annotation
A Brief History
One of the 'Big Four' record companies at the time, Sony BMG Music Entertainment was the result of a 50–50 joint venture between Sony Music Entertainment and Bertelsmann Music Group that was begun on August 5, 2004. This was the label name for Sony Music and BMG companies worldwide, except for Japan, where Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and BMG Funhouse/BMG JAPAN were/are companies unrelated to these.
On October 1, 2008, Sony completed the acquisition of BMG's stake in the company, and was known once again as Sony Music Entertainment (the name it had used since 1991 prior to the 2004 merger). Releases as of October 1, 2008 should be related to the company Sony Music Entertainment or its subsidiaries. Sony Music Entertainment and its subsidiaries are represented by the global brand Sony Music (which may be used as an imprint where appropriate).
What release to put where?
Sony-BMG consisted of 3 main 'frontline' companies, Columbia, RCA and Epic, all of which had its own further subsidiaries (Jive, Syco, Phonogenic etc.). It is strongly recommended to use the lowest subsidiary listed on back covers when filing releases. If no smaller subsidiary than the frontline labels can be found then use one of those. Sony-BMG was also used as an imprint in its own right (for compilations etc.), which should be the only cases where this label should be used.
No releases should be listed here with a release date prior to August 5, 2004, and releases from October 1, 2008 and later should be checked carefully. In most of these cases, they should be attributed to Sony Music Entertainment.
As Sony did not merge the Japanese branch with BMG, no Japanese releases should be under this label, instead, add them to Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
Please use accurate labels for the release date specified, or leave the label field blank.
Nation-Specific information
Belgium
Subsidiaries: Dancity
France
Subsidiaries: Jive Epic
Czech Republic
Subsidiaries: East Brother
UK & Ireland
Label Code: LC-13989
Subsidiaries: BMG TV, Camden, Delta Sonic, Gravity Records, INCredible Records, Syco Music, Creation Records
Austria
Label Code: LC-00116
Germany
Label Code: LC-01006; LC-02523
Hungary
Label Code: LC-02032
Taiwan
Published: 11月的蕭邦, 我很忙 and 魔杰座
Argentina
Distributor: Alerta!Discos
Subsidiaries: Pop Art and Tocka Discos
Previously known as: BMG (the former Bertelsmann Music Group, defunct since 2004-08-05; for releases dated 2008 and later, see annotation), Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (not for release label use! company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP)
Renamed to: BMG Rights Management (see annotation), Sony Music Entertainment (not for release label use! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP), Sony Music (global brand, excluding JP, owned by Sony Music Entertainment)