Columbia Records - Revision history

Jason.Kreitzer at 00:37, 26 July 2025

2025-07-26T00:37:40Z

Jason.Kreitzer at 19:58, 31 August 2021

2021-08-31T19:58:40Z

Jason.Kreitzer at 19:58, 31 August 2021

2021-08-31T19:58:13Z

Jason.Kreitzer at 19:56, 31 August 2021

2021-08-31T19:56:54Z

Jason.Kreitzer at 19:56, 31 August 2021

2021-08-31T19:56:29Z

Phmlpn at 21:34, 8 January 2008

2008-01-08T21:34:50Z

Emdebe: Category:Record Companies

2007-07-09T17:31:37Z

Category:Record Companies

Phmlpn at 04:40, 7 July 2007

2007-07-07T04:40:02Z

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This article is about the Columbia Records label which was a unit of [[CBS]], now owned by Sony Corporation.
For the current CBS Records label, see [[CBS Records]].

Columbia Records is one of the "Big Four" record companies. It was originally a retailer of Edison records and phonographs but soon became independent. One of Columbia's early ventures was owning (albeit for a few months in 1927) a small radio network named United Independent Broadcasters, later renamed "Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System". When the company sold the network to William Paley in late 1927, the name was shortened to "Columbia Broadcasting System" ([[CBS]]).

After merging with England's Gramophone Company, Ltd. in 1931 to create [[EMI]], they were forced to sell Columbia's US division to Grigsby-Grunow, a foundering electronics company. In 1934, the American Recording Company (ARC) purchased Columbia as a sister label to its main label, Brunswick.

Four years later, [[CBS]] bought ARC and almost immediately rejuvenated the "Columbia Records" name. By then, more than one company was using the same Columbia Records trademarks (i.e. the "Columbia" name and its logo, a pair of ascending sixteenth notes) in different parts of the world, a situation that still exists today. This meant that from the 1930's until 1993, [[EMI]] could not use the "Columbia" name outside of Europe while [[CBS]] could not use the name outside of North America. In Japan, however, the Columbia trademarks were used by Nippon Columbia, once affiliated with the UK Columbia.

Originally, [[EMI]] distributed [[CBS]]/Columbia product in Europe, but switched to Philips in the 1950's. Eventually, [[CBS]] began its own European operations, using the famous "walking eye" logo along with the "[[CBS]]" name.

When Sony purchased [[CBS]] Records in 1988, they retired the [[CBS]] Records label but purchased [[EMI]]'s rights to the Columbia name. Today, Sony uses the "Columbia Records" name worldwide (except in Japan, where the rights are owned by Columbia Music Entertainment, an independent company unaffiliated with Sony or [[EMI]]) and uses the "walking eye" as its primary logo.

In December 2006, the [[CBS]] Corporation announced the reactivation of the [[CBS]] Records label, with the famed [[CBS]] eye as its logo. This version of [[CBS]] Records is a minor label, mostly concerned with recordings related to its TV operations.

In FZ lore, [[CBS]] distributed Zappa product beginning in 1979 outside North America but by 1981 [[CBS]] was FZ's worldwide distributor. By 1984, FZ moved his post-Warner Catalog to [[EMI]], which promptly reissued the albums.

In the US, Columbia was the first distributor for Barking Pumpkin Records. Outside the US, FZ's albums and singles appeared on the [[CBS]] label, with Canada opting to use Columbia's Epic label, the only country to do so.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:37, 26 July 2025
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		+	[[File:Columbiarecords.jpg\|thumb\|right]]
		+
	''This article is about the Columbia Records label which was a unit of [[Wikipedia:CBS\|CBS]], now owned by Sony Corporation. For the current CBS Records label, see [[CBS Records]].''		''This article is about the Columbia Records label which was a unit of [[Wikipedia:CBS\|CBS]], now owned by Sony Corporation. For the current CBS Records label, see [[CBS Records]].''

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Originally, [[EMI]] distributed [[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]]/Columbia product in Europe, but switched to Philips in the 1950's. Eventually, [[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]] began its own European operations, using the famous "walking eye" logo along with the "[[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]]" name.
-When Sony purchased [[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]] Records in 1988, they retired the [[CBS]] Records label but purchased [[EMI]]'s rights to the Columbia name. Today, Sony uses the "Columbia Records" name worldwide (except in Japan, where the rights are owned by Columbia Music Entertainment, an independent company unaffiliated with Sony or [[EMI]]) and uses the "walking eye" as its primary logo.
+When Sony purchased [[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]] Records in 1988, they retired the CBS Records label but purchased [[EMI]]'s rights to the Columbia name. Today, Sony uses the "Columbia Records" name worldwide (except in Japan, where the rights are owned by Columbia Music Entertainment, an independent company unaffiliated with Sony or [[EMI]]) and uses the "walking eye" as its primary logo.
 In December 2006, the [[Wikipedia:CBS|CBS]] Corporation announced the reactivation of the [[CBS Records]] label, with the famed [[Wikipedia:CBS|CBS]] eye as its logo. This version of [[CBS Records]] is a minor label, mostly concerned with recordings related to its TV operations.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 After merging with England's Gramophone Company, Ltd. in 1931 to create [[EMI]], they were forced to sell Columbia's US division to Grigsby-Grunow, a foundering electronics company. In 1934, the American Recording Company (ARC) purchased Columbia as a sister label to its main label, Brunswick.
-Four years later, [[Wikipedia:CBS|CBS]] bought ARC and almost immediately rejuvenated the "Columbia Records" name. By then, more than one company was using the same Columbia Records trademarks (i.e. the "Columbia" name and its logo, a pair of ascending sixteenth notes) in different parts of the world, a situation that still exists today. This meant that from the 1930's until 1993, [[EMI]] could not use the "Columbia" name outside of Europe while [[CBS]] could not use the name outside of North America. In Japan, however, the Columbia trademarks were used by Nippon Columbia, once affiliated with the UK Columbia.
+Four years later, [[Wikipedia:CBS|CBS]] bought ARC and almost immediately rejuvenated the "Columbia Records" name. By then, more than one company was using the same Columbia Records trademarks (i.e. the "Columbia" name and its logo, a pair of ascending sixteenth notes) in different parts of the world, a situation that still exists today. This meant that from the 1930's until 1993, [[EMI]] could not use the "Columbia" name outside of Europe while [[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]] could not use the name outside of North America. In Japan, however, the Columbia trademarks were used by Nippon Columbia, once affiliated with the UK Columbia.
 Originally, [[EMI]] distributed [[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]]/Columbia product in Europe, but switched to Philips in the 1950's. Eventually, [[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]] began its own European operations, using the famous "walking eye" logo along with the "[[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]]" name.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:56, 31 August 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	''This article is about the Columbia Records label which was a unit of [[CBS]], now owned by Sony Corporation. For the current CBS Records label, see [[CBS Records]].''	+	''This article is about the Columbia Records label which was a unit of [[Wikipedia:CBS\|CBS]], now owned by Sony Corporation. For the current CBS Records label, see [[CBS Records]].''

	Columbia Records is one of the "Big Four" record companies. It was originally a retailer of Edison records and phonographs but soon became independent. One of Columbia's early ventures was owning (albeit for a few months in 1927) a small radio network named United Independent Broadcasters, later renamed "Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System". When the company sold the network to William Paley in late 1927, the name was shortened to "Columbia Broadcasting System" ([[Wikipedia:CBS\|CBS]]).		Columbia Records is one of the "Big Four" record companies. It was originally a retailer of Edison records and phonographs but soon became independent. One of Columbia's early ventures was owning (albeit for a few months in 1927) a small radio network named United Independent Broadcasters, later renamed "Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System". When the company sold the network to William Paley in late 1927, the name was shortened to "Columbia Broadcasting System" ([[Wikipedia:CBS\|CBS]]).

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ''This article is about the Columbia Records label which was a unit of [[CBS]], now owned by Sony Corporation. For the current CBS Records label, see [[CBS Records]].''
-Columbia Records is one of the "Big Four" record companies. It was originally a retailer of Edison records and phonographs but soon became independent. One of Columbia's early ventures was owning (albeit for a few months in 1927) a small radio network named United Independent Broadcasters, later renamed "Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System". When the company sold the network to William Paley in late 1927, the name was shortened to "Columbia Broadcasting System" ([[CBS]]).
+Columbia Records is one of the "Big Four" record companies. It was originally a retailer of Edison records and phonographs but soon became independent. One of Columbia's early ventures was owning (albeit for a few months in 1927) a small radio network named United Independent Broadcasters, later renamed "Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System". When the company sold the network to William Paley in late 1927, the name was shortened to "Columbia Broadcasting System" ([[Wikipedia:CBS|CBS]]).
 After merging with England's Gramophone Company, Ltd. in 1931 to create [[EMI]], they were forced to sell Columbia's US division to Grigsby-Grunow, a foundering electronics company. In 1934, the American Recording Company (ARC) purchased Columbia as a sister label to its main label, Brunswick.
-Four years later, [[CBS]] bought ARC and almost immediately rejuvenated the "Columbia Records" name. By then, more than one company was using the same Columbia Records trademarks (i.e. the "Columbia" name and its logo, a pair of ascending sixteenth notes) in different parts of the world, a situation that still exists today. This meant that from the 1930's until 1993, [[EMI]] could not use the "Columbia" name outside of Europe while [[CBS]] could not use the name outside of North America. In Japan, however, the Columbia trademarks were used by Nippon Columbia, once affiliated with the UK Columbia.
+Four years later, [[Wikipedia:CBS|CBS]] bought ARC and almost immediately rejuvenated the "Columbia Records" name. By then, more than one company was using the same Columbia Records trademarks (i.e. the "Columbia" name and its logo, a pair of ascending sixteenth notes) in different parts of the world, a situation that still exists today. This meant that from the 1930's until 1993, [[EMI]] could not use the "Columbia" name outside of Europe while [[CBS]] could not use the name outside of North America. In Japan, however, the Columbia trademarks were used by Nippon Columbia, once affiliated with the UK Columbia.
-Originally, [[EMI]] distributed [[CBS]]/Columbia product in Europe, but switched to Philips in the 1950's. Eventually, [[CBS]] began its own European operations, using the famous "walking eye" logo along with the "[[CBS]]" name.
+Originally, [[EMI]] distributed [[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]]/Columbia product in Europe, but switched to Philips in the 1950's. Eventually, [[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]] began its own European operations, using the famous "walking eye" logo along with the "[[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]]" name.
-When Sony purchased [[CBS]] Records in 1988, they retired the [[CBS]] Records label but purchased [[EMI]]'s rights to the Columbia name. Today, Sony uses the "Columbia Records" name worldwide (except in Japan, where the rights are owned by Columbia Music Entertainment, an independent company unaffiliated with Sony or [[EMI]]) and uses the "walking eye" as its primary logo.
+When Sony purchased [[Wikipedia:Sony Music|CBS]] Records in 1988, they retired the [[CBS]] Records label but purchased [[EMI]]'s rights to the Columbia name. Today, Sony uses the "Columbia Records" name worldwide (except in Japan, where the rights are owned by Columbia Music Entertainment, an independent company unaffiliated with Sony or [[EMI]]) and uses the "walking eye" as its primary logo.
-In December 2006, the [[CBS]] Corporation announced the reactivation of the [[CBS]] Records label, with the famed [[CBS]] eye as its logo. This version of [[CBS]] Records is a minor label, mostly concerned with recordings related to its TV operations.
+In December 2006, the [[Wikipedia:CBS|CBS]] Corporation announced the reactivation of the [[CBS Records]] label, with the famed [[Wikipedia:CBS|CBS]] eye as its logo. This version of [[CBS Records]] is a minor label, mostly concerned with recordings related to its TV operations.
-In FZ lore, [[CBS]] distributed Zappa product beginning in 1979 outside North America but by 1981 [[CBS]] was FZ's worldwide distributor. By 1984, FZ moved his post-Warner Catalog to [[EMI]], which promptly reissued the albums.
+In FZ lore, [[Columbia Records|CBS]] distributed Zappa product beginning in 1979 outside North America but by 1981 [[Columbia Records|CBS]] was FZ's worldwide distributor. By 1984, FZ moved his post-Warner Catalog to [[EMI]], which promptly reissued the albums.
-In the US, Columbia was the first distributor for Barking Pumpkin Records. Outside the US, FZ's albums and singles appeared on the [[CBS]] label, with Canada opting to use Columbia's Epic label, the only country to do so.
+In the US, Columbia was the first distributor for Barking Pumpkin Records. Outside the US, FZ's albums and singles appeared on the [[Columbia Records|CBS]] label, with Canada opting to use Columbia's Epic label, the only country to do so.
 [[Category:Record Companies]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:34, 8 January 2008
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−	This article is about the Columbia Records label which was a unit of [[CBS]], now owned by Sony Corporation.	+	''This article is about the Columbia Records label which was a unit of [[CBS]], now owned by Sony Corporation. For the current CBS Records label, see [[CBS Records]].''
−	For the current CBS Records label, see [[CBS Records]].

	Columbia Records is one of the "Big Four" record companies. It was originally a retailer of Edison records and phonographs but soon became independent. One of Columbia's early ventures was owning (albeit for a few months in 1927) a small radio network named United Independent Broadcasters, later renamed "Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System". When the company sold the network to William Paley in late 1927, the name was shortened to "Columbia Broadcasting System" ([[CBS]]).		Columbia Records is one of the "Big Four" record companies. It was originally a retailer of Edison records and phonographs but soon became independent. One of Columbia's early ventures was owning (albeit for a few months in 1927) a small radio network named United Independent Broadcasters, later renamed "Columbia Phonographic Broadcasting System". When the company sold the network to William Paley in late 1927, the name was shortened to "Columbia Broadcasting System" ([[CBS]]).

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:31, 9 July 2007
Line 17:		Line 17:

	In the US, Columbia was the first distributor for Barking Pumpkin Records. Outside the US, FZ's albums and singles appeared on the [[CBS]] label, with Canada opting to use Columbia's Epic label, the only country to do so.		In the US, Columbia was the first distributor for Barking Pumpkin Records. Outside the US, FZ's albums and singles appeared on the [[CBS]] label, with Canada opting to use Columbia's Epic label, the only country to do so.
		+	[[Category:Record Companies]]