Difference between revisions of "User:Hawke/Japanese label codes 101"

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==Explanation==
 
 
System of catalog numbers on Japanese releases is organized for all releases since June 1989. Upon RIAJ's guidance RIS502, so called 'standardized commodity code' was introduced. This code consists of 4 letters in Latin alphabet and 4-5 Roman numbers (serial number). The 4 letters consist of:
 
 
position 1-2 label code
 
position 3 media type
 
position 4 non-standardized code for internal purposes
 
 
So the usual example form is ABCD-10001. Hyphen is optional between the code and serial #. The label code is mandatory for all members of RIAJ, and is being assigned by the organization. The codes were being assigned to non-members as well, but since December 2005, this policy was abandoned (non-members can't get official label code, though the previously assigned exceptions were not abolished).
 
 
Further notes:
 
* label codes can be shared (usually each company uses it just for one type of media, while the other one for another type)
 
* one main company can have more than one code (usually used for different sub-labels)
 
* there are several exceptions to ABCD-10001 form, but these are well documented
 
* RIAJ non-members (indie labels, foreign labels etc) don't have to obey this standard, but they are usually asked to avoid duplicating the existing commodity codes whenever possible
 
 
*Sources: system, code list
 
Media codes (3rd position)
 
 
A - DVD-Audio
 
B - DVD-Video
 
C - 12cm CD
 
D - 8cm CD
 
E - not assigned
 
F - CD-V
 
G - SACD
 
H - HD DVD
 
I - Video CD, CD-i
 
J - LP (for all 30cm vinyls regardless of RPM), partially for UMD discs for PSP
 
K - EP(for all 17cm vinyls regardless of RPM)
 
L - 30cm LD
 
M - 20cm LD
 
N - CD-G
 
O - not assigned
 
P - Playstation games
 
Q - not assigned
 
R - CD-ROM
 
S - casette tape (singles)
 
T - casette tape (albums)
 
U - UMD video (2006~), Beta video tape (currently not used)
 
V - VHS video tape
 
W - DVD music(2004~), 8mm video tape (currently not used)
 
X - Blu-ray Disc (2006~), DCC (currently not used)
 
Y - MD
 
Z - 2 and more formats(12cmCD+8cmCD, some CD+DVD, CD+photobook etc)
 
Label codes formatting
 
 
When 2 or more labels are connected with a slash, it means they are related in some way. It can be a label/sub-label relation, label/distributor or eventually two different names for the same label.
 
 
The arrow mark means the label either changed the name to or merged with the following one, or ceased to exist and the entire catalog with the original label code is being maintained by the other company now.
 
Label codes A
 
 
AA - MusicGate.com/Aozora Records
 
AB - Absord Music Japan
 
AC - Asmik Ace Entertainment
 
AD - Sony Music (ADCA-1 is the only release)
 
AE - Geneon Entertainment (DVD only)
 
- AtMark/BounDEE Inc. (CD only)
 
AF - Amuse Soft Entertainment (DVD only)
 
- Aaron Field (CD only)
 
- Animate Films
 
AG - Agent Con-Sipio (until 04/2000) -> Pony Canyon
 
- Pryaid Records (from 11/2000) -> BounDEE Inc.
 
AH - Artist House
 
AI - Sony Music Associated Records
 
AJ - Astronautes Star/Toshiba EMI -> Bonin/EMI Music Japan
 
AK - Avex Marketing (distribution for Five Ace, KNS Entertainment, Purple Hills Record etc.)
 
AL - Alfa Records (until 10/1998)
 
- Asmik Ace Entertainment
 
AM - Moon Records
 
AN - Animate
 
AO - Amemura O-Town Record (until 03/1997)
 
AP - Apollon International (until 2000)
 
AQ - Aqua Label
 
AR - Antinos Records
 
AS - Amuse Soft Entertainment
 
AT - Frontier Works
 
AU - Augusta Records
 
AV - Avex Group (4th letter indictates sub-label)
 
AW - Animebank
 
AX - Axec
 
AY - Ayers
 
AZ - Aer-born
 
- A'zip Music
 
Label codes B
 
 
BA - Bad News Records/Three D System
 
- 心歌レコード (not used anymore)
 
BB - Beam Entertainment -> Hapinet Pictures
 
- Bella Beaux Entertainment
 
BC - Bandai Visual
 
BD - B.I.C. Records
 
BE - Bandai Visual
 
BF - Faithful./Barrier Free/Faith Records
 
BG - B-Gram Records/Polydor Records
 
BH - BMG Japan (until 06/2009) -> Ariola Japan
 
BI - Beam Entertainment -> Hapinet Pictures
 
BJ - B-Jin/Zain Records (until 02/1993) -> B-Gram Records
 
BL - VAP (until 08/1998) -> Pony Canyon
 
BM - Vermillion Records/Being
 
BN - Bad News Ongaku Shuppan
 
BR - Broccoli
 
BS - Be Smile
 
BT - Tearbridge Records/Pryaid Records (not used anymore)
 
BU - Burger Inn Records
 
BV - BMG Victor -> BMG Funhouse -> BMG Japan -> Ariola Japan
 
BW - Blow Wind Records
 
BX - Bella Beaux Entertainment/Daiki Sound
 
BZ - Bellwood
 
Label codes C
 
 
CA - Canary Productions/Nippon Columbia
 
CC - cocoronetworks (not used anymore)
 
CE - Century Records
 
CF - Culture of Asia
 
CH - Chapter One
 
CJ - Suleputer (DVD only)
 
CK - BounDEE Inc.
 
CL - Azumaya Oomei Kensetsu
 
CM - Cosmos Records
 
CO - Nippon Columbia
 
CP - Culture Publishers/Project-T
 
CR - Nippon Crown
 
CS - CBS / Sony Records -> SME Records (currently using MH/SR codes)
 
CT - Cutting Edge/Avex Trax
 
CV - Hot On Records
 
CX - Happinet Corporation (DVD only)
 
- Nippon Columbia (CD only, currently using CO code)
 
CY - Cyclone (split up)
 
Label codes D
 
 
DA - Kadokawa Daiei Movies (DVD only)
 
DC - Danger Crue Records
 
DD - BounDEE Inc.
 
DE - Dex Entertainment
 
DF - DefSTAR Records
 
DG - labels distributed by Avex Trax (see Exceptions)
 
DH - DJ Honda Recordings
 
DI - Digital MediaLab (not used anymore)
 
DJ - Dream Robot
 
DK - Music Wagon
 
DL - Ratspack Records
 
DM - Nippon Crown (currently fused under CR)
 
DN - Double Neck Records/Pryaid Records
 
DO - Dream One (not used anymore)
 
DP - Datam Polystar
 
DQ - Sony Music Direct
 
DR - Dream21
 
DS - DEARS
 
DT - Daytripper
 
DU - Digital Ultra Project
 
DX - Daipro-X
 
DZ - Shochiku
 
Label codes E, F, G
 
 
EI - Epic International
 
EP - Zetima/Mediterranean Label (ex-One Up Music)
 
EQ - Maxell
 
ES - Epic / Sony Records/Epic Records Japan
 
EU - Dex Entertainment
 
 
FA - Fifth Avenue
 
FB - Free Board Records/King Records
 
FC - Frontier Works
 
FD - Sony Family Club
 
FH - Fun House -> Ariola Japan
 
FK - Fives Entertainment
 
FL - For Life Records -> For Life Music Entertainment
 
FM - Forte Music Entertainment -> Nippon Columbia/Animex
 
FO - factoryorumok
 
- Fontec
 
FR - FOA Records/U-Can Entertainment
 
 
GA - Hapinet Pictures (DVD only, not used anymore)
 
- Gauss Entertainment (merged into TK code)
 
GB - Beam Entertainment/Happinet Corporation -> Konami Digital Entertainment/King Records
 
GF - Konami Digital Entertainment/Sony Music Distribution
 
GN - Geneon Universal Entertainment Japan (ex-Pioneer LDC/Geneon Entertainment)
 
GR - Gauss Entertainment (merged into TK code)
 
GZ - GIZA Studio
 
Label codes H, I, J
 
 
HA - Polydor Records (only 'ARCH' CDs until 1999)
 
- Pryaid Records (since 2000) -> BounDEE Inc.
 
HB - Mycal Hummingbird -> Warner Music Japan
 
- HOBiRECORDS
 
HC - Sohbi Kikaku -> Happinet Corporation
 
HG - Pryaid Records/Polystar
 
HK - Hachama Records/UpFront Works
 
HU - Hats
 
 
IK - Pryaid Records/Polystar
 
IO - Avex io (formerly under Prime Direction)
 
 
JA - J Storm
 
JB - Pure Infinity (since 03/1995)
 
JD - JSDSS/Softgarage
 
JE - Johnny's Entertainment
 
JS - Nippon Soft System -> JSDSS
 
JV - Japan Audio Visual Network -> Victor [JPN]
 
Label codes K
 
 
KA - Kadokawa Shoten
 
KC - KSR
 
KD - Scitron Digital Content -> Happinet Corporation
 
KE - Koei/Universal Music Japan
 
KF - 573 Records
 
KG - Nippon Crown (merged into CR code)
 
KH - Sol Blade (releases distr. by EMI Music Japan)
 
KI - King Records
 
KJ - Octavia Records (currently using OV code)
 
KK - King International
 
KL - KSS Records/Geneon Entertainment
 
KM - Konami Music Entertainment/King Records
 
KO - Konami Music Entertainment/Sony Music Distribution
 
KS - Key Sounds Label
 
- Ki/oon Records
 
- KSS Records (currently merged with JSDSS)
 
KT - Kitty Records -> Universal Music Japan
 
KU - Pryaid Records
 
KW - Imagica/Hapinet Pictures
 
KX - Knocker/Sony Music Distribution
 
KY - Key Sounds Label
 
- Kuraray Video Soft
 
KZ - BounDEE Inc.
 
Label codes L, M
 
 
LA - Lantis
 
LAC - Lantis (main label, distro by King Records (~2008)/Bandai Visual (2009~)
 
LAS - Lantis (GloryHeaven sublabel/Sony Music Distribution)
 
LH - On The Run (Lantis/Geneon Entertainment joint)
 
LK - Japan Home Video
 
LO - Love&Love Records
 
LS - Toei
 
 
MA - Movic
 
MD - MIDI
 
ME - Meldac -> Tokuma Japan Communications
 
MG - Media Rings (split up)
 
MH - Sony Music Direct/Sony Music House
 
MJ - Marvelous Entertainment Inc.
 
ML - Magic Island
 
MM - Marine Entertainment
 
MQ - Maxell
 
MR - Media Rings (split up)
 
- Media Remoras -> Pony Canyon
 
MS - Media Station
 
MV - MCA Victor -> Universal Victor -> Universal Music Japan
 
Label codes N, O, P
 
 
NA - NEC Avenue -> NEC Interchannel
 
NE - NEC Interchannel -> I.C. Avenue -> Index Music -> T.Y. Entertainment
 
- Nest -> Onkyo Entertainment Technologies
 
NK - King Records
 
NM - Nose Japan Records
 
NR - C.Moon/Bandai Visual
 
 
OE - Moer
 
ON - B-Vision
 
OM - Omagatoki
 
OO - Double O Records (split-up)
 
OV - Octavia Records
 
 
PA - Panasonic
 
PC - Pony Canyon
 
PH - Nippon Phonogram -> Mercury Music Entertainment -> Universal Music Japan
 
PI - Pioneer LDC -> Geneon Entertainment
 
PK - Rice Music/Piccolo Town/UpFront Works
 
PL - Platz/Gakken (split-up)
 
PN - eXPulse
 
PO - Universal Gear/Polydor Records -> Universal Music Japan
 
PQ - HiBoom/Avex Trax
 
PS - Polystar
 
PT - Project-T
 
PY - Muture Communications (ex-Platea, split-up)
 
Label codes Q, R
 
 
QA - Nippon Columbia
 
QC - Universal Music Japan
 
QK - Universal Music Japan
 
QQ - Palm Beach Inc. (split up)
 
QT - Quattro/Parco/Nippon Columbia
 
QW - labels distributed by Pony Canyon (see Exceptions)
 
 
RB - Rambling Records
 
RC - Rock Records/Nippon Columbia
 
RD - BounDEE Inc. (ex-Pryaid Records)
 
RE - Rentrak Japan
 
RK - BounDEE Inc. (ex-Pryaid Records)
 
RO - Pioneer LDC -> Geneon Entertainment
 
RR - Roadrunner Japan
 
RS - BounDEE Inc. (ex-Pryaid Records)
 
RT - BounDEE Inc. (ex-Pryaid Records)
 
RU - BounDEE Inc. (ex-Pryaid Records)
 
RV - Riv Star (split-up)
 
RW - Re-Wind Recordings/Victor [JPN]
 
RX - Rhythmedia Tribe/Ariola Japan (using BV now)
 
RY - WEA Japan/Warner Music Japan (using WM now)
 
RZ - Rhythm Zone/Avex Trax
 
Label codes S, T
 
 
SA - Sanrio
 
SB - Mycal Hummingbird
 
SC - Scitron Digital Content -> Happinet Corporation
 
SD - Strange Days Records
 
SE - SME Records
 
SH - Sohbi Kikaku -> Happinet Corporation (not used anymore)
 
- Shochiku (SHBR-XXXX exception for BluRay discs after 2010)
 
SI - Sony Music Japan International
 
SK - Sohbi Kikaku -> Happinet Corporation
 
SR - Sony Music Records/gr8! Records
 
SV - Spac/Nippon Enkaphon
 
 
TA - New Taurus -> Universal Music Japan
 
TC - Tricle/Teichiku Records (merged with TE)
 
- TC Entertainment (DVD only, 3rd&4th letter have exceptional media codes BD/ED)
 
TD - TDK Core
 
TE - Teichiku Records
 
TF - Toy's Factory
 
TG - T Grand Music -> Teichiku Records
 
- also used for some indie labels, initally for Sony Music Manufacturing custom-made CDs
 
TJ - Holiday Japan
 
TK - Tokuma Japan Communications
 
TL - Toho
 
TM - Teichiku Music Corporation (merged with TE code)
 
TN - Tricycle/Universal Music Japan
 
TO - Toshiba-EMI -> EMI Music Japan
 
TP - BounDEE Inc. (ex-Pryaid Records)
 
TQ - BounDEE Inc.
 
TR - Traffic
 
- Two Five
 
TT - Toshiba-EMI -> EMI Music Japan
 
TV - Toshiba Eizo Soft (split up)
 
TY - Futureland/Youmex
 
Label codes U,V, W
 
 
UC - Universal Classic&Jazz
 
UI - Universal International (foreign production of Universal Sigma, Island, Def Jam Japan)
 
UM - Universal Sigma (Kitty Mercury/Kitty MME, foreign production of A&M)
 
UP - Universal J/Nayutawave Records (ex-Polydor, ex-Universal Victor)
 
US - Usen
 
UU - Universal J (ex-Universal Victor, merged into UP code since 07/2002)
 
 
VA - Videoarts Music
 
VD - Victor [JPN]
 
VG - 5pb. Records/Geneon Entertainment
 
VI - Victor [JPN]
 
VJ - Virgin Records
 
VL - Toshiba Eizo Soft (split up)
 
VN - Northern Music
 
VO - Visual Ook
 
VP - VAP
 
VT - JVC Entertainment/Flying Dog
 
VZ - Nippon Dento Bunka Shinko Zaidan
 
V2 - V2 Records
 
 
WD - Wonder Entertainment (split-up)
 
WG - Wing Songs
 
WL - Wonder Kids (split-up)
 
WM - WEA Japan/Warner Music Japan
 
WP - Warner Music Japan (ex-Warner Pioneer)
 
Label codes X, Y, Z
 
 
XA - MCJP
 
XB - BounDEE Inc.
 
XE - BounDEE Inc.
 
XJ - Dawn Entertainment Japan
 
XL - Xtra Large/Marvelous Entertainment Inc.
 
XM - Christmas Records (not used anymore)
 
XN - labels distributed by Avex Trax
 
XQ - labels distributed by Universal Music Japan (see Exceptions)
 
XS - Sony Music Entertainment
 
XT - Nitro Records/Avex Trax
 
XY - Soundasia EX/Horipro
 
XZ - King Records
 
 
YB - Yume Kukan
 
YC - Yamaha Music Communications
 
YE - Suns Entertainment (ex-Yellow Cab)
 
YF - Sol Blade (releases distr. by King Records)
 
YI - J-More/Avex Marketing
 
YK - BounDEE Inc.
 
YM - Yamaha Music&Business
 
YN - Avex Trax
 
YR - R and C Ltd.
 
YS - BounDEE Inc.
 
YZ - labels distributed by Crown/Tokuma Japan Communications (see Exceptions)
 
 
ZA - Zain Records/Being
 
ZC - Ozawa Music Office
 
ZJ - Zomba Records Japan
 
ZM - Media Factory (uses exceptional media type codes - B for DVD, S for BluRay)
 
ZO - Avex Trax
 
ZP - Universal Music Japan
 
ZQ - labels distributed by Universal Music Japan (see Exceptions)
 
ZS - BounDEE Inc.
 
ZW - Avex Trax (DVD only)
 
ZZ - Aozora Records
 
Exceptions part I (more or less than 2 letters for label code)
 
 
P - Blues Interactions/P-Vine Records (PCD-XXXX)
 
T - Teichiku Records (some karaoke DVDs, TBK-XXXX)
 
 
ANS, ANZ - Aniplex Inc. (DVD only)
 
FAB - Media Factory (12cm CD only, 4th letter is media type)
 
HID - Datam Polystar
 
ICD - I've Sound/Visual Art's (I've's indies labels, no 4th letter)
 
RAD - Media Factory (4th letter is media type - C for CDs, V for DVDs)
 
SVW - SPE Visual Works -> Aniplex Inc./Sony Music Distribution
 
TCA - Takarazuka Creative Arts (4th letter is media type - C for CD, D for DVD, P for CD single)
 
TFC - Teichiku Records/Daiki Sound (TFC-XXX)
 
VAL - Victor [JPN]/Daiki Sound (VAL-XXX)
 
VTS - Toshiba Eizo Soft (split up)
 
WAC - Walkers Company (split-up)
 
YTR - Ritz Music/Sony Music Distribution (4th letter is media type - C for CD, D for DVD)
 
 
TRAK - Tsubasa Records (CD only)
 
TRDL - Tsubasa Records (DVD only)
 
TRUE - Universal J/Daiki Sound
 
ZTTL - Zuntata/Sony Music Records
 
Exceptions part II (Distributor codes 1)
 
 
DG (Avex Trax distributed)
 
DG** - 3rd and 4th are usually identifiers (there are exceptions)
 
- Dwango Music Entertainment (4th letter on DVDs is D)
 
DGBD - Avex Trax (DVD only)
 
DGGA - AdMedia (DVD only)
 
 
QW (Pony Canyon distributed), 3rd letter is media type, 4th is sub-label code
 
QW*B - Blue Music Entertainment
 
QW*D - Boot-Up Records
 
QW*E - Exit Tunes
 
QW*F - Formula Recordings
 
QW*H - Hudson Music Entertainment
 
QW*T - TN Mix
 
QW*X - Excel Q
 
 
XQ (Universal Music Japan distributed)
 
XQ** - BounDEE Inc. (identifiers are serial #s - CDs are in 1000's, DVDs are in 2000 range)
 
Exceptions part II (Distributor codes 2)
 
 
YZ (Crown/Tokuma Japan Communications distributed)
 
YZAB - Absolute Records
 
YZAE - Asu-One Entertainment
 
YZAM - Ihatove Winds
 
YZAS - A-String
 
YZBB - BB Network (DVD only)
 
YZBL - Belta Recordss
 
YZCD - CDA
 
YZCM - Cross M Records
 
YZCV - Kamtec (DVD only)
 
YZDI - DIAA
 
YZFD - Crown/Tokuma Japan Communications (main label)
 
YZFE - Treasure of Music
 
YZGB - Gambit
 
YZGF - Green Field
 
YZGT - Brave
 
YZIM - International Music
 
YZKZ - Arashi
 
YZNE - Nippon Enkaphon
 
YZOC - Octet Records
 
YZPS - Peace&Smile music
 
YZSH - Soundholic
 
YZSO - CRS Songs
 
YZSS - Singer&Songer Records
 
YZTN - Oxy Records
 
YZWG - A-Force Entertainment (Wing Entertainment Group before 07/2010)
 
YZXL - Exellex
 
Exceptions part II (Distributor codes 3)
 
 
ZQ (Universal Music Japan distributed)
 
ZQBG - Blue In Green
 
ZQCC - Cucumber Records
 
ZQCS - Silent
 
ZQLK - Link.ID Records
 
ZQME - Mother Earth/PryAid
 
ZQML - Magnum Records
 
ZQMS - Marsa
 
ZQNE - Next Entertainment
 
ZQNR - Nakanoshima Records
 
ZQPR - UM Korea/Pryaid Records
 
ZQPT - Palmtree
 
ZQSF - Sky Factory
 
ZQTB - Tsubasa Records
 
ZQTK - Take Seven
 
ZQTR - Top Run X
 
ZQVT - Torture Ride/Tao Records
 

Latest revision as of 17:35, 23 May 2014