User:Hawke/Japanese label codes 101

This page was rescued from a cached copy of http://rateyourmusic.com/list/eeepi/japanese_label_codes_101/ because it contains extremely useful information.

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