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RCA Records

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RCA Records Label
RCA logo introduced in 1968
Parent company
FoundedJanuary 9, 1900; 124 years ago (1900-01-09) (as Consolidated Talking Machine Company)[1][2]
Founder
Distributor(s)
  • Sony Music Entertainment (International)
  • RCA Label Group (UK)
  • Legacy Recordings (reissues)
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City
Official websitercarecords.com

RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.

RCA Records is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Arista Records, and Epic Records. The label has released multiple genres of music, including pop, classical, rock, hip hop, afrobeat, electronic, R&B, blues, jazz, and country. The label's name is derived from the initials of its now defunct parent company, the Radio Corporation of America[3] (RCA).

RCA Records was fully acquired by Bertelsmann in 1987, making it a part of Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) and became a part of Sony BMG Music Entertainment after the 2004 merger of BMG and Sony; it was acquired by the latter in 2008, after the dissolution of Sony/BMG and the restructuring of Sony Music.

RCA Records is the corporate successor of the Victor Talking Machine Company.

Beginnings and history

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For the label's history before 1929, see Victor Talking Machine Company.
Classic RCA corporate logo, also used on foreign RCA record releases until retired in 1968. Revived by BMG from 1987 to 2016 for RCA Records worldwide and still appears on RCA Nashville division releases and some reissues.

In 1929, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) purchased the Victor Talking Machine Company, then the world's largest manufacturer of phonographs (including the famous "Victrola") and phonograph records. The company then became the RCA Victor Division of RCA. In absorbing Victor, RCA acquired the New World rights to the famous Nipper/"His Master's Voice" trademark. In 1931, RCA Victor's British affiliate the Gramophone Company merged with the Columbia Graphophone Company to form EMI. This gave RCA head David Sarnoff a seat on the EMI board.[4]

In September 1931, RCA Victor introduced the first 331⁄3 rpm records sold to the public, calling them "Program Transcription" records. These used a shallower and more closely spaced implementation of the large "standard groove" found on contemporary 78 rpm records, rather than the "microgroove" used for post-World War II 331⁄3 rpm "LP" (long play) records. The format was a commercial failure, partly because the new Victrolas with two-speed turntables designed to play these records were exorbitantly priced, the least expensive model retailing for $395.00 in the depths of the Great Depression. By 1933, the format was abandoned and two-speed turntables were no longer offered, but some Program Transcriptions lingered in the Victor record catalog until the end of the 1930s.[5]

During this time, RCA Victor also produced electrical transcriptions of music under the RCA Thesaurus label at its RCA Recorded Program Services studio in New York City. These recordings were not offered for sale to the general public and were intended solely for use in broadcasts carried over leading radio networks.[6] By 1936, RCA's extensive musical library of recordings was eventually consolidated with NBC's own transcription division.[7] During the 1950s, it included popular music by noted musicians, such as Sammy Kaye, Freddie Martin, Lawrence Welk and John Serry Sr.[8][9][10][11][12]

RCA Victor Custom Record Division

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Besides manufacturing its own records, RCA's Custom Record Division was the leading record manufacturer for independent labels.[13][14] RCA's Midwestern plant in Indianapolis, at 501 North LaSalle Street (the site is now part of a Demolition and Blight Reduction Project).[15] The Custom Division notably pressed many record compilations for The Reader's Digest Association.

EMI

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RCA sold its interest in EMI in 1938, but EMI continued to distribute RCA Victor recordings in the UK and its territories on the HMV label until 1957. RCA also manufactured and distributed HMV recordings on the RCA Victor and special HMV labels in North America.[16]

The post-war 1940s

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Standard RCA Victor 78 RPM label design from just after the end of World War II until 1954

In the spring of 1946, "RCA Victor" replaced "Victor" on its record labels. In 1949, RCA Victor introduced the 7-inch 45 rpm micro-grooved vinylite record, marketed simply as the "45". The new format, which had been under development for over a decade, was originally intended to replace 78 rpm discs.[17] By the time RCA Victor unveiled it, the 45 was now competing with the 10-inch and 12-inch 331⁄3 rpm microgroove vinyl "LP" (Long Play) discs introduced by arch-rival Columbia Records in the early summer of 1948. In heavy promotion, RCA Victor sold compact, inexpensive add-on and stand-alone units that played the 45 rpm format exclusively. At first, RCA Victor's 45s were issued on colored vinyl according to the musical genre: contemporary pop music on black vinyl (47-xxxx series), prestigious Broadway musicals and operettas on "midnight blue" vinyl (52-xxxx series), classical music on red vinyl (49-xxxx series), country and polka on green (48-xxxx series), children's fare on yellow (also in the 47-xxxx series), rhythm and blues on orange or cerise (50-xxxx series), and international on light blue (51-xxxx series). This array of colors complicated the production process, and the practice was soon discontinued, all records becoming black. Yellow and red Red Seal records held on until about 1952. The first 45 rpm record manufactured was "PeeWee the Piccolo" RCA Victor 47-0147 pressed December 7, 1948 at the Sherman Drive plant in Indianapolis. The use of vinyl, which was much more expensive than the gritty shellac compound normally used for 78s, was actually cheaper because of the smaller diameter and greatly reduced bulk of the new records, which required very little raw material. The smaller, lightweight discs were also more economical to store and ship.[18]

1950s

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Metal tin of Victor brand phonograph needles, featuring "Nipper" c.1915

Among the first RCA Victor LPs released in 1950 was Gaîté Parisienne by Jacques Offenbach, performed by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra, which had been recorded in Boston's Symphony Hall on June 20, 1947; the record was given the catalogue number LM-1001. Non-classical LP record albums were issued with the prefix "LPM". When RCA Victor began issuing classical LPs in stereophonic sound in 1958, the prefix "LSC" was used. Non-classical stereo LPs were issued with the prefix "LSP". RCA utilized these catalog prefixes until 1973, when they were changed to "ARL1" and "APL1" for stereo classical and stereo non-classical single LPs, respectively.[19][20]

During the 1950s, RCA Victor had three subsidiary or specialty labels: Groove, Vik and "X".

The edition of Billboard magazine dated April 11, 1953, announced a new RCA Victor subsidiary label, its first to use independent distribution and was nameless when it was first revealed. For the lack of any better designation, Billboard chose to refer to the new, unnamed label in the story as Label "X"; the new label began to hire staffers and decide on a direction, and the name stuck until 1955. RCA Victor officially announced the formation of label "X" on April 20, 1953. Groove was an R&B specialty label founded in 1954 and folded into Vik in 1957.[21]

In September 1954, RCA Victor introduced "Gruve-Gard" where the center and edge of a record are thicker than the playing area, reducing scuff marks during handling and when stacked on a turntable with an automatic record changer.[22] Most competitors quickly adopted the raised label and edges.

Effective in 1957, EMI/HMV ended its 55-year association with RCA Victor, after EMI's acquisition of Capitol Records in 1955.[23][24] Capitol then became the main distributor for EMI recordings in the Americas; Decca Records became the manufacturer and distributor for RCA Victor in the United Kingdom, using the RCA lightning bolt logo, instead of the Nipper/His Master's Voice trademark for which EMI held the rights to in the U.K. and Europe. RCA set up its own British manufacturing and distribution in 1969.[25][26]

RCA Victor issued several spoken word albums in the 1950s and 60s, notably the soundtracks of the films Richard III,[27] A Man for All Seasons and The Taming of the Shrew,[28] as well as complete versions of the National Theatre of Great Britain stage productions of Othello (starring Laurence Olivier) and Much Ado About Nothing (starring Maggie Smith, who also played Desdemona in the Olivier Othello). None of these albums have appeared on compact disc, but the films of Richard III, A Man For All Seasons, The Taming of the Shrew and the filmed version of Olivier's Othello have all been issued on DVD.

1960s

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In 1960, RCA Victor announced the Compact 33 double extended play and singles; these were 7 inch records, which played at 33 1/3 rpm. In January 1961, the Compact 33 discs were released simultaneously with their 45 rpm counterparts. The long-term goal was to phase out the 45 rpm disc, but sales of the new records were poor and by early 1962 the campaign had failed.[29]

In late 1969, RCA Records introduced a very thin, pliable, lightweight vinyl LP record known as Dynaflex. This thin, flexible record claimed to overcome warping and other problems encountered with conventional thicker LP records, but it had a similarly controversial reputation, being derided by some record collectors as "Dynawarp". RCA abandoned Dynaflex by the late 1970s and returned to making thicker vinyl records.[30]

1980s

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In 1983, Arista Records owner Bertelsmann sold 50% of Arista to RCA. In 1985, Bertelsmann and RCA Records formed a joint venture called RCA/Ariola International.[31] In December 1985, the RCA Corporation was purchased by General Electric (GE), with the acquisition completed in June, 1986. GE sold its 50% interest in RCA Records to its partner Bertelsmann and the company was renamed BMG Music for Bertelsmann Music Group.[32]

By the end of the fiscal year 1988, RCA Records had gross revenue of $236 million in the United States, the most profitable year in the label's history. The album The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby and the Range, sold more than three million copies, and the soundtrack album from the film Dirty Dancing, which cost RCA $200,000 to produce, sold 15.6 million copies in less than two years. Its follow-up, More Dirty Dancing, composed of song tracks which had been left off of the first album, was produced for $80,000 and went on to sell more than 5.6 million. RCA's most successful artists during the 1980s included the Eurythmics, Love and Rockets, Joshua Perahia, Rick Astley, Hall & Oates, Dolly Parton, Juice Newton, and Bucks Fizz.[33][34]

1990s

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In August 1990, Buziak was replaced by Joe Galante, who had been the president of RCA Records Nashville division. The roster was cut once again and the A&R department was restructured. Along with the launch of BNA Records and the expansion of the urban music division, these initiatives would prove to be positive, but RCA was unsuccessful under Galante, ranking 10th in market share in 1995.[35][36][37][38] Galante returned to head the RCA Nashville division and in March, 1995 was replaced by Bob Jamieson, the president of RCA's Canadian division.[39]

By the close of the decade, RCA Records had undergone what Billboard described as a "remarkable turnaround" with the success of artists including Britney Spears, the Dave Matthews Band, Natalie Imbruglia, the Verve Pipe, Robyn, SWV, Christina Aguilera, NSYNC, and Foo Fighters. A distribution deal with Loud Records yielded hit records from urban artists including Big Punisher, Wu-Tang Clan and Mobb Deep.[40]

2000s

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In 2002, BMG fully acquired J Records, which it had founded in 2000 as a joint venture with Clive Davis. Davis was then named chairman of RCA Records and J Records under the auspices of a new entity, the RCA Music Group, which included RCA Records, J, and Arista Records.[41] In 2004, Sony and BMG merged their music divisions to create Sony BMG, and in 2007, the RCA Music Group was rebranded as the BMG Label Group.[42]

In April 2008, former Zomba Label Group president and CEO Barry Weiss was appointed chairman of the BMG Label Group, and Davis was named chief creative officer of Sony BMG worldwide. In October, Sony acquired BMG's 50% ownership and the BMG Label Group was merged with the Jive Label Group to establish the RCA/Jive Label Group. It included RCA, Jive, J, Arista, Polo Grounds, LaFace Records, Volcano Entertainment, Hitz Committee, Battery Records, and the Verity Gospel Music Group.[43][44][45]

The decade marked a period during which RCA Records had notable success in the pop genre, with Christina Aguilera, Kesha, Pink, Kelly Clarkson and Pitbull scoring multiple #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.[46]

2010s

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In May 2011, former Universal Music Group CEO Doug Morris was appointed chairman of Sony Music Entertainment. Focused on A&R, Morris named Peter Edge, president of A&R at RCA and J Records, chairman and CEO of RCA Music Group. Tom Corson was named president and COO.[47] On the seventh of October of that year, the Jive, Arista and J imprints were altogether permanently merged into RCA. As a result, the RCA Music Group was then disbanded and RCA was reinstated as a standalone label under the Sony Music umbrella. Following the shutdown of the three labels, a majority of various artists from the rosters of Jive, Arista and/or J were shifted to release future material under RCA.[48][49][50][51]

During the first half of the decade, RCA released platinum and multi-platinum records by artists including A$AP Rocky, Cage the Elephant, Chris Brown, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, D'Angelo, Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters, G-Eazy, Jennifer Hudson, R. Kelly, Kesha, Khalid, Alicia Keys, Kings of Leon, Miguel, Pentatonix, P!nk, Pitbull, Shakira, Sia, Britney Spears, Bryson Tiller, Justin Timberlake, T-Pain, and Tinashe. Since 2012, the label has released music by artists including: Kevin Abstract, A$AP Ferg, Becky G, Bleachers, Brockhampton, Bryson Tiller, Cam, G-Eazy, Childish Gambino, Martin Garrix, H.E.R., Normani, Kaytranada, Khalid, Kygo, Tate McRae, Mark Ronson, Sasha Sloan, Jazmine Sullivan, SZA, ZAYN.[52]

In 2015, RCA Records reinstated its 1968 space-age 'RCA' styled logo after utilizing the lightning bolt logo since 1987. The lightning bolt logo is still used by RCA's Nashville division.[53]

John Fleckenstein and Joe Riccitelli were appointed as co-presidents of RCA Records in January 2018.[54] Later that year, RCA named Keith Naftaly president of A&R,[55] and Tunji Balogun executive VP of A&R.[56]

2020s

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In addition to releasing successful albums by Bryson Tiller, Alicia Keys, Fousheé' and Pentatonix in 2020, RCA had #1 records with Doja Cat's "Say So" feat. Nicki Minaj; Miley Cyrus' "Plastic Hearts" and Chris Brown & Young Thug's "Go Crazy". Brockhampton's single "Sugar" was certified platinum,[57] and singles by Flo Milli[58] and Latto (formerly known as "Mulatto") were certified gold.[59] Both Doja Cat and Kaytranada received multiple Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, H.E.R. received her 13th Grammy nomination, and the Strokes album The New Abnormal won for Best Rock Album. Koffee signed with RCA just after she became the first woman and the youngest person to win the Reggae Album of the Year Grammy.[60][61] In June 2020, the label partnered with the Human Rights Campaign to present the 2020 Pride Benefit Concert, a livestream supporting LGBTQ equality in June. RCA artists including Isaac Dunbar, Cam, and Citizen Queen performed.[62] SZA released the single "Good Days" on December 25.[63]

In January 2021, Mark Pitts was appointed president of RCA Records and John Fleckenstein was named chief operating officer.[64] Jazmine Sullivan's Heaux Tales hit #1 on the Billboard R&B albums chart.[65] Tate McRae's "You Broke Me First" (stylized as "you broke me first") was quadruple platinum in Ireland, double platinum in Canada, Mexico and New Zealand, and platinum in the US, UK, Australia, Finland, France, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. She was #1 on the Billboard emerging artist chart.[66] In April 2024, Variety announced that the label had signed Thai rapper Lisa, a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink, for her venture into American solo endeavors.[67]

Recording studios

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1133 Avenue of the Americas, New York

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See also: RCA Studios New York

In 1969, RCA consolidated its New York City corporate offices and opened new recording studios within a new building located at 1133 Avenue of the Americas, closing the East 24th Street studios it had operated for over 40 years.[68] RCA's Sixth Avenue Studios consisted of five recording studios, including Studio A, a 60 x 100 foot room with 30-foot ceiling, nine tape mastering rooms and five lacquer mastering channels. These facilities were often used for classical projects and numerous original Broadway cast recordings of shows.[69] RCA closed its Sixth Avenue Studios in 1993, with the space later becoming offices.[70]

RCA Studio B, Nashville

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Main article: RCA Studio B

In 1956, Steve Sholes and Chet Atkins established RCA Victor's first Nashville recording studio at 1611 Hawkins Street (later renamed Roy Acuff Place) in what would become Nashville's Music Row district. In the two decades the studio was in operation, RCA Studio B produced 60 percent of the Billboard magazine's Country chart hits,[71] and was an essential factor to the development of the musical production style and sound engineering technique known as the Nashville Sound. RCA operated the studio until January 1977, when the Nashville offices were closed and their properties located on Music Row were sold.[72]

RCA Studio A, Nashville

[edit]
Main article: RCA Studio A

In 1964, Chet Atkins, Owen Bradley and Harold Bradley established the newer, larger RCA Studio A at 806 17th Avenue South, adjacent to RCA's existing studio (which was subsequently designated RCA Studio B).[73] The studio was operated by RCA until January 1977, when their Nashville offices were closed and properties located on Music Row were sold.[72] In 2015, the studio was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Since 2016, the studio has housed Low Country Sound, a record label imprint run by Dave Cobb The studio has since been refurbished and the building's original RCA Victor signage restored.[74]

RCA Victor Music Center of the World, Hollywood

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In 1959, RCA Victor established the RCA Victor Music Center of the World at the former NBC Radio complex located at 1510 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California.[75] The location hosted projects by Henry Mancini, Sam Cooke, and others. In 1964, RCA opened a new facility and offices at 6363 Sunset Boulevard, which it operated until closing its Los Angeles studios in 1977. Known for being a recording place of artists including the Rolling Stones, The Monkees and Elvis Presley, today the building houses the Los Angeles Film School.[76]

RCA Mid-America Recording Center, Chicago

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In 1969, RCA established the RCA Mid-America Recording Center on 1 North Wacker Drive in Chicago. The studio utilized the acoustical expertise of the David Sarnoff Research Center,[77] Known for recording such acts as the Guess Who, Alice Cooper, and Curtis Mayfield,[78] the facility was closed in 1972.[79]

Criticisms and controversies

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Kenny Rogers

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After Kenny Rogers left RCA Records in 1987, he accused the label of trying to ruin his career. Rogers had signed to RCA in 1982 for an advance sum of $20 million (the largest deal ever in country music up to that time) when Bob Summer was head of the label.[80]

Kelly Clarkson

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In the summer of 2007, Kelly Clarkson and Clive Davis, then head of Sony BMG, feuded publicly regarding the direction of her album My December, the follow-up to Clarkson's multi-platinum album, Breakaway. Clarkson wrote the songs on My December, "showcasing her own songwriting on darker, edgier rock-oriented fare", and Davis insisted Clarkson work with hired hitmakers, as she had previously, on "polished, radio-friendly songs". Clarkson refused to change the album, and it was released in June 2007. It has since been certified platinum.[81][82][83]

Avril Lavigne

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In November 2010, Avril Lavigne stated that the long delay of her fourth album, Goodbye Lullaby, was due to "a bunch of bureaucratic BS" related to RCA.[84] The album was ultimately released in March 2011. In October 2011, Lavigne confirmed that she had left RCA and signed with sister label Epic Records.[85][86]

Brooke Candy

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In early 2017, Brooke Candy left RCA before the release of her initially planned debut studio album Daddy Issues, citing creative stifling for her departure and accusing the label of taking control of her sound and image, as well as dictating what she could publicly say and do.[87] She later claimed that she "fought, bare-fucking knuckle, to get the fuck out of [RCA]" and that Sony had taken ownership of the scrapped album's songs despite not allowing her to release them, leaving her back at square one musically.[88]

R. Kelly

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RCA ignored allegations of sexual misconduct by R. Kelly,[89][90] which included running a violent cult, wherein he held teenage individuals hostage in exchange for sexual favors.[89] Kelly continued to release music for RCA through 2018, when pressure from the Mute R. Kelly campaign mounted against him.[91] In January 2019, following the broadcast of Lifetime's documentary Surviving R. Kelly, his contract was terminated by RCA.[92][93]

Other notable events

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Sergei Rachmaninoff's studio master recordings were believed destroyed in the demolition of RCA Victor's Camden warehouse

In the early 1920s, Victor was slow about getting deeply involved in recording and marketing black jazz and vocal blues. By the mid-to-late 1920s, Victor had signed Jelly Roll Morton, Bennie Moten, Duke Ellington and other black bands, and was becoming very competitive with Columbia and Brunswick, even starting their own V-38000 "Hot Dance" series that was marketed to all Victor dealers. They also had a V-38500 "race" (race records) series, a 23000 'hot dance' continuation of the V-38000 series, as well as a 23200 'Race' series with blues, gospel and some hard jazz. However, throughout the 1930s, RCA Victor's involvement in jazz and blues slowed down and by the time of the musicians' strike and the end of the war, Victor was neglecting the R&B (race) scene, which is one of the reasons so many independent companies sprang up so successfully.[94]

In the early 1960s, RCA Victor demolished its Camden warehouse.[95]

Previous labels

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Executives

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Artists and releases

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Main pages: List of RCA Records artists, Category:RCA Records artists, Category:RCA Records singles, and Category:RCA Records albums
[edit]
  • A 1950s Canadian 45 RPM RCA Victor label
    A 1950s Canadian 45 RPM RCA Victor label
  • Label of an RCA Victor 45 rpm record from 1954 to 1964
    Label of an RCA Victor 45 rpm record from 1954 to 1964
  • Label of an RCA Victor 78 rpm record from the mid to late 1950s. This basic design was also used for most LPs and 45s from 1954 to 1964
    Label of an RCA Victor 78 rpm record from the mid to late 1950s. This basic design was also used for most LPs and 45s from 1954 to 1964
  • RCA Victor used this label for its American 45 rpm records during the "Dynagroove" era from 1965 to late 1968
    RCA Victor used this label for its American 45 rpm records during the "Dynagroove" era from 1965 to late 1968
  • RCA Victor LP label during the "Dynagroove" era was also used for 45 rpm records in South America during the mid- to late 1960s
    RCA Victor LP label during the "Dynagroove" era was also used for 45 rpm records in South America during the mid- to late 1960s
  • An example of an RCA Compatible Discrete 4 or Quadradisc album; RCA used this label on some Quadradisc LPs from 1972 to 1976
    An example of an RCA Compatible Discrete 4 or Quadradisc album; RCA used this label on some Quadradisc LPs from 1972 to 1976
  • Standard "Blue Ring" RCA Victor label used on early US CDs from 1983 through 1987. Some reissues on this label change the ring and print color from blue to black
    Standard "Blue Ring" RCA Victor label used on early US CDs from 1983 through 1987. Some reissues on this label change the ring and print color from blue to black
  • RCA's standard black Victor label used on most vinyl LPs issued in the Americas from mid 1976 to 1989; 45 rpm records used a similar label
    RCA's standard black Victor label used on most vinyl LPs issued in the Americas from mid 1976 to 1989; 45 rpm records used a similar label

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Cole, Tom (September 30, 2010). "Why Records Are 12 Inches Wide". NPR. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  2. ^ Hoffman, Frank (2004). Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound. Routledge. p. 258. ISBN 1135949506.
  3. ^ "RCA (Radio Corporation of America)". EHTW.org. Engingeering and Technology History Wiki. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  4. ^ Sanjek, Russell (July 28, 1998). American Popular Music and Its Business: The First Four Hundred Years ... London: Oxford University Press. p. 118. ISBN 9780195043112. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  5. ^ Edward, David; et al. "RCA Program Transcription Album Discography (1931–33)". bsnpubs.com. Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  6. ^ The Billboard - Music-Radio - "E. T. Firms Make Comeback As Local Radio Gains Accent" 16 October 1954 p. 14 RCA Thesaurus on Google Books
  7. ^ Points on the Dial: Golden Age Radio Beyond the Networks Alexander Russo. Duke University Press, London 2010. p. 112-114 RCA Theaurus and NBC on books.google.com]
  8. ^ The Billboard - "Speed and Quality on RCA Thesaurus" Ben Selvin 6 October 1956 p. 26 & p. 32 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books
  9. ^ The Billboard - "The Lawrence Welk Story - Welk to Radio via Thesaurus" 6 October 1956 p. 19 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books
  10. ^ The Billboard - Music Radio - "New Features Launch 20th Thesaurus Year" 7 May 1955 p. 27 on Google Books.cm
  11. ^ Radio Daily-Television Daily. Publisher: Radio Daily Corporation 1954, p. 8 - "RCA Thesaurus cut a session of Latin-American music, polkas, and novelties with the John Serry Accordion Quartet", RCA Thesaurus John Serry on Google Books
  12. ^ Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
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  22. ^ Hough, Clint. "Bringing on back the good times". Sixties City. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  23. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 17, 1956. pp. 14–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  24. ^ Sir George Martin; Jeremy Hornsby (October 15, 1994). All You Need Is Ears: The Inside Personal Story of the Genius who Created The Beatles. St. Martin's Press. pp. 84–. ISBN 978-0-312-11482-4.
  25. ^ "Trade Mark Details as at 13 November 2012: Case details for Trade Mark 325592". United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office. September 7, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  26. ^ "British RCA to Cut Decca Ltd. Tie In U.K., Eire & Form Own Set-Up". Billboard. November 4, 1967. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  27. ^ "Richard III (1955) – Soundtrack details". SoundtrackCollector.com. May 13, 2007. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  28. ^ "Taming Of The Shrew, The  – Various Artists : Read reviews and compare prices at Ciao.co.uk". Cd.ciao.co.uk. July 26, 1999. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
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  34. ^ Dannen, Frederic (July 2, 1991). Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business. New York: Random House. p. 260. ISBN 9780679730613. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  35. ^ New York Times staff (August 9, 1990). "New Chief at RCA Records". The New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  36. ^ Newman, Melinda (November 28, 1992). "Novik Knows the Score in RCA's New Talent Drive". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  37. ^ Jeffrey, Don (April 8, 1995). "Jamieson Named RCA President After 7 Month Search". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  38. ^ Haring, Bruce (May 13, 1993). "RCA prexy gives Nipper something to bark about". Variety. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  39. ^ Phillips, Chuck (March 28, 1995). "Company Town: BMG Names Insider to Head RCA Records". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  40. ^ Baumgartner, Bradley (May 23, 1998). "Retooled RCA Is Once Again A Hitmaker". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
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Further reading

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  • Bryan, Martin F. Report to the Phonothèque Québécoise on the Search for Archival Documents of Berliner Gram-O-Phone Co., Victor Talking Machine Co., R.C.A. Victor Co. (Montréal), 1899–1972. Further augmented ed. Montréal: Phonothèque Québécoise, 1994. 19, [1] p.
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