Ariola

[b] This is a German label. Use this entry only if the displayed label is Ariola or a role is credited to Ariola only.[/b]
Label Code: LC 0116 / LC 00116
The Ariola label was established by [l=Ariola Schallplatten GmbH], founded and registered in the German commercial register on 12 May 1958 in Gütersloh by Reinhard Mohn. From Summer 1960 on the record company was renamed to [l=Ariola GmbH], but you'll still find the old name printed on releases in the early 60s.

The label had some early successes with and and became a major player in Europe in the 1960s with German/Austrian Schlager stars like and .

The release date of records on the Ariola label (as well as records licensed by the parent company) can determined by the info given on label or sleeve: From July 1962 to 1963 the parent company was renamed to and finally renamed to [l=Ariola Eurodisc GmbH] in January 1964.

The Ariola label since then was used for the company's (mostly German) dance and pop repertoire.

Please note: it's still ok according to the discogs guidelines, to link Ariola as a distributor in this period if denoted: [i]Im Ariola-Vertrieb[/i], even if this credit obviously relates to [l=Ariola Eurodisc GmbH] as the factual distributor.

Starting in 1969 the record company established several subsidiaries in Europe, North and South America during the 1970s. In 1981/82 the distribution mark changed to "Distributed by [l=Ariola Group of companies]", due to the internationalization of the record company and their worldwide distribution.

In 1987 [l=Bertelsmann AG] reorganized its music business after the acquisition of [l=RCA] and established Bertelsmann Music Group [l=BMG]. As a result of this, [l=Ariola Eurodisc GmbH] was renamed to [l=BMG Ariola München GmbH]. In 2005 Ariola became part of [l=Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Germany) GmbH], after [l=Sony Music Entertainment Inc.] and [l=Bertelsmann Music Group] had started their joint-venture in 2004. In August 2008, Sony acquired Bertelsmann's 50% stake in the company. Since 2009 the label [l=Ariola] is part of the [l=Sony Music Entertainment Germany GmbH]

If you are submitting an Ariola record without release year info, check the matrix number in the runout area. If the matrix stamp ends with “…/##S”, the two numbers indicates a year. For example, “…/77S” indicates mastering or press date 1977, which is often the same as the release date.

7" catalog number series (and matrices):
10xxx series: in use between 1962 and 1972. Even end digits (e.g. 10 22[b]6[/b]) were used until end of 1969. Since 1970 odd end digits were used (e.g. 10 25[b]7[/b]).
14xxx series: in use between 1966 and 1972. Some numbers were already allocated 1966 but the majority stems from 1968 and later.
18xxx series: in use between 1964 and 1966.
19xxx series: in use between 1966 and 1968.
35xxx series: in use between 1958 and 1961. The very first vinyl cat.nos. used by Bertelsmann / Ariola. Note: Missing numbers were filled later.
45xxx series: in use between 1960 and 1963. Note: Missing numbers were filled later.
36xxx series: in use since 1958 for EP's.
37xxx series: special editions in Stereo.
65xxx series: [l=Manhattan (5)]
66xxx series: [l=Manhattan (5)] EPs
750xx series: [l=Top Rank International] releases


Declaration for the cat# in the early 60s:
First digit:
1 = classical
2 = Baccarola repertoire
3 or 4 = Ariola dance and pop repertoire
5 = speech recording
6 = jazz
7 = international repertoire
2nd digit:
1 = LP 12" 33 rpm mono
2 = LP 12" 33 rpm stereo
3 = LP 10" 33 rpm mono
4 = LP 10" 33 rpm stereo
5 = 7" 45 rpm common mono
6 = 7" 45 rpm extended play mono
7 = 7" 45 rpm common stereo
8 = 7" 45 rpm extended play stereo
The literal suffixes are price codes