ECM Records

ECM Records German independent label co-founded by producer Manfred Eicher, Manfred Scheffner and Karl Egger in Munich (Pasing) in 1969.
Label Code: LC 2516 / LC 02516.
ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) is a jazz and Western classical label that features acoustic and electronic artists producing eclectic versions of contemporary music.

NOTE: Please use this as the main label for ECM releases, and ECM Records GmbH for secondary company credits [ie. Published By, Distributed By, (p), (c)] unless explicitly credited differently.

ECM's catalog spans from contemporary works (Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, et al) to experimental and electronic jazz (Nils Petter Molvær, Pat Metheny Group, Jan Garbarek, et al). Their catalog includes over 1800 recordings from 50+ years of producing works. Since 1969, ECM albums have been acclaimed for their outstanding music, creative production, and exceptional sound quality.

ECM 1300, 1301, 1313, 1376, 1400, 1414, 1441, 1443, 1468, 1613, 1634, 1717, 1759, 1841 and 1916 were never released.

Distribution:
Although ECM is an independent label, the Universal Music Group (UMG) distributes ECM titles in the US, Japan and throughout Europe and they have used other distributors.
-In the period when Polydor distributed ECM product (Dec 1973 to Jul 1978) , Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman was used for pressing and identified by a CP suffix on the labels and in the runouts. After Polydor they changed to Warner Bros.
-Starting in July 1978 and into the 1980s, the label was distributed in the US by Warner Bros.. In April 1979, Warner "reissued" 63 titles (see article in sub notes).
- Between 1994 and 1999 ECM was distributed by BMG.
BMG-distributed US releases from the 1990s used the original ECM number and added a suffix 78118-2XXXX-X, the last digit denoting format. This does not, however, apply to the JAPO or WATT releases, which use the same 78118 prefix.

Pressing information:
-During the period when Polydor distributed ECM product, Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman was used for pressing and identified by a CP suffix on the labels and in the runouts. After Polydor, they changed to Warner Bros..
-German and US pressings carry a second catalog number (i.e. an UMG catalog number).
-Japanese pressings only carry the Universal Music K. K. catalog number (e.g. UCCE xxxx).

Label Code introduced mid 1976, first known LP: Barre Philips - Mountainscapes ECM 1076.

Rim text on labels of German ECM LPs "Urheber- Und ..." was replaced by "Alle Urheber- Und ..." in 1977, first known LP: Egberto Gismonti ‎– Dança Das Cabeças ECM 1089.