Foundation of Sony Music

Sony Music was originally founded in 1929 as American Record Corporation and in 1938 renamed Columbia Recording Corporation, following its acquisition by the Columbia Broadcasting System.

In 1966, it was reorganized to become CBS Records and Sony Corporation bought the company in 1988 and renamed it under its current name in 1991. In 2004, Sony and Bertelsmann established a 50-50 joint venture known as Sony BMG which transferred the businesses of Sony Music and Bertelsmann Music Group into one entity.