Sony Music (global brand, excluding JP, owned by Sony Music Entertainment)

Sony Music (as of 2014) uses the following frontline labels:
* Columbia
* RCA
* Epic
* Arista Nashville
* RCA Records Label Nashville
* Columbia Nashville
* Arista France

History

Jan 1, 1991: Sony Music Entertainment (SME) was founded, on the same day Sony reintroduced the Columbia label worldwide (except in Spain and Japan*).
Aug 5, 2004: Sony/BMG merger; SME renamed Sony BMG Music Entertainment (SBME). With the merge, Sony Music gained the use of the BMG-owned Columbia trademark in Spain.
Aug 2008: Sony announces its intention to buy out BMG's stake in merger
Oct 1, 2008: acquisition completed, SBME reverts to the present name Sony Music Entertainment (worldwide – except in Japan*).
Sep 2012: Arista France is created, historic Arista (BMG) disappeared with Sony/BMG fusion in 2008

* JP releases should not be filed under this label – The Sony Music Distribution (Japan) Inc. is a good source for labels. Most JP printings of US releases will retain the US label, with the exception of Columbia due to legal reasons. For more information on the independent music giant, see Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc..

Sony Music Entertainment has offices in the following countries:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela