Sony

History and Structure

•       1968 (March) – CBS Sony Records formed after Sony Corporation and                 Columbia Broadcasting merged

•       1968 (August)  -  First record was released

•       1969 – First Cassettes and Analog Disks (First title: Simon & Garfunkel / Graduate Original Soundtrack)

•       1971 – Launches new record label “EPIC”

•       1973 – Renames itself as CBS Sony Records Inc

•       1978 – First Video product released.

•       1982 -  First CDs released. (First title: Billy Joel / 52nd Street)

•       1989 – Manufacturing of laser disks begins

•       1991 – Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo stock exchange

•       1992 – Mini disks begin production (First title: Mariah Carey / Emotions)

•       1995 – Of ficial website “BIGTOP” is launched (now Sony Music Online Japan)

•       1999 (May) – Manufacturing of Super Audio CDs (SACDs) begins

•       1999 (December) – Online distribution of CD singles begins + delists from Tokyo stock exchange

•       2001 – “EGSTREET” is launched (now Sony Music Shop)

•       2005 – Sony Music Network Inc is founded to develop a new fully digitalized market 

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