Guide Note

RCA Records is a music company that is part of the Sony BMG Music Entertainment company. It has three record labels: RCA Records, RCA Records Label Nashville and RCA Label Group UK.

Fast Facts

1. Year Established: 1901
2. Industry: Music
3. Phone: 616-840-5600
4. E-mail: info@rcarecords.com
5. HQ: New York, New York
6. Chairman and CEO: Barry Weiss (Sony BMG)
7. Chief creative officer: Clive Davis (Sony BMG)
8. Products: Music, compact discs, electronic music downloads

1. 1901: RCA Records was founded as Victor Talking Machine Company
2. 1949: RCA-Victor Developed 45 rpm record
3. 1955: Signed Elvis Presley
4. 1983: General Electric acquired RCA, renamed BMG Music
5. 2004: Merged with Sony to become Sony BMG

RCA Records has housed such diverse artists as Elvis Presley, Rick Springfield, Foo Fighters, Glenn Miller, Bonnie Tyler and Velvet Revolver. All of the American Idol winners received record contracts that were released under the RCA Records or Sony BMG umbrella.