Sony Classical
In 1988, Sony Corporation of Japan acquired the CBS Records group from the USA and subsequently established Sony Classical in 1990 to succeed the Columbia and CBS Masterworks labels. The origins of the Columbia name date back to 1887, when the Columbia Phonograph Company was founded in the District of Columbia, initially releasing cylinder recordings. Columbia's classical division, Columbia Masterworks, launched in 1927 with Brahms’s First Symphony under Felix Weingartner's direction. The company was purchased by the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) in 1938, and under Goddard Lieberson's leadership, became a pioneer in music technology and production, introducing the 33 1/3 rpm long-playing record in 1948. Over the years, the label signed notable classical musicians and conductors and was instrumental in recording iconic Broadway musicals.
Since transitioning to Sony Classical in 1990, the label has continued to sign distinguished artists and enhance its prestigious catalog with new recordings and reissues of classical and Broadway cast recordings. The label has also become prominent in film soundtrack production, releasing acclaimed scores from movies such as Titanic (1997), Shakespeare in Love (1998), The Red Violin (1999), and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).