CBS/Sony

In March 1968 CBS/Sony Records Inc. was established as a 50-50 joint venture between CBS Inc. (U.S.) and Sony (Japan). It was renamed CBS Sony Inc. in August 1973 and CBS/Sony Group Inc. in August 1983.
With the acquisition of CBS Records it became a wholly owned Sony subsidiary in January 1988 and renamed Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. in April 1991.
Company: CBS/Sony Inc.

From 1968 to 1976 most releases have a cat# with 4 characters, first two always SO, followed by two more charakters (mostly SOL_, SON_, SOP_) and a number (1 to 4 digits).

From 1976 to 1989 most releases have a cat# with a 2 digit prefix as price code (price in ¥ divided by 100 is the price code, e.g. 3200 ¥ --> price code 32).
Followed by a character defining the format:
A = Analog media (Vinyl, LP / 12")
D = Digital media (CD 5")
E = Digital media (CD 3")
K = Cassette
L = Digital media (Laserdisc)
S = Analog media (Vinyl, 7")
Z = Video Tape
The next character defines the genre:
C = Foreign Classic (non-japanese)
G = Domestic Classic (japanese)
H = Domestic Pop (japanese)
P = Foreign Pop (non-japanese)
followed by a 1 to 4 digt number, the numbers are counted within every character group (e.g. "AP", not regarding the price code. Releases with multiple media have a own cat# for each media, the cat# of the release is the cat# of the first media plus the different digits of the last media (e.g. 35AP 3344~5).