Odeon

Multi-national label; also appears as "Odéon".
Label Code: LC 0287 / LC 00287
Please note: Many Odeon issues also carry an EMI logo. EMI should not be added as a label, as it merely indicates that Odeon was part of the EMI Group.

Releases on the His Master's Voice, Die Stimme Seines Herrn and La Voce Del Padrone labels which were destined for export to territories where The Gramophone Company / EMI had no rights to the use of the Dog-and-phonograph trade mark can often be found with gold-foil Odeon or white Odeon stickers covering the original "Dog-and-phonograph" logos . This was due to copyright issues with using that logo in those territories (Americas, Japan). In such cases, these should be entered as His Master's Voice, Die Stimme Seines Herrn or La Voce Del Padrone releases, with a Release Note stating that some copies can be found with Odeon stickers. Additionally, many blue-label Columbia releases manufactured by The Gramophone Company Of India Ltd. also received Odeon stickers in order to indicate these copies were for export. As with the above, these releases are still considered to be on the Columbia label.

For unofficial releases which use the Odeon-logo and/or claim to be an Odeon-release please use this label: Odeon (2).

For Peruvian Salsa and Cumbia Label Use Odeon Del Peru

Odeon started out as a label of the International Talking Machine Co. m.b.H. in 1903. The trademark "Odeon" was already registered on October 17, 1903 and was re-registered on February 4, 1904 under no. 66576. The Odeon logotype of a dome building supported by columns did not follow until December 31, 1904 under No. 75446. Both the name and logo are inspired after a famous theatre in Paris.

In 1911, the label became owned by Carl Lindström A.-G. who soon also owned Beka, Parlophone and Fonotipia. Gradually the label expanded to many countries. In 1926, ownership moved to the Columbia Graphophone Company Ltd. which merged to form Electric & Musical Industries Ltd. (EMI) in 1931.

In 1936, the director of the Odeon branch was forced to retire and replaced by Dr Kepler, a Nazi party member. In 1939, Odeon and Electrola were placed under a Nazi-appointed administrator. When the Soviet army occupied Berlin in 1945, it destroyed most of the Odeon factory. After 1945, Odeon continued to be used as a label for "EMI" pressings made for West Africa, Argentina, India, Brazil, France and elsewhere. The label was written as Odéon on some French releases.

In 1965, the rights to the trademark (label) were reassigned to The Gramophone Co. Ltd., subsequently further reassigned to renamed company EMI Records Ltd. in 1973. On April 27, 2004 the rights to the imprint were transferred from EMI Records Ltd. to sister company EMI (IP) Ltd., an intellectual property holding company for ultimate parent EMI Group Plc, with EMI Records Ltd. becoming the licensee. As of 2017 EMI (IP) Ltd. which is controlled (owned) by EMI Group Ltd. (formerly known as EMI Group Plc.) is still the immediate registered owner of the trademark, with the imprint being used by affiliated companies which form part of the Universal Music Group.

The Odeon building logo appeared (on the left of red labels) on French releases in 1967.