Victor (Japanese “His Master’s Voice” imprint)
~ Label
Annotation
Releases that should be added directly to this label should have the “Dog and Phonograph” (“His Master’s Voice”) Victor imprint, usually on the front flap of the obi.
Do not assume that your catalog number prefix makes this the right label - "Victor" is only one of a couple dozen labels run by Victor Entertainment and and the "VICL" catno template does not indicate which label.
Note that the “V and triangle” logo on the obi spine indicates the company Victor Entertainment, meaning it is present on all Victor Entertainment releases, including sublabels which do not belong here. A list of divisions and labels of Victor Entertainment can be found here :
http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/company/business.html#label
http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/link/
The catalog numbers with the four-letter format XXXX-NNNNN used on many modern Victor releases contain some information about the sublabel and format of the release. How to decode them is described below: (Please extend and correct this list if you have additional information.)
First two Letters:
- VI - one of Victor Entertainment's sublabels, check the CD
- VT - flying DOG (do not add these releases here!)
Third Letter (Media format): See ja:規格品番 (Wikipedia)
Fourth Letter (Sublabel/distributor/other?):
- B - FlyingStar and BabeStar Label releases
- F - Video releases of TV show series; generally should not be added to Musicbrainz.
- J - Jazz.
- L - Normal.
- P - Unknown; often (but not exclusively) used on releases by foreign artists.
- Y - Bonus discs (often included in boxes where the third letter is Z.)
First digits of number (Release type): (For releases with 5-digit numbers only)
- 1 and 3 - Single
- 6 - Album
- 7 - Compilation/Best releases
