RCA Music Service

RCA Music Service was launched on January 1, 1958 as the "RCA Victor Society Of Great Music", changing its name almost immediately to RCA Victor Record Club. With the rise in popularity of cassette and 8-track tape formats, the Club's name was changed to RCA Music Service in mid-1971, with advertisements placed in all major U.S. magazines. Some early RCA Music Service releases may be found with "RCA Music Club" printed on them. After Bertelsmann AG acquired RCA from General Electric in December 1986, RCA Direct Marketing, Inc. changed its name to BMG Direct Marketing, Inc. in April 1987, keeping the RCA Music Service name until January 1st, 1989, when the club was renamed BMG Music Service. Do not add RCA Music Service as a label. Instead, please add the original label and its catalog number as the Label. Add the specific role mentioned on release (Manufactured By for instance) and the corresponding number. If no specific role is mentioned on release, then please use Record Company along with the corresponding number. Then add 'Club Edition' to the format. RCA Music Service cat #s are a letter followed by a six-digit number, with the letter indicating the format (C = cassette, R = LP, S = 8-track) and the first digit of the number is the number of LPs or equivalent for tape releases.