Sony_Music_Entertainment

context: Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (sometimes known as Sony Music or by the initials, SME) is an American music corporation managed and operated by Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Sony Corporation. In 1929, the enterprise was first founded as American Record Corporation (ARC) and, in 1938, was renamed Columbia Recording Corporation, following ARC's acquisition by CBS. In 1966, the company was reorganized to become CBS Records. In 1987, Sony Corporation of Japan bought the company, and in 1991, renamed it SME. It is the world's second largest recorded music company, after Universal Music Group.
qas: answers: American Record Corporation
question: What was the first name of Sony Music Entertainment, Inc?

answers: 1938
question: In what year was it renamed Columbia Recording Corporation?

answers: 1966
question: In what year was it known as CBS Records?

answers: 1987
question: In what year did it land the name, Sony Music Entertainment?

answers: Universal Music Group.
question: What company is the only group larger than Sony Music Entertainment?

context: In 2004, SME and Bertelsmann Music Group merged as Sony BMG Music Entertainment. When Sony acquired BMG's half of the conglomerate in 2008, Sony BMG reverted to the SME name. The buyout led to the dissolution of BMG, which then relaunched as BMG Rights Management. Out of the "Big Three" record companies, with Universal Music Group being the largest and Warner Music Group, SME is middle-sized.
qas: answers: 2004
question: In what year did SME merge with another company?

answers: Bertelsmann Music Group
question: What was the name of the other company that SME merged with?

answers: Sony BMG Music Entertainment
question: What did the company call themselves after the  merger?

answers: 2008
question: In what year did Sony BMG Music Entertainment go back to being called SME?

context: In 1929, ARC was founded through a merger of several smaller record companies, which, ultimately, transformed into one enterprise known as SME. In the depths of the Great Depression, the Columbia Phonograph Company (founded in 1888) in the U.S. (including its Okeh Records subsidiary) was acquired by ARC in 1934.
qas: answers: 1929
question: In what year did ARC form?

answers: 1888
question: In what year did Columbia Phonography Company form?

answers: 1934
question: In what year did ARC take over Columbia Phonography Company?

context: ARC was acquired in 1938 by the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS, which, in turn, had been formed by the Columbia Phonograph Company, but then sold off). ARC was renamed Columbia Recording Corporation. The Columbia Phonograph Company had international subsidiaries and affiliates such as the Columbia Graphophone Company in the United Kingdom, but they were sold off prior to CBS acquiring American Columbia. RCA Victor Records executive Ted Wallerstein convinced CBS head William S. Paley to buy ARC and Paley made Wallerstein head of the newly acquired record company. The renamed company made Columbia its flagship label with Okeh its subsidiary label while deemphasizing ARC's other labels. This allowed ARC's leased labels Brunswick Records and Vocalion Records to revert to former owner Warner Bros. which sold the labels to Decca Records. Columbia kept the Brunswick catalogue recorded from December 1931 onward which was reissued on the Columbia label as well as the Vocalion label material from the same time period which was reissued on the Okeh label. Wallerstein, who was promoted at the end of 1947 from president to chairman of the record company, restored Columbia's status as a leading record company and spearheaded the successful introduction of the long playing (LP) record before he retired as Columbia's chairman in 1951. James Conkling then became head of Columbia Records. Also in 1951, Columbia severed its ties with the EMI-owned record label of the same name and began a UK distribution deal with Philips Records, whereas Okeh Records continued to be distributed by EMI on the Columbia label.
qas: answers: Columbia Broadcasting System
question: Who bought out ARC?

answers: 1938
question: In what year was ARC bought?

answers: Columbia Recording Corporation
question: What did CBS call ARC after buying it?

answers: William S. Paley
question: Who was the head of CBS at the time?

answers: RCA Victor Records executive Ted Wallerstein
question: Who convinced Paley to buy ARC?

context: Columbia founded Epic Records in 1953. In 1956, Conkling left Columbia, he would help establish the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences before eventually becoming the first president of the newly launched Warner Bros. Records, and Goddard Lieberson began the first of two stints as head of the record company. In 1958, Columbia founded another label, Date Records, which initially issued rockabilly music.
qas: answers: 1953
question: In what year was Epic Records created?

answers: Columbia
question: What company created Epic Records?

answers: Conkling
question: Who was one of the creators of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences?

answers: Warner Bros. Records
question: What did Conkling later go on to lead?

answers: rockabilly
question: What type of music was Date Records known for?

context: In 1960, Columbia/CBS began negotiations with its main international distributor Philips Records with the goal of CBS starting its own global record company. Philips' acquisition of Mercury Records in the US in 1961 paved the way for this. CBS only had the rights to the Columbia name in North America; therefore the international arm founded in 1961 and launched in 1962 utilized the "CBS Records" name only, with Philips Records distributing the label in Europe. CBS's Mexican record company, Discos Columbia, was renamed Discos CBS by 1963.
qas: answers: 1961
question: In what year was Mercury Records (US) bought out?

answers: Philips Records
question: Who acquired Mercury Records (US)?

answers: Discos CBS
question: What is the name of CBS' Mexican record label?

context: By 1962, their Columbia Record Productions unit was operating four plants around the United States located in Los Angeles; Terre Haute, Indiana; Bridgeport, Connecticut; and Pitman, New Jersey, which manufactured records for not only Columbia's own labels, but also for independent record labels.
qas: answers: Los Angeles; Terre Haute, Indiana; Bridgeport, Connecticut; and Pitman, New Jersey
question: What 4 areas of the country did Columbia Records have manufacturers in?

context: In 1964, CBS established its own UK distribution with the acquisition of Oriole Records. EMI continued to distribute Epic and Okeh label material on the Columbia label in the UK until the distribution deal with EMI expired in 1968 when CBS took over distribution.
qas: answers: Oriole Records.
question: What lable was bought by CBS in the UK?

context: With the record company a global operation in 1965, the Columbia Broadcasting System upper management started pondering changing the name of their record company subsidiary from Columbia Records to CBS Records.
qas: answers: 1965
question: CBS began thinking of a name change to their record label in what year?

context: Also in late 1965, the Date subsidiary label was revived. This label released the first string of hits for Peaches & Herb and scored a few minor hits from various other artists. Date's biggest success was "Time of the Season" by the Zombies, peaking at #2 in 1969. The label was discontinued in 1970.
qas: answers: 1965
question: Date Records gave rise to the group "Peaches and Herb" in what year?

answers: "Time of the Season" by the Zombies
question: Date Records released what major success in 1969?

answers: #2
question: What place on the charts did Date Records' big success land on?

answers: 1970
question: Despite the success, in what year did Date Records cease to exist?

context: In 1966, CBS reorganized its corporate structure with Leiberson promoted to head the new "CBS-Columbia Group" which made the now renamed CBS Records company a separate unit of this new group run by Clive Davis.
qas: answers: Leiberson
question: Who ran CBS-Columbia Group starting in 1966?

context: In March 1968, CBS and Sony formed CBS/Sony Records, a Japanese business joint venture. With Sony being one of the developers behind the compact disc digital music media, a compact disc production plant was constructed in Japan under the joint venture, allowing CBS to begin supplying some of the first compact disc releases for the American market in 1983.
qas: answers: 1968
question: In what year did CBS and Sony come together?

answers: 1983
question: In what year did CDs come to the American market?

context: The CBS Records Group was led very successfully by Clive Davis until his dismissal in 1972, after it was discovered that Davis has used CBS funds to finance his personal life, including an expensive bar mitzvah party for his son. He was replaced first by former head Goddard Lieberson, then in 1975 by the colourful and controversial lawyer Walter Yetnikoff, who led the company until 1990.
qas: answers: 1972
question: In what year was Clive Davis let go at CBS Records Group?

context: In February 2016, over a hundred thousand people signed a petition in just twenty-four hours, calling for a boycott of Sony Music and all other Sony-affiliated businesses after rape allegations against music producer Dr. Luke were made by musical artist Kesha. Kesha asked a New York City Supreme Court to free her from her contract with Sony Music but the court denied the request, prompting widespread public and media response. 
qas: answers: over a hundred thousand
question: How many people signed a petition to boycott Sony Music in 2016?

context: Over the past two years,[clarification needed] dozens of rights-holders, including Sony Music, have sent complaints about Wikipedia.org directly to Google to have content removed.
qas: answers: Google
question: What search engine company giant has Sony sent requests to regarding content on a website?

answers: Wikipedia.org
question: What website does Sony have complaints against?

context: In July 2013, Sony Music withdrew from the Greek market due to an economic crisis. Albums released by Sony Music in Greece from domestic and foreign artists are carried by Feelgood Records.
qas: answers: 2013
question: In what year did Sony pull out of the Greek market?

answers: Feelgood Records
question: What label for the Greek market were artists on under the Sony umbrella?

context: In March 2012, Sony Music reportedly closed its Philippines office due to piracy, causing to move distribution of SME in the Philippines to Ivory Music.
qas: answers: 2012
question: In what year did Sony shut down their offices in the Philippines?

context: Doug Morris, who was head of Warner Music Group, then Universal Music, became chairman and CEO of the company on July 1, 2011. Sony Music underwent a restructuring after Morris' arrival. He was joined by L.A. Reid, who became the chairman and CEO of Epic Records. Under Reid, multiple artists from the Jive half of the former RCA/Jive Label Group moved to Epic. Peter Edge became the new CEO of the RCA Records unit. The RCA Music Group closed down Arista, J Records and Jive Records in October 2011, with the artists from those labels being moved to RCA Records.
qas: answers: L.A. Reid
question: What famous music producer became CEO of Epic Records?

answers: Doug Morris
question: Who joined the CEO of Epic Records in becoming the CEO of Sony Music?

answers: 2011
question: In what year did he become the CEO of Sony Music?

answers: Peter Edge
question: Who became the CEO of RCA Records?

answers: Arista, J Records and Jive Records
question: What labels did RCA disband in 2011?

context: In the 1980s to early 1990s, there was a CBS imprint label in the US known as CBS Associated Records. Tony Martell, veteran CBS and Epic Records A&R Vice President was head of this label and signed artists including Ozzy Osbourne, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Electric Light Orchestra, Joan Jett, and Henry Lee Summer. This label was a part of (Epic/Portrait/Associated) wing of sub labels at CBS which shared the same national and regional staff as the rest of Epic Records and was a part of the full CBS Records worldwide distribution system.
qas: answers: Ozzy Osbourne, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Electric Light Orchestra, Joan Jett, and Henry Lee Summer
question: Name 3 artists that CBS Associated Records signed on in the 80s and 90s?

context: In 1986, CBS sold its music publishing arm, CBS Songs, to Stephen Swid, Martin Bandier, and Charles Koppelman for $125 million making it the foundation of their SBK Entertainment.
qas: answers: 1986
question: In what year did CBS sell CBS Songs?

answers: $125 million
question: How much was the sale of CBS Songs?

answers: Stephen Swid, Martin Bandier, and Charles Koppelman
question: Who were the 3 people who bought CBS Songs?

context: By 1987, CBS was the only "big three" American TV network to have a co-owned record company. ABC had sold its record division to MCA Records in 1979, and in 1986, NBC's parent company RCA was sold to General Electric, who then sold off all other RCA units, including the record division (which was bought by Ariola Records, later known as BMG).
qas: answers: 1987
question: In what year was CBS the only network to also have a record company?

answers: MCA Records
question: What label did ABC sell in 1979?

answers: RCA
question: What label did NBC sell in 1986?

answers: Ge
question: Who bought RCA?

context: On November 17, 1987, SCA acquired CBS Records, which hosted such acts as Michael Jackson, for US$2 billion. CBS Inc., now CBS Corporation, retained the rights to the CBS name for music recordings but granted Sony a temporary license to use the CBS name. CBS Corporation founded a new CBS Records in 2006, which is distributed by Sony through its RED subsidiary.
qas: answers: 1987
question: In what year did SCA buy CBS Records?

answers: Michael Jackson
question: Who was the biggest artist that CBS had?

answers: $2 billion
question: How much did SCA pay for CBS Records?

answers: 2006
question: In what year did the CBS Corporation begin another CBS Records?

answers: Sony through its RED subsidiary
question: Who distributes CBS Records material?

context: In 1989, CBS Records re-entered the music publishing business by acquiring Nashville music publisher Tree International Publishing for more than $30 million.
qas: answers: 1989
question: In what year did CBS Records buy out Tree International Publishing?

answers: $30 million
question: How much did CBS Records pay for Tree International Publishing?

answers: Nashville
question: In what city was Tree International Publishing located?

context: RCA/Jive Label Group CEO Barry Weiss left the company in March 2011 to become the new CEO of Island Def Jam and Universal Republic, which were both part of Universal Music Group. Weiss had been the RCA/Jive Label Group CEO since 2008 and was head of Jive Records since 1991.
qas: answers: 2011
question: In what year did CEO of RCA/Jive Barry Weiss leave?

answers: Island Def Jam and Universal Republic
question: What company did Barry Weiss move to?

answers: 2008
question: When did Barry Weiss become CEO of RCA/Jive?

answers: 1991
question: When did Barry Weiss become head of Jive Records?

context: On October 11, 2011, Doug Morris announced that Mel Lewinter had been named Executive Vice President of Label Strategy. Lewinter previously served as chairman and CEO of Universal Motown Republic Group. In January 2012, Dennis Kooker was named President of Global Digital Business and US Sales.
qas: answers: Mel Lewinter
question: Who was promoted to Executive VP of Label Strategy in 2011?

answers: Dennis Kooker
question: Who became President of Global Digital Business and US Sales in 2012?

context: In August 2004, Sony entered joint venture with equal partner Bertelsmann, by merging Sony Music and Bertelsmann Music Group, Germany, to establish Sony BMG Music Entertainment. However Sony continued to operate its Japanese music business independently from Sony BMG while BMG Japan was made part of the merger.
qas: answers: 2004
question: In what year did Sony and BMG Germany merge?

context: On August 5, 2008, SCA and Bertelsmann announced that Sony had agreed to acquire Bertelsmann's 50% stake in Sony BMG. Sony completed its acquisition of Bertelsmann's 50% stake in the companies' joint venture on October 1, 2008. The company, once again named Sony Music Entertainment Inc., became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation through its US subsidiary SCA. The last few albums to feature a Sony BMG logo were Thriller 25 by Michael Jackson, I Am... Sasha Fierce by Beyoncé, Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits by Christina Aguilera, and Safe Trip Home by Dido. A temporary logo was unveiled beginning December 1, 2008. The present logo was unveiled in March 2009.
qas: answers: 2008
question: In what year did Sony take BMG's half stake in the company?

answers: Thriller 25 by Michael Jackson, I Am... Sasha Fierce by Beyoncé, Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits by Christina Aguilera, and Safe Trip Home by Dido
question: Name one of the final albums to ever have the Sony BMG label?

answers: 2009
question: When was Sony's new logo revealed to the public?

context: On July 1, 2009, SME and IODA announced their global strategic partnership to leverage combined worldwide online retail distribution networks and complementary technologies to support independent labels and music rightsholders.
qas: answers: SME and IODA
question: What labels strove to support indie labels and music rightsholders?

answers: 2009
question: In what year did they partner in order to do so?

context: In March 2010, Sony Corp has partnered with The Michael Jackson Company with a contract of more than $250 million, the largest deal in recorded music history.
qas: answers: Michael Jackson Company
question: Who did Sony partner with to create the biggest deal ever?

answers: $250 million
question: How much was the partnership worth?

answers: 2010
question: In what year was the partnership initiated?

context: The merger made Columbia and Epic sister labels to RCA Records, which was once owned by RCA which also owned CBS rival NBC. It also started the process of bringing BMG's Arista Records back under common ownership with its former parent Columbia Pictures, a Sony division since 1989, and also brought Arista founder Clive Davis back into the fold. Davis is still with Sony Music as Chief Creative Officer.
qas: answers: 1989
question: Columbia Pictures has been owned by Sony since what year?

answers: Clive Davis
question: Who is the CCO of Sony Music?

context: In 1995, Sony and Michael Jackson formed a joint venture which merged Sony's music publishing operations with Jackson's ATV Music to form Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
qas: answers: 1995
question: In what year did the merger take place?

context: Sony renamed the record company Sony Music Entertainment (SME) on January 1, 1991, fulfilling the terms set under the 1988 buyout, which granted only a transitional license to the CBS trademark. The CBS Associated label was renamed Epic Associated. Also on January 1, 1991, to replace the CBS label, Sony reintroduced the Columbia label worldwide, which it previously held in the United States and Canada only, after it acquired the international rights to the trademark from EMI in 1990. Japan is the only country where Sony does not have rights to the Columbia name as it is controlled by Nippon Columbia, an unrelated company. Thus, until this day, Sony Music Entertainment Japan does not use the Columbia trademark for Columbia label recordings from outside Japan which are issued in Japan. The Columbia Records trademark's rightsholder in Spain was Bertelsmann Music Group, Germany, which Sony Music subsequently subsumed via a 2004 merger, followed by a 2008 buyout.
qas: answers: 1991
question: In what year did the name Sony Music Entertainment become the new name of Sony's record label?

answers: 1991
question: In what year did CBS Associated become Epic Associated?

answers: Japan
question: What is the only country where Sony has no rights to the Columbia label?

answers: Nippon Columbia
question: Who owns the rights to the Columbia label in Japan?