List of Labelcodes (LCs)

[Mr]

What is a "Labelcode"?
Introduced in 1976/1977, label codes ("LC") were a unique identification number issued by German copyright society GVL, to identify different labels - useful for differentiating two different labels with the same name, for instance.
The assigned codes, issued sequentally, initially consisted of four digits, but saw expansion in the 90's from 4 to 5 digits, after which the previously-assigned four-digit LCs were expanded with a leading 0; i.e. LC 2061 (KPM) became LC 02061, LC 7573 (Sonoton) became LC 07573, etc. LC 7573 and LC 07573 are as such functionally interchangable, but generally indicate different release dates/eras.
This system is still in use today and has recently reached 6 digits, but this time without there being added an additional leading zero to earlier four- and five-digit codes.

Labelcodes in library music
Of relevance to our little 'sphere', LCs were for a while mandatory for radio airplay in Germany - meaning that if a British library label saw distribution in Germany, and was aiming at being used for radio background- or theme music, etc., the label had to be assigned an LC no. These codes can typically be found printed on the release, whether that be an LP or CD, or in some instances indicated by a sticker added after production - the latter typically occuring when a release was manufactured outside Germany and not initially intended for this market, but later saw distribution there.
LCs can also be found for some digital releases.

- So, what does this tell us?
If an LC is present, this would generally indicate a few things:
1) The label was distributed in Germany.
2) The label or release was issued after 1976/77.
3) If the label code contains 5 digits, it was issued after 1990.

Inversely, one can also infer that a post-1977 release with no LC might not have been distributed in the German market, or might not have been intended for radio usage.

GVL themselves have a public web database, which also has a special indicator ("PLM") for whether or not a label has library music material.
This can be very useful to either confirm a suspicion that a label is a library music label, or to give one a semi-complete list of known library labels.

Useful? Yes. Flawed? Yes.
Though a valuable resource in identifying library labels past and present, this system unfortunately is not as conclusive as it might initially seem;
1) First off, the aformentioned "PLM" indicator is a bit imprecise  - after all, it doesn't mean all the releases on a given label are library music.
2) Some LCs are used for multiple labels or offshoots, but GVL only lists a single label name.
3) Some labels used different LCs, more than one.
4) - and, oddly, GVL's database is actually incomplete, it doesn't have all assigned label codes listed. Amateur cataloguing efforts exist, and seem to be more complete than GVL's own database.


Scope
Except for the bottom section marked "Digital-only", the below were sourced from the physical releases themselves, either printed on the release, or from attached stickers.
Some codes I have only found with 4 digits, some only with 5 digits, and some with both variants - I have added them to the list in their respective iterations only as they appear on releases, as these indicate a bit of chronology for when the labels were active.

Additionally, to prevent this listing from just being a generic copy-paste job mirroring existing lists, I have only used known library releases as a source here. For example, Ariola (LC 0116) has loads of non-library releases, some having the later label code "LC 00116", but its only library release bears the four-digit code - so it's the one you'll find in the below list.

In several cases, the information I have found conflicts slightly or drastically with GVL's listing for the LC. I have highlighted these with an *asterisk, noting the inconsistency (in brackets).


Below follows my first attempt at a list of known LCs, with links to the associated label threads on the board, if present.
- As always, any additions are warmly welcome




List of LCs, Labelcodes, Label Codes:
LC 0060* - Apollo Sound (+CDs) (GVL: not listed.)

LC 00099 - AX'S Music

LC 0116 - Ariola

LC 0562* - Bella Musica / Jump Records / Rimmel (GVL: "BELLA MUSICA")

LC 0617/LC 00617* - Focus Music Library / Focus Music Classics (GVL: "FOCUS MUSIC LIBRARY")

LC 0665 - Monopol

LC 0903/LC 00903 - Beatbox

LC 0994* - Killer Tracks / Killer Edge / Killer Latino / Killer Stage and Screen Presents (GVL: "KILLER TRACKS")

LC 0998* - Chronic Trax (GVL: not listed. Formerly "CHRONIC MUSIC INTERACTIVE")

LC 1073 - Sound Stage

LC 1444/LC 01444 - Megatrax

LC 1497 - Europhon Record (+CDs)

LC 1566/LC 01566* - Music Shop / Music Gallery (GVL: "ENCORE MERCI")

LC 01666 - Edel Records ('Musik zum Streicheln')

LC 1732/LC 01732* - Extreme Music / Extreme Music Twisted Series / Easy Listening (GVL: "THE EXTREME MUSIC LIBRARY")

LC 1787 - Trend Records

LC 01907* - Stock Music Production Music Library (GVL: "STOCK MUSIC")

LC 1927* - Crea Sound Ltd. / Mondiophone (GVL: "Mondiophone")

LC 2061/LC 02061* - KPM Music (+CDs) / KPM Classical / KPM World Music Series (GVL: "KPM MUSIC")

LC 2089 - UFA

LC 2292/LC 02292* - Selected Sound (+Special-Program, 7-inches, CDs) / Selected Sound Select Series / Selected Sound Klassik Prälines / Musik zum Streicheln / Sonia (GVL: "SELECTED SOUND")

LC 2439 - NJJ (GVL: not listed.)

LC 2767 - Golden Ring Records

LC 2874 - Raphaele Records (+UK branch)

LC 2882* - Conroy Recorded Music Library (GVL: "Conroy")

LC 2890 - Comes Record

LC 2891 - Drive In

LC 3160/LC 03160* - Music for Sport (GVL: "m.f.s. MUSIC FOR SPORT")

LC 3394* - The SoundTRAX Music Library (GVL: not listed.)

LC 3428/LC 03428* - Freibank (GVL: "FREIBANK RECORDINGS")

LC 3741/LC 03741 - Happy Records

LC 3917/LC 03917* - Bosworth Backgrounds / Bo Ba (Bosworth Backgrounds) / Bpm (Bosworth Production Music) / liftmusic (GVL: "BOBA")

LC 3919/LC 03919 - Koch Music Library

LC 3928 - Airlift

LC 3937 - Altaxon Records

LC 3963 - Hippo Records

LC 3976/LC 03976 - brm

LC 4009* - Conny Records (GVL: "ORGANEUM")

LC 4013 - Continent

LC 4087* - Heka Record (GVL: "HEKA")

LC 4228* - Scalaton-Records (GVL: not listed.)

LC 4233* - Show Business / Coloursound Library (GVL: "SHOW BUSINESS")

LC 4250 - Studio One

LC 4300* - Blossom Records (GVL: "BLOSSOM")

LC 4330/LC 04330* - Tele Music Music Library / Tele Music (CDs) (GVL: "Telemusic")

LC 4348* - Water Music (GVL: not listed. Formerly "Water Music")

LC 4369* - Bruton Music (CDs) / Big Shorts / Horizon / Lo Editions (GVL: "BRUTON MUSIC")

LC 4374* - Mozart Edition Selected Recordings / Mozart Records (GVL: "MOZART-RECORDS")

LC 4406* - Beat Records Company (GVL: "BEAT-RECORDS")

LC 4414* - Coda (GVL: "ELITINA")

LC 4421/LC 04421* - Intersound / Intersound Spots (+CDs) (GVL: "Intersound")

LC 4555* - Biton (GVL: not listed.)

LC 4566 - Herkules-Records

LC 4573* - Just Jingles (GVL: not listed. Formerly "Zomba")

LC 4767* - Epervier (GVL: "MEDIASOUND")

LC 4768* - Themes International (CDs) (GVL: "THEMES INTERNATIONAL MUSIC")

LC 4952* - Production-Éditions Cezame (+digital / Cezame Classique (GVL: "CEZAME")

LC 5033 - No Boyfriend Music

LC 5147* - Connyland (GVL: "connyland records")

LC 5205* - Intersound / Pleasure Records (CDs) (GVL: "PLEASURE RECORDS")

LC 5373* - Standard Music Library (CDs) (GVL: "SML Standard Music Library")

LC 5450* - AGM (GVL: not listed.)

LC 5610* - Toledo (GVL: "Toledo Records")

LC 5680 - Koch-Records International (GVL: "KOCH-RECORDS")

LC 5908/LC 05908 - Abaco Music Library

LC 5959* - Gabriel Music (GVL: not listed.)

LC 5978/LC 05978* - Allround Music / The Music Library (GVL: "Allround Music österreichisch")

LC 6183/LC 06183* - Connect Music Library (GVL: not listed.)

LC 6346/LC 06346* - Wildfire (GVL: not listed.)

LC 6491/LC 06491* - JW / JW Media Music (GVL: "Josef Weinberger")

LC 6557* - Airforce Broadcast Services (CDs) (GVL: not listed.)

LC 6621* - Intermčde Communications (GVL: not listed.)

LC 6822/LC 06822* - De Wolfe Music / DW USA / DWCOM / DWJAZZ / DWRPO / Rouge (GVL: "de Wolfe")

LC 6824/LC 06824* - Hudson Music Company (CDs) (GVL: "Hudson Music")

LC 6881/LC 06881 - Hibou (CDs)

LC 6972 - Palm Records

LC 7053/LC 07053 - Cavendish Music

LC 7126/LC 07126* - Koka Media / KTV / Koka Classic / Production-Éditions Cezame (GVL: "KOKA MEDIA")

LC 7127* - K-Vox (GVL: not listed.)

LC 7131/LC 07131* - AX'S Music / Kosinus / KosinusArts (GVL: "KOSINUS")

LC 7132/LC 07132 - Primrose Music

LC 7189/LC 07189* - Carlin Recorded Music Library / Carlin Production Music / CPM / Carlin Archive Series / The Carlin Classical Series (GVL: "CARLIN MUSIC")

LC 7209* - Pearl Records (GVL: not listed.)

LC 7298 - AV Music Publishers

LC 7398* - Weltmusik Produktion Wien (GVL: not listed.)

LC 7418/LC 07418 - Phon und Ton

LC 7458/LC 07458 - Sonimage

LC 7469/LC 07469 - Dennis Music

LC 7509 - Fips Records

LC 7520* - A.G.S. Records (GVL: not listed.)

LC 7555* - Cosmos / Cosmos Special Select / Cosmos Mini Scores / Cosmos Atmospheres / Cosmos Pre & Post Scenario / Azur / Sound-Edition Backgroundmusik (GVL: "PALM'S COSMOS")

LC 7556* - Arcadias Jingle Bank / Arcadia Loop Academy / Classical Media Music Collection / Drones / EnVogue / Galaxy Music Lexicon / Global Authentic Music / Hollywood Symphonic Music Series / Jazz Line / Mastertrax / Max Music / Media Music / Music DeLuxe / Spot (GVL: "PALM'S JACKPOT")

LC 7573/LC 07573* - Sonoton Recorded Music Library / Sonoton Creative Sound Solutions (+CDs, digital) / Sonoton Authentic Series / SCD Virtual / Sonoton Vanguard / CLC / CNS / Sonoton Trailer Tracks / Sonoton Trailer Tracks Virtual (GVL: "SONOTON")

LC 7590 - TIS (Teldec Import Service)

LC 7606* - Mayflower Records (GVL: not listed.)

LC 7613/LC 07613 - Firebird

LC 7830 - Red Rose Records

LC 7848* - Firstcom / Firstcom Music / Firstcom Music Library (CDs) / Access Music / Evo / Gotham Music Library / Hollywood Film Music Library / Hollywoodmusic / Horizon / OneMusic / Powerplay / SEE Music / Ultimate Series / Velocity (GVL: "FirstCom")

LC 7877/LC 07877* - UBM Records (+CDs) / ubm (GVL: "Berlin Production Music")

LC 8003* - Granitoga (GVL: not listed.)

LC 8037 - Gayer-Musikverlage

LC 8048/LC 08048 - Music House

LC 8113* - Solcade (GVL: not listed.)

LC 8115 - Mediadisc

LC 8159* - Backgrounds (GVL: not listed.)

LC 8172* - Amphonic Music Ltd. /  (GVL: "Amphonic")

LC 8216* - Gerhard Trede All Over the World (GVL: "Trede, Gerh.ALL OVER THE WORLD")

LC 8221* - Meltemi Music (GVL: not listed.)

LC 8225/LC 08225 - Parry Music Library / Parry Music Library Classical Collection (GVL: "parry music library")

LC 8231* - Principal (GVL: not listed.)

LC 8318/LC 08318* - Match Music Library (+CDs) / Match Production Music (GVL: "MATCH MUSIC LIBRARY")

LC 8349 - Thema

LC 8362 - Alpana

LC 8368 - Sonia Classic

LC 08374 - Inmus (CDs)

LC 8491/LC 08491* - Fred Rabold Musikproduktion (GVL: "F R")

LC 8499* - SSM-Records (GVL: not listed.)

LC 8510/LC 08510* - Atmosphere Music Library (CDs) / BMG Production Music Score Music Series / BMG Production Music Classical Series / BMG Production Music Explorer Series (GVL: "Atmosphere")

LC 8546* - Penta Flowers / Gemini Music Library (GVL: "PENTAFLOWERS")

LC 8562* - EGAL-Musikverlage und Produktionen / EGAL / Enterprises (GVL: "EGAL")

LC 8573* - Cosmos / Vertonungs Musik (GVL: "MCP")

LC 8642* - Music Pool Austria (GVL: "MUSIC POOL (AUSTRIA)")

LC 8795* - Lion Baby Rec. (GVL: "Lion Baby Records")

LC 8799* - Cedura Records ('Musik zum Streicheln') (GVL: "CEDURA")

LC 8827 - Bronco Records

LC 8828/LC 08828* - Merco Bronco Records / Merco Musikverlag (GVL: "MBR-MERCO")

LC 8853 - Quinky-Records

LC 08903* - Position Music Production Music Series (GVL: "CHAPPELL MUSIKPRODUKTION")

LC 8904* - Chappell Recorded Music Library (CDs) (+AV Series (CDs), The Chappell European Classical Series/Chappell Classical) / Chappell RML World Recordings / The Chronicles of Hip Hop / Horizon / Nuggets (GVL: not listed.)

LC 8944 - Intersong

LC 8995* - Orix Sound (GVL: "Edition Orix")

LC 9076* - Emanon Records / Rodenstein Records (GVL: "Rodenstein Records")

LC 9085* - Erbaphon Music (GVL: "BACHMANN-PRODUCTION")

LC 9086 - Erbaphon Music

LC 9282 - Orange Power

LC 9563* - Sikorski (GVL: "Musikverlag Sikorski")

LC 9735/LC 09735 - Kotex

LC 9870* - Novoton Series (GVL: "NOVOTON")

LC 10103* - Sound-Pol (GVL: not listed.)

LC 010347* - Production-Éditions Cezame / CMG (Cabinet de Musique Généraliste) (GVL: "CMG")

LC 10483* - Musique & Music / Kool Kat Production Music Library (GVL: "ZIK")

LC 10539* - Muzikotek Music Library (GVL: "Muzikotek")

LC 10743* - Intervox Production Music (GVL: "Intervox")

LC 10912* - Hastings Media Music / music-unit.com Records (GVL: "music-unit.com records")

LC 11178 - Fontana Music Library

LC 11266 - Galerie

LC 11407* - Gung-Ho! / Gung Ho! Music Library / gunghomusic (GVL: not listed.)

LC 11746* - Gravity Music Library (GVL: "GRAVITY")

LC 11747 - Who Did That Music?

LC 12238 - The Producer's Music Library

LC 12350 - Videohelper

LC 12458 - das apartment

LC 12540* - 615 Music Library / Promo Accelerator (GVL: "615 MUSIC LIBRARY")

LC 12709* - 5 Alarm Music / Cinemasounds Trailer Music (GVL: "5 ALARM MUSIC FA")

LC 12712* - Noise Pump (GVL: not listed.)

LC 12798 - X-Ray Dog

LC 12846 - West One Music

LC 12847* - Production Music Jukebox-AV (GVL: "JUKEBOX-AV")

LC 12892* - The Ded Good Music Library (GVL: "THE DED GOOD MUSIC LIBRARY LIMITED")

LC 13233 - Cue Source

LC 13333 - V - the Production Library

LC 13379* - TRX Music (GVL: "TRX")

LC 13688 - Blazed Out Music

LC 13808* - UBM Media / UBM Records (GVL: "UBM Media")

LC 13890* - Dronezone / TVZone (GVL: "DRONEZONE")

LC 14117 - Siren Cues

LC 14215* - Opus 1 Music Library / soulstudio7 (GVL: "VP (Opus 1 Music Library)")

LC 14589* - Groovers Music Library (GVL: not listed.)

LC 14861 - Adrenalin Production Music Library

LC 15127 - Klangidee

LC 15153* - Epic Score (GVL: "ES EPIC SCORE")

LC 15219* - The Artful Recorded Music Library (GVL: "THE ARTFUL RECORDED MUSIC")

LC 15341 - Brand X (GVL: "BRAND X MUSIC")

LC 15380 - Strip Sounds

LC 15503 - Sonic Quiver

LC 15571 - Music Candy

LC 15580 - Endgame

LC 15691 - In-spired Producton Music (GVL: "IN-SPIRED")

LC 15742 - liftmusic

LC 15743* - Sonic OZault Hard On-Air Production Music (GVL: "SONIC OZAULT")

LC 15811* - Cute Music Library (GVL: "CUTE MUSIC")

LC 15960* - EA Music Library (GVL: "Electronic Arts Library")

LC 15985* - APMmusic (GVL: "APM Collection Library")

LC 16037 - Sprint Music Library

LC 16106* - Mediatracks Music (GVL: "MML Mediatracks")

LC 18481 - Pennybank Tunes

LC 18482 - Deep East Music

LC 19066 - Nebraska Records

LC 19266 - Musik zum Streicheln

LC 19836 - Non Stop Trailers (GVL: "SCAREMEISTER")

LC 22928 - Zone Plus

LC 22925 - BoostTV

LC 23000 - Fired Earth Music

LC 24083 - Perfect Pitch

LC 24186 - The Scoring House

LC 24189 - Refuel Music

LC 24311* - Berlin Production Music (GVL: not listed. Formerly "Berlin Production Music D")

LC 24408 - Infini Music

LC 24610* - Audio Addiction Music Library (GVL: "AUDIO ADDICTION")

LC 24999* - Score Production Music (GVL: "SCORE")

LC 25291* - Ultraphonic (GVL: "ULTRAPHONIC MUSIC")

LC 25401 - Parigo

LC 27101 - Minds and Music

LC 27625* - GUM Collections (GVL: not listed.)

LC 27924 - Heavy Promos

LC 28024* - Electronic Dance Series (GVL: "EDS (ELECTRONIC DANCE SERIES)")

LC 28068 - West One Music Group

LC 51182* - Farmusic Production Music (GVL: "i2i Musikproduktion und Verlag")




Digital-only:
LC 12732* - ORF-Enterprise Musikverlag Musiclibrary (GVL: "ORF - Enterprise")

LC 14520 - Popvirus (GVL: "POPVIRUS MUSIC")

LC 16067 - Popvirus Soundtrack

LC 16068 - Popvirus International

LC 22961 - Popvirus Planet

LC 23143 - New York Beats (NYB) (GVL: "NJJ / NYB")

LC 30572 - Rockshop

LC 85263 - Hip Hop Shop (GVL: "HipHopShop (HIP)")

LC 91332 - Edition Klangidee

LC 92132 - Sonoton Vinyl

LC 92133 - Sonoton Vintage Series

[Fuzi]

Thanks for the heads up, Mr. I love to learn about this industry 

[nidostar]

Fascinating. I'd noticed these labels on the few German-released records that I have and wondered what they were. I notice from Wikipedia that they were discontinued in 2017 in favour of the more accurate ISRC codes recognised internationally. So I guess these LCs were the Betamax of record coding in a way. Though the impression I have is that while the idea was a good one its execution was less well thought out. Very un-Germanic really.