RCA Records

== Beginnings and history==
{{for|the label's history before 1929|Victor Talking Machine Company}}

[[File:RCA Records logo.svg|thumb|left|103px|Classic RCA corporate logo, also used on foreign RCA record releases until retired in 1968. Revived by [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] from 1987 to 2016 for RCA Records worldwide and still appears on RCA Nashville division releases and some reissues.]]

In 1929, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) purchased the [[Victor Talking Machine Company]], then the world's largest manufacturer of [[phonograph]]s (including the famous "[[Victor Talking Machine Company#The Victrola and other products|Victrola]]") and [[Gramophone record|phonograph records]]. The company then became the '''RCA Victor''' Division of RCA. In absorbing Victor, RCA acquired the [[New World]] rights to the famous [[Nipper]]/"[[His Master's Voice]]" [[trademark]].
In 1931, RCA Victor's British affiliate the [[Gramophone Company]] merged with the [[Columbia Graphophone Company]] to form [[EMI]]. This gave RCA head [[David Sarnoff]] a seat on the EMI board.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sanjek |first1=Russell |title=American Popular Music and Its Business: The First Four Hundred Years ... |date=July 28, 1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |isbn=9780195043112 |page=118 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzVesnkLEtUC&q=%22david+sarnoff%22%2B+emi+%2B+board&pg=PA119 |access-date=August 19, 2015}}</ref>

In September 1931, RCA Victor introduced the first 33{{frac|1|3}} rpm records sold to the public, calling them "Program Transcription" records. These used a shallower and more closely spaced implementation of the large "standard groove" found on contemporary 78 rpm records, rather than the "microgroove" used for post-World War II 33{{frac|1|3}} rpm "[[LP record|LP]]" (long play) records. The format was a commercial failure, partly because the new Victrolas with two-speed turntables designed to play these records were exorbitantly priced, the least expensive model retailing for $395.00 in the depths of the [[Great Depression]]. By 1933, the format was abandoned and two-speed turntables were no longer offered, but some Program Transcriptions lingered in the Victor record catalog until the end of the 1930s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edward |first1=David |title=RCA Program Transcription Album Discography (1931–33) |url=http://bsnpubs.com/rca/rca/rca33.html |website=bsnpubs.com |publisher=Both Sides Now Publications |access-date=August 19, 2015 |display-authors=etal}}</ref>

During the early days of the Depression, RCA Victor made a number of attempts to create a successful low-priced label to compete with "[[dime store]] labels" such as [[Perfect Records|Perfect]], [[Oriole Records (U.S.)|Oriole]], [[Banner Records|Banner]], and [[Melotone Records (US)|Melotone]]. The first was the short-lived Timely Tunes label in 1931, sold exclusively by [[Montgomery Ward]]. [[Bluebird Records]] was created in 1932 as a sub-label of Victor. It was originally an 8-inch record with a dark blue label, alongside the 8-inch Electradisk label (sold by [[F. W. Woolworth Company|F.W. Woolworth]]). Neither label was a success. In 1933, RCA Victor reintroduced Bluebird and Electradisk as a standard 10-inch label (Bluebird's label was redesigned, and it became known as the 'buff' label). Another discount label, Sunrise, was produced (although it is not known for whom it was produced, as Sunrise records are exceptionally rare today). The same musical couplings were issued on all three labels and the Bluebird label is still in existence today, nine decades after Electradisk and Sunrise were discontinued.

During this time, RCA Victor also produced [[electrical transcriptions]] of music under the [[RCA Thesaurus]] label at its RCA Recorded Program Services studio in New York City. These recordings were not offered for sale to the general public and were intended solely for use in broadcasts carried over leading radio networks.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=oSEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=RCA+Thesaurus&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiX2aCbgrCDAxVYhYkEHUuxB6oQ6AF6BAgLEAI#v=onepage&q=RCA%20Thesaurus&f=false The Billboard - Music-Radio - "E. T. Firms Make Comeback As Local Radio Gains Accent" 16 October 1954 p. 14 RCA Thesaurus on Google Books]</ref> By 1936, RCA's extensive musical library of recordings was eventually consolidated with NBC's own transcription division.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zBlyzQdnEssC&dq=NBC+Thesaurus+Catalog&pg=PA112 ''Points on the Dial: Golden Age Radio Beyond the Networks'' Alexander Russo. Duke University Press, London 2010. p. 112-114] RCA Theaurus and NBC on books.google.com]</ref> During the 1950s, it included popular music by noted musicians, such as [[Sammy Kaye]], [[Freddie Martin]], [[Lawrence Welk]] and [[John Serry Sr.]]<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26&dq=RCA+Thesaurus+Lawrence+Welk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTk7fTlbCDAxUzv4kEHX3UDiEQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=RCA%20Thesaurus%20Lawrence%20Welk&f=false The Billboard - "Speed and Quality on RCA Thesaurus"] [[Ben Selvin]] 6 October 1956 p. 26 & p. 32 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=SkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19&dq=RCA+Thesaurus+Lawrence+Welk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTk7fTlbCDAxUzv4kEHX3UDiEQ6AF6BAgGEAI#v=onepage&q=RCA%20Thesaurus%20Lawrence%20Welk&f=false The Billboard - "The Lawrence Welk Story - Welk to Radio via Thesaurus" 6 October 1956 p. 19 RCA Thesaurus Lawrence Welk on Google Books]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BRwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27&dq=%22RCA+Thesaurus%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQgc7F0fzVAhUMLsAKHUQdAIk4HhDoAQgpMAE#v=onepage&q=%22RCA%20Thesaurus%22&f=false The Billboard - Music Radio - "New Features Launch 20th Thesaurus Year" 7 May 1955 p. 27 on Google Books.cm]</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=RCA+Thesaurus+John+Serry Radio Daily-Television Daily. Publisher: Radio Daily Corporation 1954, p. 8 - "RCA Thesaurus cut a session of Latin-American music, polkas, and novelties with the John Serry Accordion Quartet", RCA Thesaurus John Serry on Google Books]</ref><ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/specialcollections/findingaids/#S Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Sudios in 1954 p. 18  The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester]</ref>

=== RCA Victor Custom Record Division ===
Besides manufacturing its own records, RCA's Custom Record Division was the leading record manufacturer for [[independent record label|independent labels]].<ref name="Billboard 1958 Oct 6" /><ref name="Matrix-coding">[[Matrix number|Matrix]] coding – 2015 (updated June 2020) [https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/694503 "RCA Victor Master Serial Number Codes: 1942–1980"] at [[Discogs]] (thread 694503), by W.B. Retrieved December 30, 2020.</ref> RCA's [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] plant in [[Indianapolis]], at 501 North LaSalle Street (the site is now part of a Demolition and Blight Reduction Project).<ref name="map">{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/501+N+Lasalle+St,+Indianapolis,+IN+46201/@39.7745653,-86.1094873,3a,15y,345.09h,88.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbNFBpvdfLpyEq7tk6lOpDw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x886b503e64aaf399:0x8e59ac9080e0dceb!8m2!3d39.7747157!4d-86.1091965|title=501 N Lasalle St · 501 N Lasalle St, Indianapolis, IN 46201|website=Google.com|access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref> The Custom Division notably pressed many record compilations for [[The Reader's Digest Association]].

=== EMI ===
RCA sold its interest in EMI in 1938, but EMI continued to distribute RCA Victor recordings in the UK and its territories on the [[HMV]] label until 1957. RCA also manufactured and distributed HMV recordings on the RCA Victor and special HMV labels in North America.<ref name="Penndorf" />

=== World War II era ===
Due to hostilities between Japan and the United States during [[World War II]], ties between RCA Victor and its Japanese subsidiary [[JVC|Victor Company of Japan]] (Nippon Victor) were severed. JVC's record company is known today as [[Victor Entertainment]] and still retains the [[Nipper]]/[[His Master's Voice]] trademark for use in Japan.

From 1942 to 1944, RCA Victor was seriously impacted by the [[American Federation of Musicians]] [[1942–44 musicians' strike|recording ban]]. Virtually all union musicians in the US and Canada were forbidden from making recordings during the period. One of the few exceptions was the eventual release of recorded radio broadcast performances from the [[NBC Symphony Orchestra]] conducted by [[Arturo Toscanini]]. However, RCA Victor lost the [[Philadelphia Orchestra]] during this period; the orchestra's contract with RCA Victor expired during the strike and when [[Columbia Records]] settled with the union before RCA, [[Eugene Ormandy]] and the Philadelphians signed a new contract with Columbia and began recording in 1944. Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra would not return to RCA until 1968.

=== The post-war 1940s ===
[[File:Down Yonder.jpg|thumb|right|Standard RCA Victor 78 RPM label design from just after the end of [[World War II]] until 1954]]

In the spring of 1946, "RCA Victor" replaced "Victor" on its record labels. In 1949, RCA Victor introduced the 7-inch 45&nbsp;[[revolutions per minute|rpm]] micro-grooved [[vinylite]] record, marketed simply as the "45". The new format, which had been under development for over a decade, was originally intended to replace 78 rpm discs.<ref>{{Citation|title=McCullers, Carson, (Mrs Carson Smith McCullers), (19 Feb. 1917–29 Sept. 1967), Author|date=December 1, 2007|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u50658|work=Who Was Who|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u50658|access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref> By the time RCA Victor unveiled it, the 45 was now competing with the 10-inch and 12-inch 33{{frac|1|3}}&nbsp;rpm microgroove vinyl "[[LP record|LP]]" (Long Play) discs introduced by arch-rival [[Columbia Records]] in the early summer of 1948. In heavy promotion, RCA Victor sold compact, inexpensive add-on and stand-alone units that played the 45 rpm format exclusively. At first, RCA Victor's 45s were issued on colored vinyl according to the musical genre: contemporary pop music on black vinyl (47-xxxx series), prestigious Broadway musicals and operettas on "midnight blue" vinyl (52-xxxx series), classical music on red vinyl (49-xxxx series), country and polka on green (48-xxxx series), children's fare on yellow (also in the 47-xxxx series), rhythm and blues on orange or cerise (50-xxxx series), and international on light blue (51-xxxx series). This array of colors complicated the production process, and the practice was soon discontinued, all records becoming black. Yellow and red Red Seal records held on until about 1952. The first 45 rpm record manufactured was "PeeWee the Piccolo" RCA Victor 47-0147 pressed December 7, 1948 at the Sherman Drive plant in Indianapolis. The use of vinyl, which was much more expensive than the gritty [[shellac]] compound normally used for 78s, was actually cheaper because of the smaller diameter and greatly reduced bulk of the new records, which required very little raw material. The smaller, lightweight discs were also more economical to store and ship.<ref>{{cite book |author1=[[Jim Dawson|Dawson, Jim]]|author2=[[Steve Propes|Propes, Steve]] |title=45 Rpm: The History, Heroes and Villains of a Pop Music Revolution |date=October 1, 2003 |publisher=Backbeat Books |isbn=0879307579 |page=37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AiA-6xfdqC0C&q=rca+45+rpm+record+player+1949&pg=PA24 |access-date=August 19, 2015}}</ref>

RCA Victor marketed the 45 as a direct replacement for 10-inch and 12-inch 78&nbsp;rpm records, which typically played for about three and four minutes per side respectively. The company also released some "[[extended play]]" (EP) 45s with playing times up to 7 minutes per side, primarily for vocal collections and light classical selections, as typified by an [[Arthur Fiedler]] and the [[Boston Pops Orchestra]] disc featuring [[Tchaikovsky]]'s ''[[Marche Slave]]'' and [[Ketèlbey]]'s ''[[In a Persian Market]]''. RCA Victor issued boxed sets of four to six 45s, each set providing about the same amount of music as one LP (an extreme example of these 45 rpm boxed sets was the complete 1951 recording of the opera ''[[Carmen]]'', featuring [[Risë Stevens]] and [[Jan Peerce]], conducted by [[Fritz Reiner]], which consisted of sixteen 45 rpm discs). In the case of operas, symphonies and other complete recordings of classical music, there was an interruption every four minutes as one record side ended and another side began. These disruptive "side breaks", a nuisance long familiar to listeners of album sets of classical and operatic 78&nbsp;rpm records, were minimized by an extremely fast automatic record-changing mechanism that was a core feature of RCA Victor's 45 players. Thanks in large degree to RCA Victor's massive five million dollar advertising campaign, the 45 became the preferred speed for pop music singles, overtaking U.S. sales of the same material on 78s by 1954, but Columbia's LP prevailed as the favored format for classical music and convenient one-disc "album" collections of eight or more pop songs. RCA Victor finally bowed to the inevitable and announced its intention to issue LPs in January, 1950.

=== 1950s ===
[[File:Victor Needles box - Museum of the North Beach (cropped).jpg|thumb|Box of Victor brand phonograph needles, featuring "Nipper".]]Among the first RCA Victor LPs released in 1950 was ''[[Gaîté Parisienne]]'' by [[Jacques Offenbach]], performed by [[Arthur Fiedler]] and the [[Boston Pops Orchestra]], which had been recorded in [[Boston]]'s [[Symphony Hall, Boston|Symphony Hall]] on June 20, 1947; the record was given the catalogue number LM-1001. Non-classical LP record albums were issued with the prefix "LPM". When RCA Victor began issuing classical LPs in stereophonic sound in 1958, the prefix "LSC" was used. Non-classical stereo LPs were issued with the prefix "LSP". RCA utilized these catalog prefixes until 1973, when they were changed to "ARL1" and "APL1" for stereo classical and stereo non-classical single LPs, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicinthemail.com/audiohistoryLP.html |title=LPs historic |first=Edward |last=Wallerstein |publisher=Musicinthemail.com |access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BUUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA11 |title=Diskery Goes 33 in March To Service Entire Market; 45 Promotion in High Gear |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=January 7, 1950 |access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref>

During the 1950s, RCA Victor had three subsidiary or specialty labels: [[Groove Records|Groove]], [[Vik Records|Vik]] and "X".

The edition of ''Billboard'' magazine dated April 11, 1953, announced a new RCA Victor subsidiary label, its first to use independent distribution and was nameless when it was first revealed. For the lack of any better designation, Billboard chose to refer to the new, unnamed label in the story as Label "X"; the new label began to hire staffers and decide on a direction, and the name stuck until 1955. RCA Victor officially announced the formation of label "X" on April 20, 1953. Groove was an [[R&B]] specialty label founded in 1954 and folded into Vik in 1957;<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/labelX.html |title=Label "X" |year=2005 |first=JC |last=Marion |journal=Jamm Upp |volume=2 |issue=36}}</ref> the Vik label was discontinued the following year.

From the label's beginnings in 1902, and intensifying through the 1940s and 1950s, RCA Victor was in direct competition with [[Columbia Records]]. A number of recordings were made with the [[NBC Symphony Orchestra]], conducted by [[Arturo Toscanini]]; sometimes RCA Victor utilized recordings of broadcast concerts (Toscanini had been recording for the label since the days of [[acoustic recording]]s, and RCA Victor had been recording the NBC Symphony since its creation in 1937). After Toscanini retired in the spring of 1954, the NBC Symphony was reorganized later that year as the [[Symphony of the Air]]. The orchestra, while no longer connected to NBC, continued to record for RCA Victor, as well as other labels, usually conducted by [[Leopold Stokowski]]. RCA Victor also released a number of recordings with the [[RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra]], which was usually drawn from either Philadelphia or New York musicians, as well as members of the Symphony of the Air, and the orchestra of the [[Metropolitan Opera]]. By the late 1950s, RCA Victor had fewer high prestige orchestras under contract than Columbia had: RCA Victor recorded the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]], the [[Boston Symphony Orchestra]], and the Boston Pops, whereas Columbia had the [[Cleveland Orchestra]], the [[Philadelphia Orchestra]], and the [[New York Philharmonic Orchestra]] under contracts.

On October 6, 1953, RCA Victor held experimental stereophonic sessions in New York City's Manhattan Center with Leopold Stokowski conducting a group of New York City musicians in performances of [[George Enescu]]'s ''[[Romanian Rhapsodies (Enescu)#Rhapsody No. 1 in A major|Roumanian Rhapsody No. 1]]'' and the waltz from [[Tchaikovsky]]'s opera ''[[Eugene Onegin (opera)|Eugene Onegin]]''. There were additional stereo tests in December, again in the Manhattan Center, this time with [[Pierre Monteux]] conducting members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In February 1954, RCA Victor made its first commercial stereophonic recordings, taping the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by [[Charles Münch]], in a performance of ''The Damnation of Faust'' by Hector Berlioz. This began a practice of simultaneously recording orchestras with both stereophonic and monaural equipment. Other early stereo recordings were made of Toscanini's final NBC concerts (never officially issued) and [[Guido Cantelli]] respectively, with the NBC Symphony Orchestra; the Boston Pops Orchestra under Arthur Fiedler; and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under [[Fritz Reiner]]. Initially, RCA used RT-21 quarter-inch tape recorders (which ran at 30&nbsp;inches per second), wired to mono mixers, with Neumann U-47 cardioid and M-49/50 omnidirectional microphones. Then they switched to an Ampex 300–3 one-half inch machine, running at 15&nbsp;inches per second (which was later increased to 30&nbsp;inches per second). These recordings were initially issued in 1955 on special stereophonic reel-to-reel tapes and then, beginning in 1958, on vinyl LPs with the "Living Stereo" logo. RCA has continued to reissue many of these "Living Stereo" recordings on CD.<ref>''The History of Living Stereo'', RCA Victor liner notes</ref> Another 1953 project for RCA was converting the acoustically superior building [[Webster Hall]] into its main East Coast recording studio. RCA Victor operated this studio venue from 1953 to 1968.

In September 1954, RCA Victor introduced "Gruve-Gard" where the center and edge of a record are thicker
than the playing area, reducing scuff marks during handling and when stacked on a turntable with an automatic record changer.<ref>{{cite web |first=Clint |last=Hough |url=http://www.sixtiescity.net/60trivia/60trivia.htm |title=Bringing on back the good times |publisher=Sixties City |access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> Most competitors quickly adopted the raised label and edges.

In 1955, RCA Victor purchased the recording contract of [[Elvis Presley]] from [[Sun Records]] for the then-exorbitant sum of $40,000. His first single for  RCA Victor was "[[Heartbreak Hotel]]", recorded in January 1956. Ten million Presley singles were sold by the label during 1956; Presley went on to become RCA Victor's biggest selling artist.

Effective in 1957, EMI/HMV ended its 55-year association with RCA Victor, after EMI's acquisition of [[Capitol Records]] in 1955.<ref name="Inc.1956">{{cite book |author=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |title=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8x4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14 |date=March 17, 1956 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |pages=14– |issn=0006-2510}}</ref><ref name="MartinHornsby1994">{{cite book |author1=Sir George Martin |author2=Jeremy Hornsby |title=All You Need Is Ears: The Inside Personal Story of the Genius who Created The Beatles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Yoio9MewhcC&pg=PA84 |date=October 15, 1994 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=978-0-312-11482-4 |pages=84– }}</ref> Capitol then became the main distributor for EMI recordings in the Americas; [[Decca Records]] became the manufacturer and distributor for RCA Victor in the United Kingdom, using the RCA lightning bolt logo, instead of the Nipper/His Master's Voice trademark for which EMI held the rights to in the U.K. and Europe.
RCA set up its own British manufacturing and distribution in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ipo.gov.uk/tm/t-find/t-find-number?detailsrequested=H&trademark=325592 |publisher=United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office |title=Trade Mark Details as at 13 November 2012: Case details for Trade Mark 325592 |date=September 7, 2009 |access-date=November 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=British RCA to Cut Decca Ltd. Tie In U.K., Eire & Form Own Set-Up|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TSgEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22british+rca+to+cut+decca%22&pg=PA3 |access-date=August 19, 2015 |magazine=Billboard |date=November 4, 1967}}</ref>

RCA Victor issued several spoken word albums in the 1950s and 60s, notably the soundtracks of the films ''[[Richard III (1955 film)|Richard III]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/catalog/soundtrackdetail.php?movieid=37444 |title=Richard III (1955) – Soundtrack details |publisher=SoundtrackCollector.com |date=May 13, 2007 |access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> ''[[A Man for All Seasons (1966 film)|A Man for All Seasons]]'' and ''[[The Taming of the Shrew (1967 film)|The Taming of the Shrew]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cd.ciao.co.uk/Taming_Of_The_Shrew_The_Various_Artists__5870576 |title=Taming Of The Shrew, The &nbsp;– Various Artists : Read reviews and compare prices at Ciao.co.uk |publisher=Cd.ciao.co.uk |date=July 26, 1999 |access-date=June 8, 2012}}</ref> as well as complete versions of the [[National Theatre of Great Britain]] stage productions of ''[[Othello]]'' (starring [[Laurence Olivier]]) and ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' (starring [[Maggie Smith]], who also played Desdemona in the Olivier ''Othello''). None of these albums have appeared on compact disc, but the films of ''Richard III'', ''A Man For All Seasons'', ''The Taming of the Shrew'' and the filmed version of Olivier's ''Othello'' have all been issued on DVD.

=== 1960s ===
In 1960, RCA Victor announced the Compact 33 double extended play and singles; these were 7 inch records, which played at 33 1/3 rpm. In January 1961, the Compact 33 discs were released simultaneously with their 45 rpm counterparts. The long-term goal was to phase out the 45 rpm disc, but sales of the new records were poor and by early 1962 the campaign had failed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.megocollector.com/elvis-presley/33-rpm-7-elvis-presley/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-compact-33-record/ |title=The Rise and Fall of the Compact 33 Record |publisher=Megocollector.com |date= December 18, 2009|access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref>

In 1963, RCA Victor introduced [[Dynagroove]] which added computer technology to the disc cutting process, ostensibly to improve sound reproduction. Whether or not the complex process was actually an improvement is still debated among audiophiles. RCA quietly phased out the Dynagroove process by 1970.

In September 1965, RCA and [[Learjet|Lear Jet Corp.]] teamed up to release the first stereo 8-track tape music Cartridges ([[Stereo 8]]) which were first used in the 1966 line of [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] automobiles and were popular throughout the late 1960s and 1970s. (The initial release comprised 175 titles from RCA Victor and [[RCA Camden|RCA Camden's]] catalog of artists.)

In late 1968, [[RCA]], attempting to modernize its image, introduced what was then a new futuristic-looking logo (the letters 'RCA' in block, modernized form), replacing the original lightning bolt logo, and the virtual retirement of both the Victor and Nipper/His Master's Voice trademarks. The Radio Corporation of America officially changed its name to the RCA Corporation; the RCA Victor Division was now known as RCA Records. The 'Victor' trademark now appeared only on the labels and album covers of RCA's regular popular record releases. The labels of RCA Victor popular record labels were changed to bright orange or yellow (becoming tan briefly late in 1975–76), replacing the traditional black label color in use since 1901. The Nipper/His Master's Voice trademark was restricted to the album covers of [[RCA Red Seal Records]].

In late 1969, RCA Records introduced a very thin, pliable, lightweight vinyl LP record known as [[Dynaflex (RCA)|Dynaflex]]. This thin, flexible record claimed to overcome warping and other problems encountered with conventional thicker LP records, but it had a similarly controversial reputation, being derided by some record collectors as "Dynawarp". RCA abandoned Dynaflex by the late 1970s and returned to making thicker vinyl records.<ref>{{cite web|title=Museum Of Obsolete Media|url=https://obsoletemedia.org/dynaflex/|website=obsoletemedia.org|access-date=January 2, 2023}}</ref>

=== 1970s ===
[[File:RCA Records, Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson.jpg|thumb|right|Platinum record of album ''[[Nilsson Schmilsson]]'', featuring the 1968–75 Orange RCA Victor label]]
In April 1970, RCA Records announced the first [[quadraphonic]] 4-channel 8-track tape cartridges ("Quad-8", later called just Q8). RCA began releasing quadraphonic vinyl recordings in the United States in February 1973, in the CD-4 format developed by its former subsidiary, the Victor Company of Japan (JVC), and made commercially practical by Quadracast Systems Inc. (QSI). RCA's trade name became "Quadradisc". The CD-4 format required a special cartridge that had a ±1&nbsp;db frequency response out to 50&nbsp;kHz, a CD-4 demodulator which decoded the difference between the front and rear channels from a 30&nbsp;kHz subcarrier, four separate amplifier channels, and four separate speakers for the left and right front and left and right rear. Both the CD-4 Quadradisc and Quad-8 tape cartridge systems were true discrete 4–4–4 quadraphonic systems. Columbia Records introduced a quadraphonic matrix system, SQ, which required a decoder, 4-channel amplifier and the four speakers. The SQ system was referred to as a 4–2–4 matrix system. The [[Warner Music Group]] labels also adopted Quadradisc, but the format never became popular, and both RCA and [[Columbia Records|CBS/Columbia]] abandoned quadraphonic recording in 1976; some of the RCA sessions were later remastered for [[matrix decoder#Dolby MP matrix encoding (2:4)|Dolby encoding]] (same as [[Peter Scheiber]]'s original matrix system) and released on
[[compact disc]] This included [[Charles Gerhardt (conductor)|Charles Gerhardt]]'s acclaimed series of RCA Red Seal albums devoted to classic film scores by [[Erich Wolfgang Korngold]], [[Alfred Newman (composer)|Alfred Newman]], [[Dimitri Tiomkin]], [[Max Steiner]], [[Franz Waxman]], and others, performed by the [[National Philharmonic Orchestra]] and recorded in London's [[Kingsway Hall]].

In order to publish music in Japan, RCA collaborated with the Victor Company of Japan's publishing wing Victor Musical Industries Inc. in 1975 to found Japanese record label RVC.

In mid 1976, the RCA Corporation announced the revival of the Nipper/His Master's Voice trademark. RCA Records reinstated Nipper to most (Victor, [[RCA Victrola|Victrola]], [[RCA Red Seal|Red Seal]] and Special Products) record labels (in addition to returning to the traditional black label color for popular releases) in countries where RCA held the rights to the Nipper/His Master's Voice trademark. Nipper was once again widely used in RCA newspaper and magazine advertisements as well as store displays and promotional items such as [[T-shirts]] caps, posters, coin banks, keychains, watches, coffee mugs and stuffed toys. The trademark was also restored to RCA stationery, shipping cartons and delivery and service trucks.

=== 1980s ===
In 1983, [[Arista Records]] owner [[Bertelsmann]] sold 50% of Arista to RCA. In 1985, Bertelsmann and RCA Records formed a joint venture called RCA/Ariola International.<ref name="bertelsmann.com">{{citation |url=http://www.bertelsmann.com/bertelsmann_corp/wms41/customers/bmcorp/pdf/RCA_-_Now_Elvis_rocked_for_Bertelsmann__too.pdf |title=RCA: Now Elvis rocked for Bertelsmann, too |publisher=Bertelsmann Worldwide Media |access-date=June 22, 2010 |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514204825/http://www.bertelsmann.com/bertelsmann_corp/wms41/customers/bmcorp/pdf/RCA_-_Now_Elvis_rocked_for_Bertelsmann__too.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The following year, RCA Corporation was acquired by [[General Electric]] (GE) and it sold its 50% interest in RCA Records to its partner Bertelsmann. In 1987, the company was renamed [[BMG Music]] for Bertelsmann Music Group.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22rca+records%22+%2B+%22general+electric%22&pg=PP1 |title=RCA Deal Gives Bertelsmann Multinational Label Ranking |first=Mike |last=Hennessey |author-link=Mike Hennessey |magazine=Billboard |volume=98 |issue=3B |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |date=September 20, 1986 |access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> BMG revived the RCA "lightning bolt" logo that was retired in 1968 to differentiate RCA Records from the other RCA divisions, which GE either liquidated, sold, or closed. BMG also revived the "RCA Victor" label for Red Seal, Broadway and soundtrack releases and other musical genres outside of rock, pop and country music. In 1986, Bob Buziak, formerly an artist manager, was appointed president of the label.

During the mid-1980s, RCA Records operated at a deficit, due in part to "overpriced deals" with pop stars including [[Kenny Rogers]] and [[Diana Ross]]. In 1986, the label bought back $25 million in unsold albums and lost $35 million during the fiscal year 1987. As a partial corrective, a decentralized style of management which allowed RCA Records to function as a free-standing entrepreneurial business was implemented for 1988. Buziak drastically cut the RCA roster from around 40 artists to 11, and began to rebuild it with a focus on developing new artists, including artists acquired through marketing and distribution agreements with [[Beggars Banquet Records]], a British punk rock label, and [[Jive Records]], whose roster included [[Schooly D]], [[Kool Moe Dee]], and [[DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince]].

By the end of the fiscal year 1988, RCA Records had gross revenue of $236 million in the United States, its most profitable year to date. [[Bruce Hornsby and the Range]]'s ''[[The Way It Is (Bruce Hornsby album)|The Way It Is]]'' sold more than three million albums, and the [[Dirty Dancing (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] for the film ''[[Dirty Dancing]]'', which cost RCA $200,000 to produce, sold 15.6 million copies in less than two years. Its follow-up, ''[[More Dirty Dancing]]'', composed of song tracks which had been left out of the first album, was produced for $80,000 and went on to sell more than 5.6 million. Among the most successful artists for RCA Records during the 1980s were the [[Eurythmics]], [[Love and Rockets (band)|Love and Rockets]], [[Joshua Perahia]], [[Rick Astley]], [[Dolly Parton]], [[Juice Newton]], and [[Bucks Fizz]].<ref name="LA Times 1980s">{{cite news | last1=Knoedelselder | first1=William Jr. |title=Rap On RCA Records: The Original U.S. Record Company Is Back In Groove |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1988-09-18/business/fi-3214_1_rca-records |access-date=August 14, 2015 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 18, 1998}}</ref><ref name="RCA Hit Men">{{cite book |last1=Dannen |first1=Frederic |title=Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business |date=July 2, 1991 |publisher=Random House |location=New York |isbn=9780679730613 |page=260 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oa97Z7pOWPYC&q=Bob+Buziak++President+of+RCA+Records+US+1986&pg=PA260 |access-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref>

=== 1990s ===
In August 1990 Buziak was replaced by [[Joe Galante]], who had been the president of [[RCA Records Nashville]] division. The roster was cut once again and the A&R department was restructured. Along with the launch of BNA Records and the expansion of the urban music division, these initiatives would prove to be positive, but RCA was unsuccessful under Galante, ranking 10th in market share in 1995.<ref>{{cite news |last1=New York Times staff |title=New Chief at RCA Records |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/09/business/new-chief-at-rca-records.html |access-date=August 15, 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 9, 1990}}</ref><ref name="Newman Billboard">{{cite magazine |last1=Newman |first1=Melinda |title=Novik Knows the Score in RCA's New Talent Drive |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KRAEAAAAMBAJ&q=dave+novik+rca+1992&pg=PA10 |access-date=August 15, 2015 |magazine=Billboard|date=November 28, 1992}}</ref><ref name="Jamieson billboard">{{cite magazine |last1=Jeffrey |first1=Don |title=Jamieson Named RCA President After 7 Month Search|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6AsEAAAAMBAJ&q=RCA+records+galante+1995+market+share&pg=PA4-IA1 |access-date=August 15, 2015 |magazine=Billboard |date=April 8, 1995}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Haring |first1=Bruce |title=RCA prexy gives Nipper something to bark about |url=https://variety.com/1993/music/news/rca-prexy-gives-nipper-something-to-bark-about-106821/|access-date=August 15, 2015 |magazine=Variety |date=May 13, 1993}}</ref> Galante returned to head the Nashville division and was replaced in March 1995 by the president of RCA Records Canada, Bob Jamieson.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Chuck |title=Company Town: BMG Names Insider to Head RCA Records |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1995-03-28/business/fi-47871_1_rca-records |access-date=August 16, 2015 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=March 28, 1995}}</ref> Jamieson overhauled RCA, eliminating a layer of middle management and retooling the label's marketing department. The A&R department was again restructured and the artist roster cut.

By the close of the decade, RCA Records had undergone what ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' described as a "remarkable turnaround" with the success of artists including [[Britney Spears]], [[the Dave Matthews Band]], [[Natalie Imbruglia]], [[the Verve Pipe]], [[Robyn]], [[SWV]], [[Christina Aguilera]], [[NSYNC]], and [[Foo Fighters]]. A distribution deal with [[Loud Records]] yielded hit records from urban artists including [[Big Punisher]], [[Wu-Tang Clan]] and [[Mobb Deep]].<ref name="Retooled RCA">{{cite magazine |last1=Baumgartner |first1=Bradley |title=Retooled RCA Is Once Again A Hitmaker |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jQ4EAAAAMBAJ&q=Billboard+RCA+jamieson+rovner&pg=PA86 |access-date=August 16, 2015 |magazine=Billboard |date=May 23, 1998}}</ref>

=== 2000s ===
In 2002, BMG fully acquired [[J Records]], which it had founded in 2000 as a joint venture with [[Clive Davis]]. Davis was then named chairman of RCA Records and J Records under the auspices of a new entity, the [[RCA Music Group]], which included RCA Records, J, and [[Arista Records]].<ref name="bmg buys j">{{cite news |last1=Holloway |first1=Lynette |title=BMG Buys J Records and Shuffles Executives |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/20/business/media/20BMG.html |access-date=August 17, 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 20, 2002}}</ref> In 2004, Sony and BMG merged their music divisions to create [[Sony BMG]], and in 2007, the RCA Music Group was rebranded as the [[BMG Label Group]].<ref name="2004 changes billboard">{{cite magazine |last1=Garrity |first1=Brian |title=Music Biz Gets a Makeover |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BMEAAAAMBAJ&q=sony+bmg+merge&pg=PA48 |access-date=August 18, 2015 |magazine=Billboard |date=December 25, 2004}}</ref> In 2006, Sony BMG merged its former Broadway music and classical labels, including Red Seal and Gold Seal, to [[Sony Masterworks]]. [[Legacy Recordings]], Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division, reissued classic albums from RCA.

In April 2008, former Zomba Label Group president and CEO [[Barry Weiss]] was appointed chairman of the BMG Label Group, and Davis was named chief creative officer of Sony BMG worldwide. In October, Sony acquired BMG's 50% ownership and the [[BMG Label Group]] was merged with the Jive Label Group to establish the [[RCA/Jive Label Group]]. It included RCA, Jive, J, Arista, Polo Grounds, [[LaFace Records]], [[Volcano Entertainment]], [[Hitz Committee]], [[Battery Records (hip hop)|Battery Records]], and the [[Verity Gospel Music Group]].<ref name="Business Week">{{cite magazine |last1=Grover |first1=Ron |title=Sony Buys the Rest of Ailing Sony BMG |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2008-08-06/sony-buys-the-rest-of-ailing-sony-bmgbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |access-date=August 19, 2015 |magazine=Businessweek |date=August 6, 2008}}</ref><ref name="boilerplate 2010">{{cite web |title=Deal with RCA/JIVE Brings Music Stars to BAT's Endorsement Platform |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/2010/10/12/NE80028 |website=The Business Journals (Via PR Newswire) |publisher=The Business Journals (Via PR Newswire) |access-date=August 19, 2015 |date=October 12, 2010 |quote=RCA/JIVE Label Group is {{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} RCA Music Group (J Records, Arista Records, RCA Records, Polo Grounds, and Battery Records) and JIVE Label Group (Jive Records, LaFace Records, Volcano Entertainment, Battery Records and Verity Gospel Music Group).}}</ref><ref name="USA Today clive gone">{{cite news |last1=Mumbai Moody |first1=Nekesa |title=Clive Davis replaced by Barry Weiss as BMG head |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-04-17-BMG_N.htm |access-date=August 19, 2015 |newspaper=USA Today |date=April 18, 2008}}</ref>

The decade marked a period during which RCA Records had notable success in the pop genre, with Christina Aguilera, [[Kesha]], [[Pink (singer)|Pink]], Kelly Clarkson and [[Pitbull (rapper)|Pitbull]] scoring multiple #1 hits on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 charts.<ref name="billboard 2000s">{{cite web |title=The Hot 100 – 2000s Archive |url=http://www.billboard.com/archive/charts/2000/hot-100 |website=billboard.com |date=September 12, 2008 |publisher=Billboard |access-date=August 19, 2015}}</ref>

=== 2010s ===
In May 2011, former [[Universal Music Group]] CEO [[Doug Morris]] was appointed chairman of [[Sony Music|Sony Music Entertainment]]. Focused on A&R, Morris named [[Peter Edge]], president of A&R at RCA and J Records, chairman and CEO of RCA Music Group. [[Tom Corson]] was named president and COO.<ref name="Edge Hollywood Reporter">{{cite news |last1=Szalai |first1=Doug |title=Peter Edge Named CEO of Sony's RCA Music Group |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/peter-edge-named-ceo-sonys-220328 |access-date=August 19, 2015 |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=August 8, 2011}}</ref> On the seventh of October of that year, the Jive, Arista and J imprints were altogether permanently merged into RCA. As a result, the RCA Music Group was then disbanded and RCA was reinstated as a standalone label under the [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony Music]] umbrella. Following the shutdown of the three labels, a majority of various artists from the rosters of Jive, Arista and/or J were shifted to release future material under RCA.<ref name="HR Haperin">{{cite news |last1=Halperin |first1=Shirley |title=RCA Execs Confirm Jive and Arista Labels Shut Down |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rca-execs-confirm-jive-arista-245392 |access-date=June 24, 2015 |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=October 7, 2011}}</ref><ref name="LA Times 2011 labels closed">{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Randy |title=RCA is Slimming Down for the Holidays |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/10/rca-closing-jive-arista-j-labels.html |access-date=June 24, 2015 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/rca-s-peter-edge-tom-corson-on-the-shuttering-1005394732.story |title=RCA's Peter Edge, Tom Corson on the Shuttering of Jive, J and Arista |first=Shirley |last=Halperin |publisher=Billboard.biz |date=October 7, 2011 |access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/peter-edge-appointed-ceo-of-rca-music-group-1005307972.story |author=Billboard staff |title=Peter Edge Appointed CEO of RCA Music Group |publisher=Billboard.biz |date=August 8, 2011 |access-date=January 8, 2012 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116121453/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/peter-edge-appointed-ceo-of-rca-music-group-1005307972.story |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During the first half of the decade, RCA released platinum and multi-platinum records by artists including [[A$AP Rocky]], [[Cage the Elephant]], [[Chris Brown]], [[Kelly Clarkson]], [[Miley Cyrus]], [[D'Angelo]], [[Dave Matthews Band]], [[Foo Fighters]], [[G-Eazy]], [[Jennifer Hudson]], [[R. Kelly]], [[Kesha]], [[Khalid]], [[Alicia Keys]], [[Kings of Leon]], [[Miguel (singer)|Miguel]], [[Pentatonix]], [[P!nk]], [[Pitbull (rapper)|Pitbull]], [[Shakira]], [[Sia]], [[Britney Spears]], [[Bryson Tiller]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[T-Pain]], and [[Tinashe]]. Since 2012, the label has released music by artists including: [[Kevin Abstract]], [[ASAP Ferg|A$AP Ferg]], [[Becky G]], [[Bleachers (band)|Bleachers]], [[Brockhampton (band)|Brockhampton]], [[Bryson Tiller]], [[Cam (singer)|Cam]], [[G-Eazy]], [[Childish Gambino]], [[Martin Garrix]], [[H.E.R.]], [[Normani]], [[Kaytranada]], [[Khalid (singer)|Khalid]], [[Kygo]], [[Tate McRae]], [[Mark Ronson]], [[Sasha Sloan]], [[Jazmine Sullivan]], [[SZA (singer)|SZA]], [[Zayn Malik|ZAYN]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=&ti=&lab=RCA&genre=&format=Album&date_option=release&from=&to=2018-02-01&award=P&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section |title=Gold & Platinum – RIAA |work=RIAA |access-date=February 12, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2015, RCA Records reinstated its 1968 space-age 'RCA' styled logo after utilizing the lightning bolt logo since 1987. The lightning bolt logo is still used by RCA's Nashville division.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/industries/music/2017/10/21/rca-studio-a-iconic-signs-after-nearly-50-years/787238001/ |title=Iconic signs at Nashville's historic Studio A return after nearly 50 years |website=The Tennessean |language=en |access-date=May 25, 2019}}</ref>

John Fleckenstein and Joe Riccitelli were appointed as co-presidents of RCA Records in January 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/rca-records-co-presidents-john-fleckenstein-joe-riccitelli-1202669930/ |title=John Fleckenstein and Joe Riccitelli Upped to Co-Presidents at RCA Records  |date=January 19, 2018 |work=Variety |access-date=February 12, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> Later that year, RCA named [[Keith Naftaly]] president of A&R,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/rca-records-promotes-keith-naftaly-to-president-ar/ |title=RCA Records promotes Keith Naftaly to President, A&R – Music Business Worldwide |date=May 14, 2018 |work=Music Business Worldwide |access-date=May 14, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Tunji Balogun]] executive VP of A&R.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/tunji-balogun-launches-label-jv-with-rca-records-promoted-to-evp-ar/ |title=Tunji Balogun launches label JV with RCA Records, as he's promoted to EVP of A&R |date=April 9, 2018 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US |access-date=May 25, 2019}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===
In addition to releasing successful albums by Bryson Tiller, Alicia Keys, Fousheé' and Pentatonix in 2020, RCA had #1 records with [[Doja Cat]]'s [[Say So#Remix|"Say So" feat. Nicki Minaj]]; Miley Cyrus' "[[Plastic Hearts]]" and Chris Brown & Young Thug's "[[Go Crazy (Chris Brown and Young Thug song)|Go Crazy]]". Brockhampton's single [[Sugar (Brockhampton song)|"Sugar"]] was certified platinum,<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Brockhampton Finally Scored Its Hit Single -- And Shia LaBeouf Helped Make It Possible|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8550328/brockhampton-sugar-ginger-behind-the-scenes-hot-100-hit|access-date=February 4, 2021|magazine=Billboard|date=February 6, 2020|language=en}}</ref> and singles by [[Flo Milli]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Belle,Christopher|first=Stephanie Long,Joelle Grace Taylor,Abs Petit,Khalea|title=Now That She's Stuck In Your Head, Flo Milli Is Just Getting Started|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/01/10271154/flo-milli-rapper-roaring-20s-interview|access-date=February 4, 2021|website=Refinery29.com|language=en}}</ref> and [[Latto]] (formerly known as "Mulatto") were certified gold.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Saint-Vil|first=Sweenie|date=August 18, 2020|title=Mulatto enters Billboard Hot 100 for the first time ever|url=https://www.revolt.tv/news/2020/8/18/21374265/mulatto-enters-billboard-hot-100|access-date=February 4, 2021|website=REVOLT|language=en}}</ref> Both Doja Cat and Kaytranada received multiple Grammy nominations, including  Best New Artist, H.E.R. received her 13th Grammy nomination, and the Strokes album ''[[The New Abnormal]]'' won for Best Rock Album. [[Koffee]] signed with RCA just after she became the first woman and the youngest person to win the Reggae Album of the Year Grammy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 15, 2020|title=63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/63rd-annual-grammy-awards-2020|access-date=February 4, 2021|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Leight|first1=Elias|date=February 7, 2020|title=Koffee Makes History With Grammy Win, Signs With RCA|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/koffee-grammy-win-rca-signing-946992/|access-date=February 4, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> In June 2020, the label partnered with the [[Human Rights Campaign]] to present the 2020 Pride Benefit Concert, a livestream supporting LGBTQ equality in June. RCA artists including Isaac Dunbar, Cam, and [[Citizen Queen]] performed.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=5 Highlights From RCA Records & Human Rights Campaign's Pride Benefit Concert|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/9412284/rca-records-human-rights-campaigns-pride-concert-highlights|access-date=February 4, 2021|magazine=Billboard|date=June 30, 2020|language=en}}</ref> SZA released the single "[[Good Days]]" on December 25.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 25, 2020|title=[LISTEN] SZA's 'Good Days' Is Her Second New Song Of 2020|url=https://uproxx.com/music/sza-good-days-new-track/|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=UPROXX|language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2021, [[Mark Pitts]] was appointed president of RCA Records and John Fleckenstein was named chief operating officer.<ref name="BB2021">{{Cite magazine|title=RCA Records Promotes Mark Pitts to President, John Fleckenstein to COO|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/record-labels/9511434/rca-promotes-mark-pitts-president-john-fleckenstein-coo/|access-date=January 19, 2021|magazine=Billboard|date=January 14, 2021|language=en}}</ref>  Jazmine Sullivan's ''[[Heaux Tales]]'' hit #1 on the ''Billboard'' R&B albums chart.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Anderson|first=Trevor|date=January 22, 2021|title=Jazmine Sullivan's 'Heaux Tales' Tops R&B Albums Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9515106/jazmine-sullivan-heaux-tales-number-1-rb-albums-chart|access-date=|website=Billboard.com}}</ref> Tate McRae's "[[You Broke Me First]]" (stylized as "you broke me first") was quadruple platinum in Ireland, double platinum in Canada, Mexico and New Zealand, and platinum in the US, UK, Australia, Finland, France, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. She was #1 on the ''Billboard'' emerging artist chart.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 26, 2021|title=Rising global superstar Tate McRae releases new track & music video 'rubberband'|url=https://pop.inquirer.net/104413/rising-global-superstar-tate-mcrae-releases-new-track-music-video-rubberband|access-date=February 8, 2021|website=Pop.inquirer.net|language=en}}</ref> In April 2024, [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']] announced that the label had signed Thai rapper [[Lisa (rapper)|Lisa]], a member of the South Korean girl group [[Blackpink]], for her venture into American solo endeavors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=April 10, 2024 |title=Blackpink’s Lisa and Her Company Lloud Co. Partner With RCA Records |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/blackpink-lisa-lloud-partner-with-rca-1235965867/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410171552/https://variety.com/2024/music/news/blackpink-lisa-lloud-partner-with-rca-1235965867/ |archive-date=April 10, 2024 |access-date=April 12, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>