Melodiya is a Russian record label. It was the state-owned major record company of the Soviet Union.
History
Melodiya was established in 1964[1] as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm of the USSR Ministry of Culture Melodiya" in accordance with a resolution issued by the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union. It utilized numerous recording studios and manufacturing facilities throughout the USSR as well as powerful centres of distribution and promotional strategies. The best selling format at the time was 33⅓ and 78 rpm vinyl records. By 1973, Melodiya released some 1,200 gramophone records with a total circulation of 190–200 million per year,[2] in addition to 1 million compact cassettes per year, was exporting its production to more than 70 countries.[3]
The label's production was dominated by classical music, music by Soviet composers and musicians, performances by Soviet theatre actors, and fairy tales for children. For example, Melodiya notably released performances of works by Tchaikovsky