| BBC Records | |
| Successor: | BBC Worldwide, BBC Studios |
| Foundation: | 1967 |
| Parent: | BBC |
BBC Records was a division of the BBC founded in 1967 to commercially exploit the corporation's output for radio and television for both educational and domestic use. The division was known as BBC Radio Enterprises (1967–1970), BBC Records (1970–1972) and BBC Records & Tapes (1972–1989).[1]
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s BBC Records released a wide range of recordings, primarily but not exclusively as tie-ins to the BBC's television and radio output. Some of these recordings entered the UK record charts (see below). Other ventures included a long-running series of sound effects recordings as well as original material from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, and classical recordings from the BBC Archives. To celebrate both the corporation's 60th and 70th anniversaries, compilation recordings were issued of key moments in the BBC's history.
In the mid-1990s licensing and marketing of the BBC's recorded output became the responsibility of BBC Worldwide (formerly BBC Enterprises), and the corporation ceased the direct release of recorded material, instead licensing its products to other companies. BBC Worldwide was merged into BBC Studios from 2018, which now licenses the use of the BBC logo on commercial recordings.