# Audiofon

> US record label

**Wikidata**: [Q101223763](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101223763)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/audiofon

## Summary
Audiofon is a United States-based record label operating within the phonographic industry. As a commercial brand and trademark, it is associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. The entity functions as a commercial imprint distinct from the operational record company itself.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Name**: Audiofon
- **Type**: Record label (brand and trademark)
- **Country of Origin**: United States
- **Industry**: Phonographic industry
- **Discogs Label ID**: 69075 (retrieved November 6, 2020)
- **MusicBrainz Label ID**: 682cec0f-4682-44a0-8251-d45c9ecece6f (retrieved November 6, 2020)
- **Rate Your Music Label ID**: audiofon (retrieved November 6, 2020)
- **Wikidata Description**: US record label
- **Classification**: Subclass of trade name, brand, trademark, commercial name, and music organization.
- **Primary Function**: Marketing of music recordings and music videos.

## FAQs
**What is Audiofon?**
Audiofon is a U.S. record label that serves as a brand and trademark for marketing music recordings and music videos, operating within the broader phonographic industry.

**How is Audiofon categorized in music databases?**
Audiofon is indexed in major music databases with specific identifiers: Discogs Label ID 69075, MusicBrainz Label ID 682cec0f-4682-44a0-8251-d45c9ecece6f, and Rate Your Music Label ID audiofon.

**What distinguishes a record label like Audiofon from a record company?**
A record label, such as Audiofon, represents the brand, trademark, and commercial imprint used to market music. This differs from a record company, which is the operational entity that handles the logistical, financial, and business aspects of music production and distribution.

**What industry does Audiofon operate in?**
Audiofon operates in the phonographic industry, which encompasses the production, distribution, commercialization, and marketing of music recordings and music videos.

## Why It Matters
Audiofon plays a specific structural role within the music industry ecosystem as a recognized commercial imprint. As a record label, it represents the public-facing brand identity used to market and distribute creative works, which is foundational to artist promotion and intellectual property management. By existing as a distinct entity within the United States and maintaining documented profiles across major global music databases (such as Discogs, MusicBrainz, and Rate Your Music), Audiofon contributes to the organized commercial infrastructure and digital cataloging of music culture.

## Notable For
- **Dual Identity**: Operating as a recognized brand, trademark, and commercial imprint rather than just an operational company.
- **Database Integration**: Possessing distinct machine-readable identifiers mapped to major digital music ontologies and databases, including MusicBrainz and Discogs.
- **Industry Classification**: Being formally classified within the phonographic industry under subclasses of trade names and commercial brands.

## Body

### Definition and Scope
Audiofon is a United States record label operating within the phonographic industry. It functions as a commercial name, brand, and trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Structurally, it acts as an imprint under a record company, serving as the public-facing identity for music distribution and commercialization.

### Digital Identifiers and Databases
Audiofon is indexed and tracked across multiple major music databases and ontologies, ensuring interoperability in digital knowledge systems. Its specific database identifiers include:
*   **Discogs Label ID**: 69075
*   **MusicBrainz Label ID**: 682cec0f-4682-44a0-8251-d45c9ecece6f
*   **Rate Your Music Label ID**: audiofon

These mappings link the entity to broader digital networks, such as the MusicBrainz label ontology and DBpedia, facilitating structured data queries and metadata management.

### Industry and Geographic Context
Headquartered in the United States, Audiofon operates within the legal and commercial framework of the U.S. phonographic industry. The record label relies on the broader economic infrastructure of the United States—a federal presidential constitutional republic and global superpower with the world's largest economy by nominal GDP (estimated at $28.75 trillion in 2024). The U.S. serves as a primary hub for global music trade, protected by intellectual property laws and driven by an advanced digital economy.

### Structural Role in the Music Industry
Within the industry taxonomy, Audiofon is categorized as a record label—a concept distinct from a "record company." While a record company handles the operational, logistical, and financial aspects of the music business (such as production and contracts), the record label functions as the branding and marketing vehicle. Audiofon represents the commercial imprint utilized to market assets, manage artist promotion, and distribute music videos and recordings to consumers. This distinction ensures that the creative output is properly branded and commercially positioned within the global marketplace.

## References

1. MusicBrainz
2. Discogs
3. Rate Your Music