# Blue Note

> American record label; main imprint of Blue Note Records, Inc.

**Wikidata**: [Q885833](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q885833)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Note_Records)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/blue-note

## Summary
Blue Note is the main imprint of Blue Note Records, Inc., an American record label founded in 1939. It is a key entity within the phonographic industry, specializing in the marketing of music recordings and music videos. The label operates as a commercial name and imprint under a record company, distinct from the operational entity itself.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 1939
- **Country of Origin**: United States
- **Industry**: Phonographic industry
- **Classification**: Record label
- **Parent Organization**: Blue Note Records, Inc.
- **Founders**: Alfred Lion, Francis Wolff, and others
- **Headquarters**: United States
- **Genre**: Jazz
- **Affiliated with**: John Coltrane, Norah Jones, and other notable musicians
- **Owned by**: Capitol Music Group
- **Previous Ownership**: EMI
- **Website**: http://www.bluenote.com/
- **Sitelink Count**: 26
- **Wikipedia Title**: Blue Note Records
- **Wikidata Description**: American record label; main imprint of Blue Note Records, Inc.

## FAQs
**What is Blue Note Records?**
Blue Note Records is an American record label that serves as the main imprint of Blue Note Records, Inc. It is a brand and trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos, operating within the phonographic industry.

**How is Blue Note Records different from a record company?**
Blue Note Records is the brand and trademark, while a record company is the operational entity handling business functions such as production, contracts, and distribution.

**What genres does Blue Note Records specialize in?**
Blue Note Records primarily focuses on jazz music, though it has also released recordings in other genres.

**Who are some notable artists associated with Blue Note Records?**
Notable artists associated with Blue Note Records include John Coltrane, Norah Jones, and others.

**What is the history of Blue Note Records?**
Blue Note Records was founded in 1939 and has been a significant player in the phonographic industry, known for its association with jazz music and notable artists.

**What organizations has Blue Note Records been affiliated with?**
Blue Note Records has been affiliated with Capitol Music Group and previously with EMI.

## Why It Matters
Blue Note Records matters as a foundational entity in the phonographic industry, specializing in the marketing of music recordings and music videos. It plays a central role in the production, distribution, and promotion of music content globally. The label has been associated with notable musicians and has contributed significantly to the jazz genre. Its role in the music industry underscores its importance in shaping cultural trends and supporting artistic careers. Blue Note Records has adapted to technological shifts, such as the transition from vinyl to streaming, while retaining its core branding functions. Its historical classification and documentation in various databases and ontologies highlight its enduring relevance in the global music landscape.

## Notable For
- **Jazz Specialization**: Blue Note Records is renowned for its focus on jazz music, making it a key player in the genre.
- **Notable Artists**: The label has been associated with prominent musicians such as John Coltrane and Norah Jones.
- **Historical Significance**: Blue Note Records was founded in 1939, making it one of the oldest and most established record labels in the industry.
- **Global Reach**: The label has a significant presence in the United States and has been documented in various databases and ontologies.
- **Technological Adaptation**: Blue Note Records has adapted to technological shifts, such as the transition from vinyl to streaming, while maintaining its core branding functions.
- **Cultural Impact**: Blue Note Records has shaped cultural trends and supported artistic careers, contributing to its enduring relevance in the music industry.

## Body

### Definition and Scope
Blue Note Records is a brand and trademark central to the phonographic industry, specializing in the marketing of music recordings and music videos. It operates as a commercial name and imprint under Blue Note Records, Inc., which handles the logistical and financial aspects of music production. The label is subclassified under trade name, brand, trademark, and music organization, emphasizing its role as both a legal and cultural entity.

### Differentiation from Record Companies
While often conflated, Blue Note Records (brand identity) differs from a record company (operational entity). For example, Capitol Music Group is a record company, while Blue Note Records is a label under its umbrella. This distinction is codified in Wikidata, where "record label" is explicitly labeled as different from "record company."

### Subclass Relationships
Blue Note Records is hierarchically linked to broader concepts:
- **Trade name**: A commercial identifier for products/services.
- **Brand**: A recognizable symbol of specific features or reputation.
- **Trademark**: A protected signifier of origin.
- **Imprint**: A trade name under which music/media is distributed.

### Industry and Classification
- **Primary Industry**: Phonographic industry (facet_of), encompassing music production, distribution, and sales.
- **Library of Congress Classification**: ML3792.A-ML3792.Z, categorizing literature on "Individual record companies and labels, A-Z."
- **Commercial Role**: Manages music videos and recordings as marketable assets, often overseeing artist contracts and royalties.

### Digital and Cultural Presence
- **Multilingual Documentation**: Wikipedia coverage spans 63 languages, from Afrikaans to Vietnamese, reflecting global music diversity.
- **Ontological Mapping**: Aligns with http://dbpedia.org/ontology/RecordLabel, https://musicbrainz.org/label/MusicLabel, and http://purl.org/ontology/mo/Label, ensuring machine-readable data interoperability.
- **Digital Repositories**: Commons category "Record labels" aggregates visual/media content related to labels.

### Maintenance and Community
- **WikiProject Music**: Oversees Wikipedia content standardization, ensuring accuracy in label-related articles.
- **Infobox Standardization**: Template:Infobox record label provides structured data fields (e.g., founded, founder, genre).
- **Eponymous Categories**: "Category:Wikipedia categories named after record labels" organizes label-specific pages systematically.

### Equivalent Classes and Identifiers
- **Cross-Database IDs**:
  - **BabelNet**: 00049558n (lexical-semantic repository).
  - **GND**: 7860465-5 (German National Library).
  - **LoC Authority ID**: sh87003409 (Library of Congress).
  - **Zhihu Topic ID**: 19555506 (Chinese knowledge platform).
- **Semantic Web Links**: Mapped to mo:Label (Music Ontology) and Freebase entities, enabling linked-data queries.

### Historical and Technical Context
- **Industry Evolution**: From physical formats (vinyl, CDs) to digital streaming, labels adapt to technological shifts while retaining core branding functions.
- **Legal and Commercial Roles**: As trademarks, labels protect intellectual property; as brands, they cultivate artist identity and market positioning.

### Notable Connections
- **MusicBrainz**: A key database for label metadata, emphasizing their role in music information infrastructure.
- **Wikidata Properties**: Linked to P264 (record label), P1955 (discography), and P966 (founder), facilitating data integration.
- **Museum Digital Tag ID**: 28740/29296, highlighting archival and cultural preservation efforts.

### Affiliated Artists and Albums
Blue Note Records has been associated with numerous notable artists and albums, including:
- **John Coltrane**: Known for his contributions to jazz, including the album "Blue Train."
- **Norah Jones**: Associated with albums such as "Feels Like Home" and "Come Away with Me."
- **Other Notable Artists**: Pat Martino, Randy Brecker, Thelonious Monk, Cannonball Adderley, Wayne Shorter, and others.

### Ownership and Parent Organizations
Blue Note Records is owned by Capitol Music Group, which is part of Universal Music Group. Previously, it was affiliated with EMI, a defunct British music recording and publishing company.

### Founders and Key Personnel
Blue Note Records was founded by Alfred Lion, Francis Wolff, and others. Key personnel associated with the label include notable figures in the music industry.

### Digital Presence and Online Documentation
Blue Note Records maintains an active online presence through its website and various social media platforms. It is documented in multiple languages on Wikipedia and has a significant presence in databases such as MusicBrainz and DBpedia.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Google Knowledge Graph
4. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
5. Quora