# Forum

> US record label; budget/reissue label

**Wikidata**: [Q104054163](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104054163)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/forum-q104054163

## Summary
Forum is a United States-based record label categorized specifically as a budget and reissue label. It operates as a brand and trademark within the phonographic industry, distinct from the operational record company that manages it.

## Key Facts
- **Name**: Forum
- **Country**: United States
- **Type**: Record label (Brand/Trademark)
- **Primary Function**: Budget label; Reissue label
- **Distinct Entity**: Differentiated from other entities named "Forum" based on brand, trademark, band name, or organization name.
- **Discogs ID**: 37587 (denoted as "Forum (2)")
- **MusicBrainz ID**: 4e384bf1-1795-4d45-860a-88e954bb5257 (denoted as "Forum (1950s/60s budget reissue label)")
- **Rate Your Music ID**: forum (denoted as "Forum")
- **External Reference**: Described by source bsnpubs.com (http://www.bsnpubs.com/roulette/forum/forum.html)

## FAQs
**What kind of music releases did Forum handle?**
Forum operated as a budget and reissue label, focusing on marketing music recordings and videos at a lower cost or re-releasing existing material rather than producing new, original albums.

**Is the "Forum" record label the same as other entities named Forum?**
No, this entity is explicitly distinguished from other brands, trademarks, or organizations named "Forum." It refers specifically to the US-based record label.

**Where is information about the Forum record label cataloged?**
The label is indexed in several music databases, including Discogs (ID: 37587), MusicBrainz (ID: 4e384bf1-1795-4d45-860a-88e954bb5257), and Rate Your Music (ID: forum).

## Why It Matters
Forum matters as a specific instance of a budget and reissuing strategy within the music industry. Such labels play a role in the broader distribution ecosystem by making music more accessible through lower-priced offerings and keeping older recordings in circulation through reissues. As a brand and trademark, it represents the commercial identity used to market these recordings, separate from the logistical operations of a record company.

## Notable For
- **Budget Classification**: Identified specifically as a budget label, indicating a focus on cost-effective distribution.
- **Reissue Focus**: Designated as a reissue label, suggesting a specialization in repackaging or re-releasing existing content.
- **Database Distinction**: Uniquely identified in databases like Discogs as "Forum (2)" to distinguish it from other entities with the same name.
- **Time Period Identifier**: MusicBrainz entries suggest activity in the 1950s and 1960s.

## Body
### Definition and Operational Scope
Forum is a **record label**, which is defined as a brand and trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. It operates within the **phonographic industry**. While often conflated with a "record company" (the operational entity handling production and logistics), Forum is the **brand/imprint** used for commercial marketing.

### Geographic Origin
The label is based in the **United States**. The United States serves as a primary hub for the phonographic industry, providing the legal and commercial framework (such as trademark protections) under which the label operates.

### Label Characteristics
Forum is characterized by two primary business functions:
- **Budget Label**: Implies the release of recordings sold at a lower price point, often aimed at casual consumers or specific market segments.
- **Reissue Label**: Suggests that the label specialized in releasing new batches of recordings originally issued under different labels or formats, often to preserve availability of older content.

### Digital Identifiers and Documentation
Forum is indexed and documented across multiple digital knowledge systems, ensuring its distinction from other entities.
- **Discogs**: Database ID **37587**. It is explicitly listed as "Forum (2)" to differentiate it from other potential entries.
- **MusicBrainz**: Database ID **4e384bf1-1795-4d45-860a-88e954bb5257**. The entry provides temporal context, describing it as a "1950s/60s budget reissue label."
- **Rate Your Music**: Database ID **forum**.
- **External Sources**: The label is described by the external source **bsnpubs.com** (specifically at http://www.bsnpubs.com/roulette/forum/forum.html), which provides further discographic details.

## References

1. MusicBrainz
2. Discogs
3. Rate Your Music