Warner Music (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

Malaysian branch of Warner Music, renamed in 1991 from WEA Records Sdn. Bhd.. Also in the database: WEA Records Sdn. Bhd. Malaysia Identifying releases: Most albums released by Warner Music Malaysia includes the address, whether through back cover of the CD and cassette or white sticker with black text. Circa 1994-1995, the word Buatan Malaysia appears within the sticker, indicating that the release is locally pressed. Barcodes had been introduced earlier for foreign releases, but for local albums, it began to be used circa 1995-1996. During 1996 - 1998, the barcode used was either beginning with 9 556970 ###### or later, 9 556700 ###### (no distinction between cassette and CD codes, unlike other multinationals at that time), but retains the international standard album code. Later album released in 1998 (around July) instead used the same barcode as other international Warner Music albums (example: 6 39842 15762 9). Reissue albums may retain the same code from the original album or use completely different album code from the original, but albums released on CD before the change of album codes in 1990 (originally: M ##### and M40 ##### for LP and cassettes, respectively) uses a new album code. Example: Zainal Abidin (1991 version) and Zainal Abidin (2011 version) had the same album codes, but Zainal Abidin (2016 version) uses a newer one. Reissues released during 2016-2017 carries the newer Warner Music Malaysia logo within the album cover. Local albums released since 2006 uses only ten-digits album code (the last one being the format code, 2 for CD and preceded by a dash), omitting the first two numbers (50) seen in barcodes. As it was during the WEA era, albums released by other company but distributed by Warner Music carries different codes, such as TPM ####-#. Additional notes: In September 2008, with EMI being withdrew from Southeast Asian market (including Malaysia), some Warner Music offices in Southeast Asia (including Malaysia and South Korea, but excludes countries like Philippines and Taiwan) started an exclusive partnership with EMI Music that allows them to manufactures, markets and distributes EMI releases within the region, including national repertoire. These releases can be identified by a catalogue number that consists of 10 digits and ends with an 'L'. When submitting, you also need to include the EMI label that is mentioned on the release since it is a partnership. The partnership ended around August-September 2013 when EMI was acquired by Universal Music Group, although Warner Music did acquire Parlophone and some other EMI assets (including selected European companies) due to European Commission's forced divestiture.