ASV

British label; name derived from Academy Sound and Vision.
Label Code: LC 7967 / LC 07967

ASV Records was a London-based record label set up in March 1981 by artist 678285, founder of Argo (2), Decca producer and former Argo general manager artist 342799, and producer Jack Boyce, following the acquisition of Argo’s parent company Decca by PolyGram in 1980. Initial releases drew heavily from the Enigma Classics catalogue.

The company’s earliest operations were based at 115 Fulham Road, London SW3 6RL, appearing on releases at least through 1984. By the mid-1980s, ASV relocated to 179–181 North End Road, London W14 9NL (Martin House), coinciding with the creation of the Living Era imprint in 1986, which specialised in public-domain historical recordings including American jazz, early popular music, and British dance bands. During the late 1980s, ASV also used 48 Moreton Street, London SW1V 2PB for catalogue and correspondence purposes, before relocating its registered office to 364–366 Kensington High Street, London W14 8NS, where it remained until the label’s eventual dissolution.

In 1999, the label was acquired by Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., which celebrated ASV’s 21st anniversary in 2002 by reissuing 21 releases under the ‘ASV Platinum’ imprint. Much of ASV’s classical catalogue was absorbed into Sanctuary Classics. Following industry consolidation, including Sanctuary’s acquisition by Universal Music Group in 2007 and later divestment to BMG Rights Management in 2013, administration and distribution of ASV reissues has been handled by the Alternative Distribution Alliance (Warner Music Group).

See also Academy Sound & Vision Ltd..