Operated under this name between 17 January 2000 and 31 December 2013. Established as “Gramofonové Závody a.s.” (“Gramophone Record Factory”) in 1951, GZ is a leading manufacturer of records, cassettes and optical discs. This Czech based company is probably the largest record manufacturer in the world today and has expanded its record manufacturing activities to include investments in Canada, France and the USA.
Succession of names :
Gramofonové Závody since 1951.
Renamed to GZ Media (1 January 2014).
Vinyl matrix schemes ca. 1999–2003 - machine stamped in runouts:
AX #####/Z
“A” = verbatim, no particular meaning
“X” = format
“Z” = galvanoplasty
Vinyl matrix schemes ca. 2003–2013 - machine stamped or etched in runouts:
#####X~/Z or #####X~~/Z
“X” = format
“~” = side number
“Z” = galvanoplasty
Main vinyl formats:
E = stereo, 12", 33⅓ RPM
F = stereo, 10", 33⅓ RPM
H = stereo, 7", 45 RPM
M = stereo, 12", 45 RPM
N = stereo, 10", 45 RPM
O = stereo, 7", 33⅓ RPM - "O" can sometimes be mistaken with a "0" (zero)
X = stereo, 78 RPM (very rare)
CD matrix scheme:
GZ XY#### (GZ prefix is sometimes omitted)
“X” = year of matrix manufacturing:
K=1999, L=2000, M=2001, N=2002, O=2003, P=2004, R=2005, S=2006, T=2007, U=2008, V=2009, W=2010, X=2011, Y=2012, Z=2013
"Y" = month of matrix manufacturing:
1 to 9=January to September, A=October, B=November, C=December
Glass mastering codes:
IFPI LD01 until 2002 and IFPI LD02 since 2002. When featured on the disc use Glass Mastered At role with the XY#### as LCCN.
Mould SID code: 5J**
** = numbers
In a limited number of releases the Mould SID code IFPI 5307 appears instead of IFPI 5J**. The use of this code is still unclear and may have been due to an incorrect code entered for the machine used.
At the moment with this code do not credit the role of Pressed by (see below).
“Q” was never used in the matrix schemes.
CD matrix will be stored for 2 years, i.e. any represses in that time window will bear the same number.
If the original CD matrix was damaged, a new one will be created with a new number.
How-to:
• When another company is etched into the runouts alongside the GZ Digital Media matrix number, please add a Manufactured By credit for that company in addition to the Pressed By credit for GZ Digital Media.
• For these releases with “www.gzvinyl.com” in runout area the “www.gzvinyl.com” entity can be used.
• All releases manufactured (and released) before 1999 (CD: year code “A” to “J”) should be listed under Gramofonové Závody.
• Use this entity to list releases manufactured from 1999 to 2013. Releases manufactured (and released) in 1998 or earlier should be listed under Gramofonové Závody. All releases manufactured in 2014 or later (CD: year code “A” etc. again) should be listed under GZ Media; do not confuse the actual release date with the year of manufacture though. Vinyl matrix number 115067E is known to have been made in 2013 still: for this reason, 2014 releases that carry a matrix number lower than 115067E should be listed under GZ Digital Media too.
LCCN how-to:
Vinyl matrix schemes ca. 1999–2003: Only the basic “AX ##### string should be entered with [i]Pressed By[/i] role, without the galvanoplasty suffix. For example: AE 50022.
Vinyl matrix schemes ca. 2003–2013: Enter the numbers up to and including the first letter. For example: 75077M, 110557E, with [i]Pressed By[/i] role. If at the same time “www.gzvinyl.com” string is found on run-out grooves use the role [i]Manufactured By[/i] for it.
CD: only the “XY####” string should be entered, without the “GZ” prefix.
Glass mastering code: IFPI LD01 or LD02 - When featured on the disc use Glass Mastered At role with the XY#### in LCCN.
Mould SID code: IFPI 5J** - When featured on the disc use Pressed By role in LCCN.
"Glass Mastered At & Pressed By" - If both SIDs are present on the CD, both roles can be entered in the LCCN.