Swedish label founded on November 5th, 1932 by Erik Ljungberg (1884-1958)
For the publisher, please use Sonora Musikförlag when this is printed on a release. For the previous parent label and manufacturer, please use label
At first, Sonora didn't have any Swedish recordings to release so their initial releases were reissues of the German record company Artiphon. From 1933 and forward, Sonora solely released Swedish recordings. Between 1933 and 1958 Sonora made approximately 9,000 recordings.
When the founder Erik Ljungberg died and the production of shellac 78s ceased, Sonora was purchased by Philips and became AB Philips-Sonora which later turned to label and then Polygram AB and now Universal Music Group.
The Sonora label layout for their shellac releases went through different layouts and colors over the years:
1001-3840 - red/black or red/gold
5005-5017 - Sonora Exclusive
6000-6394 - blue/yellow (Sonora Konsertmusik)
7001-7245 - black/yellow (Sonora Elit)
7246-7999 - yellow
8001-8331 - black/green
9000-9060 - Sonora Exclusive
9100-9106 - Exclusive Jazz Selection
K 9500-K 9560 - Sonora Exclusive
There were also a Sonora branch in Norway that started releasing records in 1934, and a branch in Finland and one in USA.