Melodiya was established in 1964 as the "All-Union Gramophone Record Firm of the USSR Ministry of Culture Melodiya" in accordance with a
resolution issued by the
Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union. It utilized numerous recording studios and manufacturing facilities throughout the USSR as well as powerful centres of distribution and promotional strategies. The best selling format at the time was 33⅓ and 78 rpm
vinyl records. By 1973, Melodiya released some 1,200 gramophone records with a total circulation of 190–200 million per year, in addition to 1 million
compact cassettes per year, was exporting its production to more than 70 countries. The label's production was dominated by classical music, music by Soviet composers and musicians, performances by Soviet theatre actors, and fairy tales for children. For example, Melodiya notably released performances of works by
Tchaikovsky and
Shostakovich. Melodiya also released some of the most successful western pop, jazz and rock records, including albums by
ABBA,
Paul McCartney,
Boney M.,
Dave Grusin,
Dalida,
Amanda Lear, and
Bon Jovi. Melodiya also regularly released records by popular Soviet singers, among whom were
Alla Pugacheva,
Vladimir Vysotsky,
Bulat Okudzhava,
Sofia Rotaru,
Mikhail Boyarsky,
Valery Leontiev,
Alexander Barykin,
Vladimir Kuzmin, as well as Soviet rock groups
Autograph,
Mashina Vremeni,
Bravo and
Cruise. 's songs "
Octopus's Garden" and "
Something", with "
Come Together" on the reverse. In other countries, Melodiya recordings imported from the USSR were often sold under the label MK, which stood for
Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga (). Being state owned until April 1989, the Soviet recording industry was able to apply a single numbering system to all its releases from 1933 onwards regardless of origin or place of manufacture. The number sequences for 78s and LPs are strictly chronological, from which it is possible to date many, though not all, releases using only the catalogue number Since 2008, some Melodiya records have been available to North American listeners through the Canadian classical label
Analekta which is distributed by
Entertainment One Distribution in the US and
Distribution Select in Canada. Melodiya is working with the archive. As of 2023, more than 80% of the archive has been digitized and 2,400 digital albums have been published; since 2014, more than 100 vinyl records have been published. ==Notable artists==