ECM, an independent record label founded by Manfred Eicher in 1969, has released over 1700 albums across various genres.

Eicher, who studied double bass and was a production assistant at Deutsche Grammophon, focused on achieving the highest recording standards. The label's first release, “Free at Last” by Mal Waldron, signaled its intent.

ECM has become known for recording artists like Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, and Chick Corea, and in 1984, launched the New Series for notated music. Both the original and New Series emphasize multi-genre and transcultural projects.

ECM's recordings are celebrated for their transparent sound, though Eicher says there is no one-size-fits-all "ECM sound." Instead, each recording is tailored to the artists' sound and aesthetic ideas. The label's cover designs have also been influential and have been the subject of multiple books.