An apparatus and method is disclosed which can efficiently execute construction of a contents management database and setting of a reproduction list. The information processing apparatus includes a storage section for storing a plurality of pieces of contents and a data processing section. The data processing section sets a directory having a tree structure, sets layer attribute information representative of attributes of layers which form the tree structure, and coordinates each of pieces of the layer attribute information with a group which includes contents or a group belonging to a lower layer than the layer indicated by the piece of the layer attribute information to produce a group tree as a contents management directory composed of the groups and the contents.