Research into major and independent record labels

Major Record Labels are large companies within the music industry that may also own smaller record labels. There are currently 3 major record labels who dominate the music industry. 

One of the top 4 record labels in the music industry is the Universal Music Group (UMG). Many well-known artist are signed to UMG. These include artist like Rihanna, Ellie Goulding, The Rolling Stones and Eminem. UMG also own smaller record companies within the music industry such as Republic Records, and Def Jam Records and many more. Artist signed to these smaller record labels such as Republic Records include: Arianna Grande, Drake, Jessie J and Nelly. UMG are linked with Vevo as the company helped develop them. This is an advantage to UMG as it allows them to stream their artist’s music videos for free helping to promote each artist. UMG also have their own website, which also helps to promote their artists. Their website is (http://www.universalmusic.com/) where the public can find out information like when artists will be releasing new singles and albums and even going on tour.

Another major record label within the music industry is Sony Entertainment. Sony manage/’own’ well known artists such as Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, John Legend and Justin Timberlake. Sony also owns, the smaller record labels including the less recognisable label ‘Arista’. The Arista music group manage artists like Alicia Keys, Christiana Aguilera and Ozzy Osborne. Sony Entertainment (http://www.sonymusic.com/) has their own website in order to promote their artist by publishing information about them along with the latest news, tour dates, and album releases. Sony also helps to promote their artist through their brand image. Sony are also recognised for its electronic products which sell within a wide market, there for the record label becomes more successful as audience find the brand name familiar and are more aware of it and more likely to pursue the brand name. 

The third record label I will be discussing is The Warner Music Group (WGM) , based in the US, who manage popular artists like Wiz Kalifa, Christiana Peri, Lupe Fiasco and Birdy. Subsidiaries in which WGM manage/own along with artist are smaller however still recognisable record labels such as Atlantic Records who manage artists like Meek Mill, Ed Sheeran and Marina and the diamonds. The Warner Music group is owned by Time Warner which is the world’s largest media conglomerate, meaning the music group has lots of link to film, entertainment, publishing and television. Allowing the Warner Music Group to promote their artist through a number of media channels possibly leading to attracting more audiences or being able to specifically target the certain audience they want to be interested in the artist.

The last record label I will look at which also dominates the music industry worldwide is Emi. The record label manages/have managed artists such as Robbie Williams, Katy Perry, You Me At Six, and The rolling stones. An example of a smaller record label that Emi owns is Capitol who have signed artists like Deana Carter. Emi are linked to Emi films and also HMV allowing them to have easier access to selling their artists records through well-known and trusted shops.

Although these 4 record labels dominate the music industry there is still room for smaller independent record labels. Independent record labels only operate one or few record labels however can be just as successful. They are commonly known for offering more ‘organic’ music rather than typical mainstream styles however style varies with artists.

Rough Trade is one example of an independent record label that operates in the UK. Rough Trade began as a shop in West London, which was opened by a man names Geoff Travis. After successfully promoting and selling record by Punk and early posy punk bands such as The Buzzcocks, Travis began to manage artists and began the label. The record label currently has artists like ‘Strange Boys’ and ‘Little Joy’ signed to them.

Another independent record label which operates in the UK is Boy Better Know, this record label are an English grime collective record label founded by JME and his older brother Skepta in 2005. Artists from Boy Better Know such as JME, Skepta and Wiley have featured on You Tubes SB.TV and helped mark their celebration of 100 million YouTube views.

From a music point of view I feel there is nothing wrong with 4 record labels dominating the music industry as it is that way for a reason. The audiences of the music those 4 record labels promote are obviously most popular so those record labels are bound to make more profit and dominate the market. This also allows smaller record labels to specialise and cater for the needs of niche markets which may like not so popular music genres and there for do not need huge record labels and promotion to sell their artists. Also having smaller record labels allows unknown artists to slowly become more recognised and if good enough go on to signing to bigger record labels, this is fair as if small record labels did not exist then unknown artist who still may need some practise may never be recognised however it is also unfair as it is the smaller record labels that may make the unknown artist recognisable however big record labels end up attracting the artist as obviously once the artist has made it they want to sell as many records as possible. Industry wise I feel it is slightly unfair that the 4 record labels dominate the music industry as independent record labels are less likely to survive there for need money although all the major record labels once started off small.

It is hard to judge whether major record labels are more successful than independent record labels as major record labels may make more profit as they have more artists and smaller record labels signed to them however independent record labels may take up more market share of the unique ‘organic’ music they do offer which not many there record labels offer, whereas major record labels may each only take up a quarte of the market share of the mainstream music.