Major Record Labels
Definition: Large companies within the music industry that may also own smaller record labels
Universal Music Group is the larget of 'the big three' record labels that dominate the music industry. The company's multitude of global operations and market share, allow them to be a huge company with varied genre's of artists signed. Examples of signed artists and bands are Blink 182 and Kanye West. Like many large companies from the music industry, Universal Music Group have many different subsiduary labels that also have many more infamous artists signed, known as a parent company. As the Universal Music Group are not only associated with the music industry they are also a big entertainment company, branching the company off into different subject areas such as films.
Sony Music Entertainment are the second largest of 'the big three' and possibly one of the most well known. Having UK pop bands like JLS to global superstar Adele signed to them, they one of the worlds leading music corporations. Like Universal Music Group, Sony have many subsiduary labels all of which are large and well known. RCA records have signed Ke$ha, Columbia records have Calvin Harris signed and Epic records were bought out by SonyME and therefore now a subsiduary with Alexandra Burke signed. Due to these large subsiduary labels and Sony branching out into other areas such as the film industry, tv channels and programmes etc. it allows Sony Music Entertainment to be one of the most well-known and largest music label.
Warner Music Group is a American based global conglomerate and is part of 'the big three' when speaking about record labels. As well as Warner Bros., Warner Music Group also operates Atlantic Records as well of the worlds largest music-publishing companies. Basshunter, Gnarls Barkley, Bruno Mars and Michael Buble and just some artists that are signed to Warner Music Group and their subsiduary labels.
Finally Live Nation is also one of the largest global record labels that there is.
Independent Record Labels
Definition: Music labels that operate one or a few music labels
A well known independant record label in the UK is Finders Keepers which is based in Manchester. They sell to a niche market, producing old vintage records. although being a cottage industry, they have subsidiary labels such as twisted nerve.
Another independent record label is Cherry Red which was founded from a rock band to promote rock concerts. Artists signed to this record label is Morgan Fisher, Marine Girls, The Passage and The Misunderstood. As a label they promote 'critically unloved' genres. They have one subsidiary label 'Shout' that specifically devote to the re-issue of Soul and R'n'B music from the 1950's and 1960's.
Deltasonic is a record label based in Liverpool. It was previously joint ventured with Sony Music however is now completely independent. The first single released was by 'The Coral'. Bands that later signed to the label was Mountaineers, The Little Flames, The Dead 60's, The Rascals and The Longcut which was their first long-time signing.
Personally I don't think it is right for major record labels to dominate the industry as the smaller independent labels are usually created because of not wanting to make music that will be seen as mainstream.
A well known independant record label in the UK is Finders Keepers which is based in Manchester. They sell to a niche market, producing old vintage records. although being a cottage industry, they have subsidiary labels such as twisted nerve.
Another independent record label is Cherry Red which was founded from a rock band to promote rock concerts. Artists signed to this record label is Morgan Fisher, Marine Girls, The Passage and The Misunderstood. As a label they promote 'critically unloved' genres. They have one subsidiary label 'Shout' that specifically devote to the re-issue of Soul and R'n'B music from the 1950's and 1960's.
Deltasonic is a record label based in Liverpool. It was previously joint ventured with Sony Music however is now completely independent. The first single released was by 'The Coral'. Bands that later signed to the label was Mountaineers, The Little Flames, The Dead 60's, The Rascals and The Longcut which was their first long-time signing.
Personally I don't think it is right for major record labels to dominate the industry as the smaller independent labels are usually created because of not wanting to make music that will be seen as mainstream.
You have made a start in describing the purpose of record labels and you have also made a start in considering the major and minor labels.
ReplyDeleteNow you need to complete your post by focusing on the summary questions in more detail.