Major Record Labels

Task - Focus on the UK
Major Record Labels

Major record labels are large companies within the music industry that may also own smaller record labels. Sony/BMG Entertainment, Sony Music, EMI, Warner and Universal are currently the major labels in the UK at the moment. These 5 record labels have controlling interests in the majority of the major labels and dominate the music industry.

Sony manages SonyME (Sony Music Entertainment) which has many subsidiary labels, some examples are; Columbia Records and Epic Records. Within Columbia Records some of the smaller companies they own are; Loud and American. Columbia Records manages; Adele, Beyonce, One Direction, Rita Ora and Willow Smith. Epic Records manage many artists some are; Cher Llyod, Avril Lavigne and Ciara. Epic Records own some smaller companies; Ruthless and Hidden Beach. SonyME do not only have artist that they manage but they also have links within the media, for example Sony also make electronics e.g. mobile phones, laptops etc. Sony also has a link with X factor as Simon Cowell who has his own subsidiary label within Sony - Syco Music - has a TV show - The X factor - which is a singing contest and here Sony can promote their artists. SonyME also has a link within the media as some of their artists also are actors for example Will Smith he sings a song he made in the film Men in Black.

EMI manages many subsidiary labels for example; Virgin Records, EMI and Virgin Records America. Within Virgin Records some of the smaller companies they own are; VC Recordings and Caroline. Some of the artists managed by Virgin Records are; David Guetta, Gorillaz and The Chemical Brothers. Another company EMI owns - EMI - manages; 30 seconds to mars, The Beatles, Coldplay Emile Sande and Katy Perry. Also EMI Owns - Virgin Records America - where they own smaller companies such as; Immortal and Higher Octave, they also manage artists such as; Chiddy Bang, The Rolling Stone and The Spice Girls. EMI do not have any links within the media, however they previously had a magazine however the magazine has stopped running.

Warner manages many subsidiary labels such as; Atlantic and Warner Bros Records. Within the Atlantic label some of the artists they manage are; Ed Sheeran, Flo Rida and Plan B. Within Warner Bros Records managed by Warner some of the artists they manage are; Cher, Katherine Jenkins and Green Day. Warner does not have any links within the media.

Universal music group manage several subsidiary labels such as; Def Jam, Island (UK) and Universal Records. Within Def Jam some smaller companies they manage are; Roc-A-Fella an King. Also within Def Jam some of the artists they manage are; Tulisa, Bon Jovi, Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez. Also within Island Records some of the artists they manage are; Dappy, Florence + The Machines, Devlin and Akon. Finally within Universal Records some of the artists they manage are; Ellie Gouling, Jessie J and Lana Del Ray. Universal does not have any links within the media.

The last major record label Song/BMG Entertainment manage lots of subsidiary labels for example; RCA and Neon. Within RCA some of the artists they manage are; Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, Pitball and Kesha. Sony/BMG Entertainment do not have any links within the media.

Independent labels

Independent labels can be just as successful but operate from a smaller company base. They are traditionally known as offering more 'organic' music rather than manufactured mainstream.
One independent label within the UK is Ace Records. Ace Recrods started up in 1978, in the beginning the company only gained permission from the label in Mississippi to use the name in the UK, however they were eventually given the rights to publish their recordings. In the 80's Ace Records gained the licensing for 'Modern Records' and its follow up company 'Kent Records' during the 90s. The copmany brought the labels aswell as the original master tapes. Some of the artists signed to Ace Records are - The Ace Of Cups, Cannonball Adderley and Arthur Alexander.

Another independent label in the UK is Sanctuary Music Group. This record label was based in the UK and was a subsidiary label of Universal Music Group, however in June 2007 it become the largest independent label within the UK and the largest indepenedent music management company in the world. It was also the worlds largest independent owners of music intellectual property rights with over 150,000 songs. Some of the artists this independent record label manages are; The Rouge, Jason Childs and The Darkness.
Another independent label in the UK is Beggars Group, this record label opened in 1973. This label owns several other labels such as; Rough Trade Records, and XL Recordings. Some of the artists this label manages are; Tutus Andronicus, The xx and Bobby Womack.


From a music point of view its wrong that 4 companies dominate the music industry, as these companies may only have commercial artists therefore they do not have talent instead they just make the major record labels money. Other record labels within the music industry may feel that their artists are not getting enough recognition as these 4 companies dominate the industry therefore people do not notice the artists within the other record labels as these companies do not have as much money as the other major record labels. However with these 4 companies dominating the music industry we are still being catered for as we have a range of different music genres from different artists which cater our needs and even though we may not notice other artists within other record labels who may be more talented than the commercial artists within the dominating companies we are still entertained.
The affects of the 4 companies which dominate the music industry is that the artists within the music industry do not have as much talent as the world use to have during previous years as these artists are more commercial. Therefore even though people within the public enjoy listening to commercial artists, they may believe that even if they are not talented they can still become famous by being as provocative as Rihanna etc.
Independent labels are successful as major labels as their main aim is that not to make money like the 4 dominating companies. Therefore independent labels are successful as their artists are happy and their artists cater to their niche market where commercial artists within the dominating companies can not cater.
Independent labels offer their audience being catered too as they have niche markets where major record labels can not appeal to, therefore independent labels can fufill their audiences needs whereas with major record labels their audience may not fit into a market as their artists may not appeal to their niche.