Research into music labels- Miss Georgiou

Major Record Labels

Definition:

Large companies within the music industry that may also own smaller record labels.

 1.      Who are the major labels in the UK currently?

Universal Music Group the largest record group in the world, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group are the three main record labels that operate in the UK they all make millions of pounds profit every year.

2.      Who do the major labels manage?

These labels manage many very famous and successful music artists.

Universal Music Group own artists such as, Elton John , Emeli Sande, Fall Out Boy, Fat Boy Slim, Florence + The Machine, Jake Bugg, Kaiser Chiefs,  Ellie Goulding, Kate Perry, Sam Smith,  Iggy Azalea,Taylor Swift and 50 Cent.

Sony Music Entertainment own artists such as Miley Cyrus, Daft Punk, Olly Murs, Tine Tempah and One Direction.

Warner Music Group own artists such as James Blunt, The Ramones, B.o.B, David Guetta, Coldplay, Fleetwood Mac and Ed Sheeran. 

3.      Do the major labels own smaller companies and which artists do they manage?

These major music record labels own smaller companies that nay be more genre specific and have smaller artists.

Universal- Universal own smaller companies such as Interscope Records,

Island Records, Def Jam Recordings, Polydor Records, Capitol Records. These smaller companies own artists such as Cold Play, Ed Sheeran and Linkin Park.

Sony Music Entertainment- They own Smaller companies such as Columbia Records, Ultra recordings and Epic records. Some artists signed to these smaller companies include, Calvin Harris, David Guetta and Mariah Carey.

Warner music- They own subsidary companies such as Atlantic Records, 

Warner Bros. Records, Rhino Entertainment, Warner/Chappell Music, Elektra Records. These smaller companies own artists such as AC/DC, Aphex twin and Cee-lo Green.

4.      Are there any links within Media e.g TV/Film/Magazines etc

All of the three music labels are part of large corporations that have links within the media industry, weather it is magazines, films or TV channels. These would benefit the artists signed to them as they will get better treatment and recognition  by their own company, this would help to build their fan base.

Independents

Definition:  Independent music labels are smaller companies that own artists that can be of any level of success, they usually are helped in ways by larger  companies for licensing or distribution. Most artists start off with a smaller record label on their journey to success. 

1.      Identify some of the independent labels in the UK and a brief history of each.

RAM Records-  RAM Records is an independent record label established in 1992 by Andy C with the help of close friend Ant Miles. It is one of the major labels specialising in drum and bass. Artists such as Sub Focus, Chase and Status and Wikinson.

Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove. Having successfully promoted and sold records by punk, very early indie pop and early post-punkbands such as Buzzcocks, The Smiths and Desperate Bicycles. Artists such as Arcade Fire, The Libertines and The Strokes.

Domino recording company-   Is an independent record label based in London, Founded in 1993, by Laurence Bell and his partner Jacqui Rice.  Recent high profile releases from Anna Calvi, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, and The Kills have only acted as a catalyst to this, and Domino is now one of the longest running and most successful independent record labels in the UK.

In my opinion I don't think that the music industry in the UK should be dominated by 4 companies as it is limiting the amount of good music that can become successful without the major funding from these companies, this is not positive for the music industry but the smaller companies still work hard to give un-successful artists a chance to become successful and they often do if they are talented enough.  From this point of view I don't think the domination of the 4 companies  is entirely bad as it can give the chance to un-signed artists to sign for the independent labels. Such as bands like The Strokes who could have been turned down by a larger recording company earlier in their career.

Independent labels might not make as much profit every year as the major labels but relative to their size they can become very successful and the artists that belong to them can also become major artists that become legends in their genre or music in general.

Independent music labels can offer smaller artists that might have been rejected by major labels, but then grow and produce good quality of music and become successful, without these independent music labels these artists wouldn't be prominent in their genres and the music industry.  Such as successful artists Chase & Status who are signed to independent company RAM records.