Research into record labels - Miss Georgiou

Major Record Labels

 A record label is a brand or trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos.

A major record label is a large company within the music industry that may also own smaller record labels.

The four major labels in the UK are Sony Music Entertainment UK, The EMI Group, Warner Music group and Universal Music Group.  I will be researching Sony music and EMI. Sony music Entertainment UK manage artists such as, Ke$ha, MGMT, The Tings Tings and The Clash.  Sony music entertainment UK own Columbia Records, UKRCA Label Group, Sony CMG, Syco Music, Phonogenic Records and SYRA Music Group. Sony music UK is owned by Sony which also has sony entertainment television UK such as, Flava, scuzz, true movie channels and more. 

 

The EMI Group (Electric & Musical Industries Ltd.) is a British music company. It is the fourth largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group have artists such as, Spice Girls, Kate Bush, The Beatles and Whitesnake. Its record labels included EMI Records, Parlophone, Virgin Records, and Capitol Records. EMI Group also had a major publishing arm, EMI Music Publishing—also based in London with offices globally. 
 

Independent record labels 

Music labels that operate one or a few music 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.

Some independent labels XL recordings and Young Turks

are a few examples of independent record labels in the UK. XL

recordings include artists such as, Tyler the creator, M.I.A and

Adele. The label releases albums worldwide and operates across a

range of genres. 

Young Turks is another independent music label is a British independent record label which was launched by Caius Pawson as an imprint of XL Recordings in 2006. It has grown into a successful and influential independent label that operates across a range of genres. The label's current roster includes The xx, FKA twigs, SBTRKT, Sampha, Jamie xx and Koreless.

Music Entertainment UK, The EMI Group, Warner Music group and Universal Music Group are the four companies that dominate the
the music industry. I think there are not many disadvantages
with there domination of the music market, as all those four major labels are all very different already and aimed at a mass market.

 

  For example, the universal music group owned 25.5% of the market in 2005 and in 2013 now owns 36.7% of physical and digital music revenue. UMG also sells more music than any other major label. This shows the growth of UMG this could perhaps cause UMG to have more influence over music tastes and opinions. However, UMG have a range of different music styles from there range of record labels for example, Universal, Island, Interscope and much more. Which are all very different labels which have different genres of music. So it is hard to say that a company like UMG would influence public music tastes and opinions. But It could mean that independent music labels find it harder to compete with them as they are taking a majority of there potential consumers more effectively. As these four major labels can compete due to there large profits, workforce and money to go towards marketing etc. This would mean that independents can only really target a niche market and become more unique and different to gain customers.

 

In my opinion, I feel that these companies are not producing any harm as they have music in a variety of genres so they are catering to everyones needs on a whole. And Indie labels are also recieving credit for there work being different to the ones of major labels. However, I do believe that this may cause major record label artists to recieve more credit for there work than indie label artists. But someone from an indie label can be just as successful as an artist from a major label. It just depends on how well the artist appeals to the audience and the support the label gives them.

  From a music point of view, this market share of the 4 major companies and independent labels allow the audience to be satisfied as these big labels make something for everyone and the indie labels target specific music needs so everyone remains happy.
  But, it may be hard for a music company to start up and be in the mass market industry as the demand is already being met and they wouldn't be able to compete with them, due to these four companies having much higher profits and a already developed brand image. For example, Warner Music Group made $2.97 billion in 2013.