Major Record Labels
A major record label is a large companies within the music industry that may also own smaller record labels. The big Four labels/major record labels represent the majority of the music sold, making up as much as 75% of the music market or more depending on the year. These major record labels include Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, EMI and Warner music group. Artists who are signed to a Big Four record label are either signed to the central label or signed to a subsidiary of the label. For instance, a band may be signed to Sony, or they may be signed to the Sony subsidiary label Columbia Records. These subsidiary labels have their staff and usually sign their own artists and make most of their own financial decisions. However, they are answerable to the "main" company, which sets their overall budget and makes decisions like reducing staff at the subsidiary.
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Sony Music Entertainment is a renowned record label that manages popular artists of the music industry such as Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears. As well as managing these artists, the record label owns numerous companies such as Arista and J records which manage artists such as Christina Aguilera and Maroon 5. Sony is a dominant company due to owning other media such as television, mobile phones and computers.
The universal music group manages stars such as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. It also manages numerous companies such as Island Records and Def Jam which are responsible for artists such as Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna. Island Records manages artists like Jessie J and Nicki Minaj. The record label is also known for co-developing Vevo; a music video website that allows the public to access music content.
Independents
An independent record label is a music label that operates without funding of the major record labels. The label can be just as successful but operates from a smaller company base. Independent record labels usually offer more organic music rather than manufactured mainstream. Numerous artists and bands begin their career through being signed to an independent label.One independent record label that is considered by some to be the most successful is A&M records, founded in 1961. Over its 37 year run, A&M sold records from a variety of artists. It was then bought by Universal Music Group in 1998 which resulted in A&M dying out as a label and a brand. There are a numerous independent record labels such as Rough Trade, formed in the UK in 1978. It manages artists of the indie and rock genre such as The Strokes and The Libertines. Warp records was also founded as an independent label in 1989, managing artists such as Aphex Twins.
The music industry is dominated by the four large record labels. This may be argued to have a positive effect on the music industry as these are the record labels which hold a great amount of information and so this knowledge assists the artists in progressing their career. They are also knowledgeable when it comes to the audience and are therefore able to produce products that appeal to the target market through understanding of their expectations. They shape the artists that are signed to that particular record label according to the genre of music which heightens the artist's impact on the audience.
This however has a negative impact on artists that arise from independent record labels due to the dominant record labels having more power and funding which makes it more difficult for artists from the independent record labels to enter the industry. This was evident in in the UK in the 50s and 60s during which the major record companies such as EMI had so much power,independent labels struggled to become established.
The four record labels that dominate the industry have a positive impact due to creating competition within the industry. Major record labels have high standards when signing artists. These artists are then highly promoted with the use of the funding obtained from the success of other artists signed to the record label. As there are four major companies, the competition is high which encourages independent record labels to release artists of the same level. This can therefore result in an increase of successful artists within the independent record labels.
Major record labels can be considered to be more successful than independent companies due to being powerful within the industry. They are responsible for renowned and global artists. Being signed to one of the four record labels has positive effects on the artist's career as visible by the stardom achieved by other artists who are now extremely recognised. This therefore attracts artists to seek a contract with these record labels as opposed to independent record labels. This in turn makes it more difficult for independent labels to produce successful artists that sell albums all over the world and appeal to a mass market.
However independent record labels are still successful and able to produce artists that potentially target a niche market i.e. consumers with distinct preferences. They may therefore produce artists that are quirky and differ from those that are produced by major record labels and aimed at a more general audience. These artists may therefore be more down to earth which allows the target audience to relate to the artist as typically seen in artists of the indie genre. This may also be due to the limited funding an independent company has. The record label may therefore achieve success through the unusual personalities of their artists. This may entice the audience to develop an interest in the artists leading to the success of the record label.
This however has a negative impact on artists that arise from independent record labels due to the dominant record labels having more power and funding which makes it more difficult for artists from the independent record labels to enter the industry. This was evident in in the UK in the 50s and 60s during which the major record companies such as EMI had so much power,independent labels struggled to become established.
The four record labels that dominate the industry have a positive impact due to creating competition within the industry. Major record labels have high standards when signing artists. These artists are then highly promoted with the use of the funding obtained from the success of other artists signed to the record label. As there are four major companies, the competition is high which encourages independent record labels to release artists of the same level. This can therefore result in an increase of successful artists within the independent record labels.
Major record labels can be considered to be more successful than independent companies due to being powerful within the industry. They are responsible for renowned and global artists. Being signed to one of the four record labels has positive effects on the artist's career as visible by the stardom achieved by other artists who are now extremely recognised. This therefore attracts artists to seek a contract with these record labels as opposed to independent record labels. This in turn makes it more difficult for independent labels to produce successful artists that sell albums all over the world and appeal to a mass market.
However independent record labels are still successful and able to produce artists that potentially target a niche market i.e. consumers with distinct preferences. They may therefore produce artists that are quirky and differ from those that are produced by major record labels and aimed at a more general audience. These artists may therefore be more down to earth which allows the target audience to relate to the artist as typically seen in artists of the indie genre. This may also be due to the limited funding an independent company has. The record label may therefore achieve success through the unusual personalities of their artists. This may entice the audience to develop an interest in the artists leading to the success of the record label.
This post demonstrates some understanding of the music industry and this is evident through the examples that you have included. You have also made a start in explaining your reasons behind the music labels dominating the industry. But aim to relate your points to examples, to support the points that you have made.
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