Major Record Label / Parent Companies

Major Record Label / Parent Companies



 A major record label is a label the commands a high percentage of the annual sales of records, and has their own distribution system. A record label is a brand or trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Examples of major record labels are:

• Warner music group
• EMI
• Columbia Records

There are also independent record 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 although this has been disagreed with before.

• XL recordings 
• Sub Pop

Warner music group

Warner music group was founded in 1958. It is now one of the big three recording companies. Warner music has artists such as: Madonna, Ed Sheeran, David Guetta, Wiz Khalifa. These artists are evidence to warner music success as these artists have been very successful in the music industry, and this is only three of the many artist warner music has with them. Warner music also have links in the media, with the Tv, especially in the film industry and this could be used as an advantage as they can advertise when they want and need to.

EMI

Emi was founded in in 1972. Virgin Emi records are one of the subsidiaries of Emi records and they have artists with them such as: Elton John and Pink Floyd. these artists have proved to be succesful in the industry from the numerous hit singles that the have collectively released. Emi is not the biggest of the big record labels but they still produce successful artists that are relevant in todays music industry. There are also links within media as Emi records have links to TV and magazines too, increasing their contacts within the media.


Columbia Records


Columbia records is the oldest surviving brand in recorded sound and was founded in 1887. There are a large number of artists that are managed by this company for example: Beyonce, One direction and Katy Perry. These artists have been very successful, similar to columbia's subsidiary company Kemosabe records who have also produced successful artists. An example one of these artists is Kesha. There are links with the media as the parent company of columbia records, sony music is also linked to television and so can get contacts through that connection.



Xl Recordings



Xl recordings is a British independent record label owned by Richard Russell. It originated as a 1989 off-shot of Beggars Banquet records and is part of the Beggars group of labels.  XL recording has proven to be very successful through the use of successful artists such as: Adele, The White Stripes and The Prodigy. XL recordings is not the biggest record label but they have evidently been just as succesful as some of the larger record labels. The most successful artist they produced was Adele who sky rocketed after her single '21' which XL recordings was the record label for.


Sub Pop


Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by a man called Bruce Pavitt. In 1988, Sub Pop records LLC was formed by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in seattle, Washington.  Sub pop produces mainly rock bands, an example of some of there successful artists are: Nirvana and Kurt Cobain. There music was very successful in the music industry at the time, Nirvana was an american band that was formed in 1987 they was signed with sub pop from when they started and until they finished their music career in 1994. Nirvana gave sub pop a good reputation because they was successful and a big rock band in their time.




I think the music industry is dominated by big name brands, this is because of the successful artists trusting the bigger and larger brands. But the smaller independent record labels seem to produce more unique and original artists. These artists talent may not be recognised by major record labels as they may be more focused on specific genres that are popular in todays music  industry.  I think that the major and independent record labels are equally as successful because of the independent record labels adding more diversity into the music industry, from the different and unique artists they sign. Then the major records labels keeping on the big pop stars in typical genres in the music industry is also important to ensure that the unique artist that the independent companies sign and unique due to the large amount of typical artist the major records labels sign.I don't think it is right for the four major record labels to dominate the industry, this is because if you are an independent artist with a fan base on youtube, it is impossible to compete against the major record labels promotional and music videos that they can afford to create. Therefore being unfair on the independent artists. The effect of this is that the bigger artist's signed to a major label such as Rihanna have more opportunities than independent artists. This means that the independent artist don't even get given a chance to compete in the industry. Therefore this dominance leads to a small amount of new artists in the charts as it is extremely difficult to find a way in. Independent labels can be as successful as major record labels as you can see by the evidence of how calvin harris who is recently been the head line act at V festival, which is success. Also produced a number one hit recently 'how deep is your love' This evidently shows how a independent label can also have success while the major record labels are still dominating the market. The independent labels offer diversity, original and unique artists. As they have more time to spend with their artist to build them up into the artist they want to be. Where as major record labels have a massive budget but put a huge amount of pressure on the artist to push them straight into the industry, and can lead to the artist not displaying the correct image, therefore this could lead to a flop. The major record labels would just drop the artist if this was to happen. Therefore the independent labels offer a large amount of time and training for the artist to ensure they are ready.