1. Walat Kurdi and Izu Ikechi THE BiG 4 MUSIC ReCORD laBELS Warner Music Group Universal Music Group Sony Music Entertainment EMI

2. Universal Music Group General Info Originally founded in 1934 and was first named Decca Records. It was renamed Universal Music Group in 1996. Universal Music Group Distribution has been the industry market share leader for the past ten years. The company is divided into 4 sections called Universal Music Distribution (UMD), Fontana, Vivendi Entertainment (VE), and UMGD Digital. UMG’s roster is made up of artists covering the full spectrum of music around the world, making UMG the leader in both international and local repertoire. Artists from all genres including Pop, Rock, R&B, Hip Hop, Indie etc are signed to Universal Music Group. New Technologies and Techniques in Distribution eLabs, a division of UMG, is responsible for handling the company’s electronic commerce initiatives, Internet exploitation, and new technology business opportunities worldwide. eLabs’ business development and business affairs staff supports all of UMG’s e-business initiatives, including digital download, subscription, webcasting, interactive radio and pay-per-play through all digital channels of purchase. eLabs works closely with and supports all UMG’s record labels and other businesses to enhance opportunities for music driven by new technologies, while protecting the value of recorded music.

3. Umg Roster Artists linked with Universal: Akon, All American Rejects, Beck, Black Eyed Peas, Mary J. Blige, Bon Jovi, Busta Rhymes, Colbie Caillat, Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole, Daddy Yankee, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Melissa Etheridge, Eve, Fall Out Boy, Fergie, 50 Cent, Nelly Furtado, The Game, Keri Hilson, Hinder, Jack Johnson, The Killers, Diana Krall, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Maroon 5, M.I.A., Nelly, Ne- Yo, OneRepublic, Pussycat Dolls, Lionel Richie, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Josh Turner, Sting, and Kanye West. Through an arrangement with Hollywood Records, UMG also distributes the Jonas Brothers and Myley Cyrus, Taylor Swift. Europe: Bryan Adams, Bjork (outside North America), Marco Borsato, Calogero, Sergio Dalma, Duffy, Mylene Farmer, Feist, Gianna Nannini, Girls Aloud, Elton John, Jovanotti, Juli, Kaiser Chiefs, Keane, Ronan Keating, Amy Macdonald, Michael McDonald, Metallica (outside North America), Mika, Noir Désir, Orson, Florent Pagny, Paco de Lucia, Rammstein, Rolling Stone, Michel Sardou, Scissor Sisters, Snow Patrol, Sugababes, Take That, Amy Winehouse, Zazie, and Zucchero.

4. Record Labels under UMG Universal Music Group are also the owners of various smaller recording companies. For example they own Mercury Records which have artists such as Duffy, Razorlight and Noisettes along with Def Jam Recordings which have R&B and Hip Hop superstars like Rihanna, Rick Ross and Fabolous. Also being owning other labels such as Motown Records, Interscope Geffen A&M, Decca Broadway, and Nashville. Also being responsible for the major investment of ‘Geffen Records’, which have signed Eminem, Lady GaGa, La Roux, Black Eyed Peas, Marilyn Manson, 50 Cent, Sting and many more it is no wonder that UMG are the biggest music label company in the world.

5. SonyMUSICEntertainment Sony Music is known as the second largest global music record company below UMG and above Warner Music Group. Original founded in 1928 and was first called by the name American Record Corporation which was expanded through the merge of several smaller record companies. As like UMG Sony Music have many major international superstars like to their company. It is almost like whichever music icon isn’t linked with Universal they would be linked with Sony Music Entertainment. The rename and re launch of the record company Sony Music Entertainment (SME) was born on January 1st 1991. In August 2004, Sony agreed to a 50-50 joint venture with Bertelsmann by merging Sony Music and Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) to form Sony BMG Music Entertainment. However Sony’s Japanese music influence continued to operate independently from Sony BMG (while BMG Japan was made part of the merger). SME is owned By the two key characters of the company which are the CEO of the company Rolf Schmidt-Holtz and CFO Kevin Kelleher.

6. Roster for Sony ME roster of current artists includes Leona Lewis, Will Young, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Dido, Christina Aguilera, Lemar, Foo Fighters, The View, Natasha Bedingfield, Kings Of Leon, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, Bob Dylan, Pink, Kasabian, The Hoosiers, The Ting Tings. Sony don’t like to just focus on the bigger stars of the music industry but also put a lot of their emphasis on upcoming and local including Gossip, Seether, Scouting for Girls, Daniel Merriweather, the View and more.

7. Similar to Universal Music Group, Sony also have many smaller labels that are attached to some of the biggest music stars in the world from all the specialised genres there are out there. For example Columbia records which is owned by Sony Entertainment possess such as Aerosmith, Beyonce, Cypress Hill, Kings of Leon, Il Divo, Celine Dion and many more big names. Other Labels from Sony Entertainment are Epic records which are responsible for music artists including such as ABBA, Anastacia, and The Fray. Another record label that is known as legacy recordings has “legendary” artists and some of the all time greats including the late Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Marvin Gaye

8. EMI is one of the world's leading music companies, home to some of the most successful and best known recording artists, songwriters and music catalogues. In 2007 EMI was acquired by leading private equity partnership Terra Firma, making EMI the only privately-owned major music company. Through our own companies and network of licenses, we are able to serve our artists, writers and consumers all over the world. EMI has two operational divisions - EMI Music and EMI Music Publishing.EMI Music brings artists and fans together by driving action and creating value wherever music is experienced. To do this most effectively it is divided into three business units: New Music, Catalogue and Music Services. New Music finds and develops new, exciting and successful music. Its record labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, EMI Classics, EMI CMG, EMI Records, EMI Televisa Music, Manhattan, Mute, Parlophone and Virgin. Record label Capitol are responsible for big names such as Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry and Lily Allen whereas Virgin record label also have big names such as Joss Stone, Jamie T, Daft Punk and Robbie Williams. A lot of their big name players have contracts on going with Virgin Records. EMI are responsible for many “non established” or upcoming acts perhaps more so than the other three record labels. Names include flex, late of the pier, we the kings, a place to bury strangers and more.

9. Artists that are with EMI records include, The Beatles, Beastie Boys, Coldplay, Lily Allen, Depeche Mode, Doves, Gorillaz, Iron Maiden, Norah Jones, Massive Attack, Kylie Minogue, Pink Floyd, Queen, Sir Simon Rattle, Katy Perry, KT Tunstall, Keith Urban and Robbie Williams, and also international artists such as Amaral (Spain), Camille (France), Empire of the Sun (Australia), Tiziano Ferro (Italy), Flex (Mexico), LaFee (Germany) and Utada Hikaru (Japan).

11. Having the No. 1 label in the U.S. in calendar years 2005 and 2007 (Warner Bros.), and calendar 2008 (Atlantic), according to Nielsen/Sound Scan data;

13. Artists With Warner MG are names such as Bad Religion, Gnarls Barkley, Basshunter, Jimmy Barnes, Avril Lavigne, NickelBack, James Blunt Alisha Dixon, T.I., Michael Buble, Estelle, Plies, Flo Rida, Lupe Fiasco, F.I.R., Fiona Sit, Flaming Lips Fleetwood Mac, T Pain, Marilyn Manson, Mike Jones, Kid Rock, Lost Prophets, Machine Head, Limp Biscuit, Static X, Slipknot, Paramore , Sean Paul, Van Morrison, Luis Miguel, Green Day, Atmosphere, Blondie, Cassie, Cher, Craig David, Devil Driver, Missy Elliot, Enigma, Elephant Man, Gorilla Zoe, Hard Fi, The Kinks and more.

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