2. RECORD COMPANIES
Record companies are media institutions. They are commercial organizations, which mean
that they only exist to make money. Record labels are associated with marketing of the music
recording and music videos and are known as a trademark or a brand. Many artist start their
music based careers on independent record labels as it allows more freedom and control
while other start on major record labels which operates with the funding of the big four. The
job of record companies is to:
-do talent scouting and development of new artists
-manage bands and artists
-do the production, distribution and manufacture the records (key part)
-do the marketing and promotion of the music video
-manage the copyright protection.
3. MAJOR RECORD
LABELS
Major record labels are usually part of an international
media group. They function differently within the media
industry as they are large companies in the media
industry that may and can own independent record
labels. They can at any time represent majority of the
music sold and ultimately make up 75% of the music
sold within a year. A lot of artists who have been a part
of major record labels, after a certain years, drop in
sales which lead to contracts being cancelled and them
starting their own label. For example Toby Keith and
Garth Brooks.
4. INDEPENDENT RECORD
LABELS
Independent record labels are small and localized. They are
independent “Indie”. They function differently within music
industry as they a record companies that are not under control
by the big four and are independent. They are known as the
term “indie label” as their releases are non-mainstream music
and more independent. A lot of good bands and music acts
begin on independent record labels.
5. LIST OF INDEPENDENT
RECORD LABELS
Dancing Turtle Records
Fiddler Records
Native Records
Jungle Records
Audio Antihero
Glass Records
Blue Horizon
Some Bizzare
Records
VIP Records
Sons Ltd.
Warp Records
Young Turks (record
label)
6. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
TWO
An independent record label is operated without the funding
of the big four. However the major record labels are.
Independent record labels have limited staff whether major
record labels have lots of staff.
Major record labels function similarly with music industries
as they are mainstream while independent are different.
7. THE BIG 3
The Big 3 record labels are the four major record labels which are:
Sony BMG
Universal Music Group
Warner Music Group
Artists that are signed to be funde3d by the Big Four record label are
signed to the central label or subsidiary label. For example a band can be
either signed to Sony or Sony subsidiary label Columbia records. The
subsidiary labels have staff in which decide the financial side and signing
the artists on by them selves.
8. As my group are thinking of doing a music video based on
the Pop genre this research of the major and independent
records will really be useful and will give us a vague idea on
what record label our artist will be with. As we are planning to
go with the Pop genre, our artist will therefore be mainstream
and will work with the major record label. This therefore links
back to the culture industry by following it as the artist will be
presented in a way that all pop artists are to appeal to their
target audience. The artist will therefore be presented in a
‘standard’ way being classed as ‘normal’ by creating songs,
merchandise and having a style which is mainstream.
