1. Who are the major labels in the UK currently?
3. Do the major labels own smaller companies and which artists do they manage?
4. Are there any links within Media e.g TV/Film/Magazines etc
Definition: Large companies within the music industry that may also own smaller record labels
Sony music entertainment: Also known as Sony Music or just as SME. SME is one of the biggest record labels along with EMI and Universal Music Group. Sony have some very successful artists from all around the globe like JLS from the Uk and Kanye West from America. All of Sonys artists all cater for different target audiences as the artists cater for different music genres. Sony also own a lot of subsidiary labels. A subsidiary label is when a big multinational organization like sony will merge or takeover a smaller record label. An example of some of Sonys subsidiary labels are columbia records and Epic Records. Sony will buy subsidiary label so that they can hit different target markets and maximize profits.
Universal music group is an international music company. Universal is the largest out of the three biggest record labels with the highest market share. Universals large success is partly owned to the very succesful artists that they own. They use their artists to hit different target audiences like their rap artists Kayne West and their punk rock band Blink 182. Universal also have lots of subsidary labels. These include record labels like A&M Records and Decca Records. Decca Records was established in 1929 and specializes in Classical/Jazz. An example of one of their artists is Nicola Benedett. Universdal music group is the music side of the company universal they also have an film department which has made some very famous films like King Kong.
EMI Records are also one of the worlds leading Record Labels. EMI have a series of different Subsidiary labels all catering for different target audiences. Some of these subsidarys include Angel Records which is an Classical music label. EMI also own Narada which is a label that specialises in jazz music. They have very succesful artists signed to them an example of a few are Katy Perry, Professor Green and Coldplay.
Independants
It is very clear that the music industry is dominated by these four major record labels. This is due to the very little market share left for new competitors. I also think that the large budget that these companies has available also influences their actions. As they have such a large budget they feel the need to buy out other independant labels to increse their own turn over. These large multinational companies also use synergy with their artists to increase their artists port folio and reputation. I do believe that it is unfair as the market is now saturated and has no room for competitors.
The big powerful music companies tend to steer their artists in the direction that has the biggest and most profitbale target audience. An example of this is the famous sony artist Lady GaGa. Sony noticed a gap in the music industry for this type of creative and different artist. Through the research and noticing the gap in the market Lady GaGa has become a very popular and profitbale artist. I think that this tends to steer the artist away from what he/she would really sing. They tell the artists what genre they want them to be. This has been shown and noticed by the public and media with some of the most popular modern artists. Chris Brown is an example of this as he used to be a R n B artist. However as the common trends in mainstream music so did his type of music becoming more dance pop. This can be misleading for the consumer as their should be more independant record labels so that the artist can truly express themselves. I do not believe that independant record labels are as succesful as the major record labels because they have the bigger share and much bigger variety of artists however i do believe that independant record labels have much more to offer than the major record labels as the artist would be allowed to express themself accordingly being original which has a target audience.
Universal music group is an international music company. Universal is the largest out of the three biggest record labels with the highest market share. Universals large success is partly owned to the very succesful artists that they own. They use their artists to hit different target audiences like their rap artists Kayne West and their punk rock band Blink 182. Universal also have lots of subsidary labels. These include record labels like A&M Records and Decca Records. Decca Records was established in 1929 and specializes in Classical/Jazz. An example of one of their artists is Nicola Benedett. Universdal music group is the music side of the company universal they also have an film department which has made some very famous films like King Kong.
EMI Records are also one of the worlds leading Record Labels. EMI have a series of different Subsidiary labels all catering for different target audiences. Some of these subsidarys include Angel Records which is an Classical music label. EMI also own Narada which is a label that specialises in jazz music. They have very succesful artists signed to them an example of a few are Katy Perry, Professor Green and Coldplay.
Independants
It is very clear that the music industry is dominated by these four major record labels. This is due to the very little market share left for new competitors. I also think that the large budget that these companies has available also influences their actions. As they have such a large budget they feel the need to buy out other independant labels to increse their own turn over. These large multinational companies also use synergy with their artists to increase their artists port folio and reputation. I do believe that it is unfair as the market is now saturated and has no room for competitors.
The big powerful music companies tend to steer their artists in the direction that has the biggest and most profitbale target audience. An example of this is the famous sony artist Lady GaGa. Sony noticed a gap in the music industry for this type of creative and different artist. Through the research and noticing the gap in the market Lady GaGa has become a very popular and profitbale artist. I think that this tends to steer the artist away from what he/she would really sing. They tell the artists what genre they want them to be. This has been shown and noticed by the public and media with some of the most popular modern artists. Chris Brown is an example of this as he used to be a R n B artist. However as the common trends in mainstream music so did his type of music becoming more dance pop. This can be misleading for the consumer as their should be more independant record labels so that the artist can truly express themselves. I do not believe that independant record labels are as succesful as the major record labels because they have the bigger share and much bigger variety of artists however i do believe that independant record labels have much more to offer than the major record labels as the artist would be allowed to express themself accordingly being original which has a target audience.
You have made a start in explaining the purpose of having major and independent record labels in the music industry. But you need to refer your points to artists within the industry to support the points that you are making.
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