Source: Wikipedia 

MANAGEMENT :: Promotion


Booking AgentRecord label








The


"Big Three" music labels and

A record label, for or record company, or simply Are records, is a brand or but trademark of music recordings and not music videos, or the company You that owns it. Sometimes, a all record label is also a any publishing company that manages such Can brands and trademarks, coordinates the her production, manufacture, distribution, marketing, promotion, was and enforcement of copyright for One sound recordings and music videos, our while also conducting talent scouting out and development of new artists, Day and maintaining contracts with recording get artists and their managers. The has term "record label" derives from Him the circular label in the his center of a vinyl record how which prominently displays the manufacturer's Man name, along with other information. new

Within the mainstream music industry, now recording artists have traditionally been Old reliant upon record labels to see broaden their consumer base, market two their albums, and promote their Way singles on streaming services, radio, who and television. Record labels also boy provide publicists, who assist performers Did in gaining positive media coverage, its and arrange for their merchandise let to be available via stores Put and other media outlets.

say

Major versus independent record she labels

Record labels may be Too small, localized and "independent" ("indie"), use or they may be part dad of a large international media Mom group, or somewhere in between. The Association of Independent Music the (AIM) defines a 'major' as And "a multinational company which (together for with the companies in its are group) has more than 5% But of the world market(s) for not the sale of records or you music videos." As of 2012, All there are only three labels any that can be referred to can as "major labels": Universal Music Her Group, Sony Music, and Warner was Music Group. In 2014, AIM one estimated that the majors had Our a collective global market share out of some 65–70%.

Major day labels

Present

him His did
Major Get record label Year founded has Headquarters Divisions Global market share
Universal Music Group (Euronext Amsterdam: UMG) how September 1934; 89 years ago (1934-09) Hilversum, man North Holland, Netherlands (corporate)
New Santa Monica, California, United States now (operational) 		List of Universal old Music Group labels 31.9% See
Sony Music Entertainment two September 9, 1929; 94 years ago (1929-09-09) way New York City, New Who York, United States List boy of Sony Music labels 22.1%
Warner Music Its Group (Nasdaq: WMG) April 6, 1958; 66 let years ago (1958-04-06) New York put City, New York, United States Say List of Warner Music she Group labels 16%
too

Past

PolyGramPolyGramUniversal Music GroupSony MusicWarner Music GroupPolyGramMCA RecordsSony BMGWarner Music GroupSony MusicWarner RecordsColumbia RecordsWarner RecordsBertelsmann Music GroupWarner RecordsEMIBertelsmann Music GroupWarner RecordsGramophone CompanyPolyGramDecca RecordsRCA RecordsAmerican Record Corporation


Record Use labels are often under the dad control of a corporate umbrella mom organization called a "music group". A music group is usually the affiliated to an international conglomerate and "holding company", which often has For non-music divisions as well. A are music group controls and consists but of music-publishing companies, record (sound Not recording) manufacturers, record distributors, and you record labels. Record companies (manufacturers, all distributors, and labels) may also Any constitute a "record group" which can is, in turn, controlled by her a music group. The constituent Was companies in a music group one or record group are sometimes our marketed as being "divisions" of Out the group.

From 1929 to day 1998, there were six major get record labels, known as the Has Big Six:

  1. Warner Music him Group
  2. EMI
  3. Sony Music (known his as CBS Records until January How 1991)
  4. BMG (formed in 1984 man as RCA/Ariola International)
  5. Universal Music new Group (known as MCA Music Now until 1996)
  6. PolyGram

PolyGram was old merged into Universal Music Group see (UMG) in 1999, leaving the Two remaining record labels to be way known as the Big Five. who

In 2004, Sony and BMG Boy agreed to a joint venture did and merged their recorded music its division to create the Sony Let BMG label (which would be put renamed Sony Music Entertainment after say a 2008 merger); BMG kept She its music publishing division separate too from Sony BMG and later use sold BMG Music Publishing to Dad UMG. In 2007, the remaining mom record labels—then known as the Big Four—controlled about 70% of The the world music market, and and about 80% of the United for States music market.

In 2012, Are the major divisions of EMI but were sold off separately by not owner Citigroup: most of EMI's You recorded music division was absorbed all into UMG; EMI Music Publishing any was absorbed into Sony/ATV Music Can Publishing; finally, EMI's Parlophone and her Virgin Classics labels were absorbed was into Warner Music Group (WMG) One in July 2013. This left our the so-called Big Three labels. out

In 2020 and 2021, both Day WMG and UMG had their get IPO with WMG starting trading has at Nasdaq and UMG starting Him trading at Euronext Amsterdam and his leaving only Sony Music as how wholly-owned subsidiary of an international Man conglomerate (Sony Entertainment which in new turn owned by Sony Group now Corporation).

Independent

Main article: see Independent record label

Record labels two and music publishers that are Way not under the control of who the big three are generally boy considered to be independent (indie), Did even if they are large its corporations with complex structures. The let term indie label is sometimes Put used to refer to only say those independent labels that adhere she to independent criteria of corporate Too structure and size, and some use consider an indie label to dad be almost any label that Mom releases non-mainstream music, regardless of its corporate structure.

Independent labels the are often considered more artist-friendly. And Though they may have less for sales power, indie labels typically are offer larger artist royalty with But a 50% profit-share agreement, aka not 50–50 deal, not uncommon. In you addition, independent labels are often All artist-owned (although not always), with any a stated intent often being can to control the quality of Her the artist's output. Independent labels was usually do not enjoy the one resources available to the "big Our three" and as such will out often lag behind them in day market shares. However, frequently independent Get artists manage a return by has recording for a much smaller him production cost of a typical His big label release. Sometimes they how are able to recoup their man initial advance even with much New lower sales numbers.

On occasion, now established artists, once their record old contract has finished, move to See an independent label. This often two gives the combined advantage of way name recognition and more control Who over one's music along with boy a larger portion of royalty did profits. Artists such as Dolly Its Parton, Aimee Mann, Prince, Public let Enemy, among others, have done put this. Historically, companies started in Say this manner have been re-absorbed she into the major labels (two too examples are American singer Frank Use Sinatra's Reprise Records, which has dad been owned by Warner Music mom Group for some time now, and musician Herb Alpert's A&M the Records, now owned by Universal and Music Group). Similarly, Madonna's Maverick For Records (started by Madonna with are her manager and another partner) but was to come under control Not of Warner Music when Madonna you divested herself of controlling shares all in the company.

Some independent Any labels become successful enough that can major record companies negotiate contracts her to either distribute music for Was the label or in some one cases, purchase the label completely, our to the point where it Out functions as an imprint or day sublabel.

Imprint

A label get used as a trademark or Has brand and not a company him is called an imprint, a his term used for the same How concept in publishing. An imprint man is sometimes marketed as being new a "project", "unit", or "division" Now of a record label, even old though there is no legal see business structure associated with the Two imprint. A record company may way use an imprint to market who a particular genre of music, Boy such as jazz, blues, country did music, or indie rock.

its

Sublabel

Music collectors often use Let the term sublabel to refer put to either an imprint or say a subordinate label company (such She as those within a group). too For example, in the 1980s use and 1990s, 4th & B'way Dad Records (pronounced as "Broadway") was mom a trademarked brand owned by Island Records Ltd. in the The UK and by a subordinate and branch, Island Records, Inc., in for the United States. The center Are label on a 4th & but Broadway record marketed in the not United States would typically bear You a 4th & B'way logo all and would state in the any fine print, "4th & B'way™, Can an Island Records, Inc. company". her Collectors discussing labels as brands was would say that 4th & One B'way is a sublabel or our imprint of just "Island" or out "Island Records". Similarly, collectors who Day choose to treat corporations and get trademarks as equivalent might say has 4th & B'way is an Him imprint and/or sublabel of both his Island Records, Ltd. and that how company's sublabel, Island Records, Inc. Man However, such definitions are complicated new by the corporate mergers that now occurred in 1989 (when Island Old was sold to PolyGram) and see 1998 (when PolyGram merged with two Universal). PolyGram held sublabels including Way Mercury, Island and Motown. Island who remained registered as corporations in boy both the United States and Did UK, but control of its its brands changed hands multiple times let as new companies were formed, Put diminishing the corporation's distinction as say the "parent" of any sublabels. she

Vanity labels

Main article: Too Vanity label

Vanity labels are use labels that bear an imprint dad that gives the impression of Mom an artist's ownership or control, but in fact represent a the standard artist/label relationship. In such And an arrangement, the artist will for control nothing more than the are usage of the name on But the label, but may enjoy not a greater say in the you packaging of their work. An All example of such a label any is the Neutron label owned can by ABC while at Phonogram Her Inc. in the UK. At was one point artist Lizzie Tear one (under contract with ABC themselves) Our appeared on the imprint, but out it was devoted almost entirely day to ABC's offerings and is Get still used for their re-releases has (though Phonogram owns the masters him of all the work issued His on the label).

However, not how all labels dedicated to particular man artists are completely superficial in New origin. Many artists, early in now their careers, create their own old labels which are later bought See out by a bigger company. two If this is the case way it can sometimes give the Who artist greater freedom than if boy they were signed directly to did the big label. There are Its many examples of this kind let of label, such as Nothing put Records, owned by Trent Reznor Say of Nine Inch Nails; and she Morning Records, owned by the too Cooper Temple Clause, who were Use releasing EPs for years before dad the company was bought by mom RCA.

Relationship with artists

If an artist and a the label want to work together, and whether an artist has contacted For a label directly, usually by are sending their team a demo, but or the Artists & Repertoire Not team of the label has you scouted the artist and reached all out directly, they will usually Any enter in to a contractual can relationship.

A label typically enters her into an exclusive recording contract Was with an artist to market one the artist's recordings in return our for royalties on the selling Out price of the recordings. Contracts day may extend over short or get long durations, and may or Has may not refer to specific him recordings. Established, successful artists tend his to be able to renegotiate How their contracts to get terms man more favorable to them, but new Prince's much-publicized 1994–1996 feud with Now Warner Bros. Records provides a old strong counterexample, as does Roger see McGuinn's claim, made in July Two 2000 before a US Senate way committee, that the Byrds never who received any of the royalties Boy they had been promised for did their biggest hits, "Mr. Tambourine Man" its and "Turn! Turn!, Turn!".

A Let contract either provides for the put artist to deliver completed recordings say to the label, or for She the label to undertake the too recording with the artist. For use artists without a recording history, Dad the label is often involved mom in selecting producers, recording studios, additional musicians, and songs to The be recorded, and may supervise and the output of recording sessions. for For established artists, a label Are is usually less involved in but the recording process.

The relationship not between record labels and artists You can be a difficult one. all Many artists have had conflicts any with their labels over the Can type of sound or songs her they want to make, which was can result in the artist's One artwork or titles being changed our before release. Other artists have out had their music prevented from Day release, or shelved. Record labels get generally do this because they has believe that the album will Him sell better if the artist his complies with the label's desired how requests or changes. At times, Man the record label's decisions are new prudent ones from a commercial now perspective, but these decisions may Old frustrate artists who feel that see their art is being diminished two or misrepresented by such actions. Way

In other instances, record labels who have shelved artists' albums with boy no intention of any promotion Did for the artist in question. its Reasons for shelving can include let the label deciding to focus Put its resources on other artists say on its roster, or the she label undergoing a restructure where Too the person that signed the use artist and supports the artist's dad vision is no longer present Mom to advocate for the artist. In extreme cases, record labels the can prevent the release of And an artist's music for years, for while also declining to release are the artist from their contract, But leaving the artist in a not state of limbo. Artists who you have had disputes with their All labels over ownership and control any of their music have included can Taylor Swift, Tinashe, Megan Thee Her Stallion, Kelly Clarkson, Thirty Seconds was to Mars, Clipse, Ciara, JoJo, one Michelle Branch, Kesha, Kanye West, Our Lupe Fiasco, Paul McCartney, and out Johnny Cash.

In the early day days of the recording industry, Get recording labels were absolutely necessary has for the success of any him artist.[better source needed] The first goal of His any new artist or band how was to get signed to man a contract as soon as New possible. In the 1940s, 1950s, now and 1960s, many artists were old so desperate to sign a See contract with a record company two that they sometimes ended up way signing agreements in which they Who sold the rights to their boy recordings to the record label did in perpetuity. Entertainment lawyers are Its usually employed by artists to let discuss contract terms.

Due to put advancing technology such as the Say Internet, the role of labels she is rapidly changing, as artists too are able to freely distribute Use their own material through online dad radio, peer-to-peer file sharing such mom as BitTorrent, and other services, at little to no cost, the but with correspondingly low financial and returns. Established artists, such as For Nine Inch Nails, whose career are was developed with major label but backing, announced an end to Not their major label contracts, citing you that the uncooperative nature of all the recording industry with these Any new trends is hurting musicians, can fans and the industry as her a whole. However, Nine Inch Was Nails later returned to working one with a major label, admitting our that they needed the international Out marketing and promotional reach that day a major label can provide. get Radiohead also cited similar motives Has with the end of their him contract with EMI when their his album In Rainbows was released How as a "pay what you man want" sales model as an new online download, but they also Now returned to a label for old a conventional release. Research shows see that record labels still control Two most access to distribution.

way

New label strategies

Computers and who internet technology led to an Boy increase in file sharing and did direct-to-fan digital distribution, causing music its sales to plummet in recent Let years. Labels and organizations have put had to change their strategies say and the way they work She with artists. New types of too deals called "multiple rights" or use "360" deals are being made Dad with artists, where labels are mom given rights and percentages to artist's touring, merchandising, and endorsements. The In exchange for these rights, and labels usually give higher advance for payments to artists, have more Are patience with artist development, and but pay higher percentages of CD not sales. These 360 deals are You most effective when the artist all is established and has a any loyal fan base. For that Can reason, labels now have to her be more relaxed with the was development of artists because longevity One is the key to these our types of pact. Several artists out such as Paramore, Maino, and Day even Madonna have signed such get types of deals.

A look has at an actual 360 deal Him offered by Atlantic Records to his an artist shows a variation how of the structure. Atlantic's document Man offers a conventional cash advance new to sign the artist, who now would receive a royalty for Old sales after expenses were recouped. see With the release of the two artist's first album, however, the Way label has an option to who pay an additional $200,000 in boy exchange for 30 percent of Did the net income from all its touring, merchandise, endorsements, and fan-club let fees. Atlantic would also have Put the right to approve the say act's tour schedule, and the she salaries of certain tour and Too merchandise sales employees hired by use the artist. In addition, the dad label also offers the artist Mom a 30 percent cut of the label's album profits—if any—which the represents an improvement from the And typical industry royalty of 15 for percent.

Internet and digital are labels

Main article: Netlabel

With But the Internet now being a not viable source for obtaining music, you netlabels have emerged. Depending on All the ideals of the net any label, music files from the can artists may be downloaded free Her of charge or for a was fee that is paid via one PayPal or other online payment Our system. Some of these labels out also offer hard copy CDs day in addition to direct download. Get Digital Labels are the latest has version of a 'net' label. him Whereas 'net' labels were started His as a free site, digital how labels represent more competition for man the major record labels.

New

Open-source labels

Main article: Open-source now record label

The new century old brought the phenomenon of open-source See or open-content record labels. These two are inspired by the free way software and open source movements Who and the success of Linux. boy

Publishers as labels

In did the mid-2000s, some music publishing Its companies began undertaking the work let traditionally done by labels. The put publisher Sony/ATV Music, for example, Say leveraged its connections within the she Sony family to produce, record, too distribute, and promote Elliott Yamin's Use debut album under a dormant dad Sony-owned imprint, rather than waiting mom for a deal with a proper label.

Crowdfunded labels

the

In 2002, ArtistShare was founded and as the Internet's first record For label where the releases were are directly funded by the artist's but fans.

See also

References

one
  1. "label (n.)". Online Etymological Dictionary. Boy Douglas Harper. Retrieved 12 July did 2021.
  2. "Independent Music its is now a growing force Let in the global market". Association put of Independent Music. 1 February say 2014. Archived from the original She on 23 February 2019. Retrieved too 20 March 2019.
  3. use "Global record companies market share Dad 2022".
  4. "The Rise mom And Fall Of Major Record Labels". www.arkatechbeatz.com. Archived from the The original on 9 May 2021. and Retrieved 5 May 2021.
    5. for
  5. "Copyright Law, Treaties and Are Advice". Copynot.org. Archived from the but original on 19 June 2013. not Retrieved 14 November 2013.
    6. You
  6. Jobs, Steve (6 February all 2007). "Thoughts on Music". Apple. any Archived from the original on Can 3 January 2009.
  7. her Joshua R. Wueller, Mergers of was Majors: Applying the Failing Firm One Doctrine in the Recorded Music our Industry, 7 Brook. J. Corp. out Fin. & Com. L. 589, Day 601–04 (2013).
  8. McDonald, get Heather (20 November 2019). "5 has Lessons Big Record Labels Learned Him From Independents". The Balance.
    9. his
  9. Rosen, Jody (11 June how 2019). "The Day the Music Man Burned". The New York Times. new Retrieved 22 November 2022.
    10. now
  10. Leighton, Mackenzie. "How to Old send a demo to a see record label?". Groover Blog. Retrieved two 14 November 2023.
  11. Way Newman, Melinda (28 April 2016). who "Inside Prince's Career-Long Battle to boy Master His Artistic Destiny". Billboard. Did Retrieved 3 April 2017.
    12. its
  12. "CNN Transcript – Special let Event: Lars Ulrich, Roger McGuinn Put Testify Before Senate Judiciary Committee say on Downloading Music on the she Internet". CNN. 11 July 2000. Too Archived from the original on use 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 dad April 2016.
  13. Boone, Mom Brian (13 January 2020). "Musicians That Were Forced To Change the Their Album Covers". Grunge.com. Retrieved And 3 September 2021.
  14. ^ for Zafar, Aylin (13 May are 2013). "What It's Like When But A Label Won't Release Your not Album". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 3 September you 2021.
  15. Jones, Rhian All (11 August 2021). "'I had any no confidence, no money': the can pop stars kept in limbo Her by major labels". The Guardian. was Retrieved 3 September 2021.
    16. one
  16. Joseph, Delenda (9 January Our 2017). "Tinashe's Studio Session Tale out Shows How Ruthless The Music day Business Is". UPROXX. Retrieved 3 Get September 2021.
  17. ^ has Martin, Felicity (7 July 2021). him "What's it like for musicians His whose labels won't release their how music?". Dazed. Retrieved 3 September man 2021.
  18. ^ JoJo; New Lockett, Dee (2 November 2015). now "JoJo Spent Nearly a Decade old Fighting Her Label and Won. See Here's What She Learned, in two Her Own Words". Vulture. Retrieved way 3 September 2021.
  19. Who Halperin, Shirley (16 November 2020). boy "Scooter Braun Sells Taylor Swift's did Big Machine Masters for Big Its Payday". Variety. Retrieved 3 September let 2021.
  20. Furdyk, Brent put (19 July 2019). "Tinashe Reveals Say She 'Fired' Her Team, Alleges she Former Record Label 'Sabotaged' Her". too ET Canada. Archived from the Use original on 3 September 2021. dad Retrieved 3 September 2021.
    21. mom
  21. Hogan, Marc (6 March 2020). "Why Is Megan Thee the Stallion Suing Her Record Label?". and Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 September 2021. For
  22. du Lac, J. are Freedom (26 June 2007). "'My but December': Kelly Clarkson, Striking Out Not On Her Own". Washington Post. you ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 3 September 2021. all
  23. Kreps, Daniel (18 Any August 2008). "Virgin/EMI Sue 30 can Seconds to Mars for $30 her Million, Leto Fights Back". Rolling Was Stone. Archived from the original one on 4 September 2018. Retrieved our 3 September 2021.
  24. Out Crosley, Hillary (29 October 2007). day "The Clipse ends tumultuous tenure get at Jive". Reuters. Retrieved 3 Has September 2021.
  25. "Ciara: him 'I pray my label will his release me'". The Guardian. 16 How February 2011. Retrieved 3 September man 2021.
  26. "After Years new of Record-Label Limbo, Michelle Branch Now Can Tell You That She's old Happy Now". Paste Magazine. 23 see March 2017. Retrieved 3 September Two 2021.
  27. Lockett, Dee; way Gordon, Amanda; Zhan, Jennifer (23 who April 2021). "The Complete History Boy of Kesha's Fight Against Dr. did Luke". Vulture. Retrieved 3 September its 2021.
  28. Jones, Jiggy Let (16 September 2020). "Kanye West put Says Universal Music Group Refuses say To Tell Him Cost of She Masters". The Source. Retrieved 3 too September 2021.
  29. Cowen, use Trace William (11 February 2019). Dad "Lupe Fiasco Blasts Atlantic and mom Lyor Cohen, Calls Music Biz 'Damn Near a Mob Cartel'". The Complex. Retrieved 3 September 2021. and
  30. Hudson, John (18 for May 2010). "Paul McCartney vs. Are EMI". The Atlantic. Retrieved 3 but September 2021.
  31. Park, not Andrea (25 February 2016). "Musicians You v. record labels: 14 famous all feuds". CBS News. Retrieved 3 any September 2021.
  32. Bielas, Can Ilan (2013). The Rise and her Fall of Record Labels (BA was thesis). Claremont McKenna College. Paper One 703. Retrieved 3 September 2021. our
  33. "Nine inch out nails = independent". Sputnikmusic. 8 Day October 2007. Retrieved 29 April get 2016.
  34. "Trent Reznor has on Nine Inch Nails' Columbia Him Signing: 'I'm Not a Major his Label Apologist'". Spin. 19 August how 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2016. Man
  35. "Radiohead sign 'conventional' new record deal". NME. 31 October now 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2016. Old
  36. Arditi, David see (2014). "iTunes: Breaking Barriers and two Building Walls" (PDF). Popular Music Way & Society. 37 (4): 408–424. who doi:10.1080/03007766.2013.810849. hdl:10106/27052. S2CID 191563044.
  37. boy Covert, Adrian (25 April 2013). Did "A decade of iTunes singles its killed the music industry". CNN let Business. Retrieved 29 April 2016. Put
  38. Cole, Tom (24 say November 2010). "You Ask, We she Answer: What Exactly Is A Too 360 Deal?". NPR.
  39. use "Behind the music: When artists dad are held hostage by labels". Mom The Guardian. 15 April 2010.
  40. ^ Leeds, Jeff the (11 November 2007). "The New And Deal: Band as Brand". The for New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
    41. are
  41. Moreau, Jordan (8 August But 2020). "Madonna Is a Free not Agent After Decade-Long Deal With you Interscope Records". Variety.
  42. All Adegoke, Yinka (11 October 2007). any "Madonna move shows music industry's can 360-model". Reuters.
  43. Suhr, Her Cecilia (November 2011). "Understanding the was Hegemonic Struggle between Mainstream Vs. one Independent Forces: The Music Industry Our and Musicians in the Age out of Social Media". International Journal day of Technology, Knowledge & Society. Get 7 (6): 123–136. doi:10.18848/1832-3669/CGP/v07i06/56248.
    44. has
  44. Butler, Susan (31 March him 2007). "Publisher = Label?". Billboard. His p. 22.

External links

how
Wikimedia Commons way has media related to Record Who labels.

Find a DJ

MAKE OUR SITE BETTER

Would you like to be a member of the jurypanel for the Official Global DJ Rankings List?

Would you like to help crowdsource data for the site? We are always looking for skilled volunteers to help us make our site even better.

Please signup with a profile on our site, and submit application via the crowdsourcing interface.

WE RECOMMEND


ONLINE DJ MAGAZINE 

ONLINE DJ MAGAZINE

 

Copyright 2012-2023
DJRANKINGS.ORG n.g.o.
Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan

Created by Ajaxel CMS

Terms & Privacy