Research Into Record Labels

Major record labels are defined as large companies within the music industry that may also own smaller record labels.

An example of the major record labels that dominate the music industry are:

• Universal Music Group (part of EMI's recorded music devision absorbed into UMG)

Artists that they manage include:
- Akon
- Demi Lovato
- Ellie Goulding
- Eminem
- Kanye West
- Keri Hilson
- Mariah Carey
- Nicki Minaj

Other Labels that they manage in the US:
- Interscope Geffen A&M
- The Island Def Jam Music Group
- Capitol Music Group
- Republic Records
- Universal Music Group Nashville
- Decca Label Group
- The Verve Music Group
- Astralwerks Records
- Blue Note Records
- Universal Music Enterprises
- A&M/Octone
- Show Dog - Universal Music

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• Sony Music Entertainment (EMI Music Publishing absorbed into Sony/ATV Music Publishing)

Artists that they manage include:
- Paloma Faith
- Miley Cyrus
- Britney Spears
- Justin Timberlake
- Michael Jackson
- Labrinth
- John Legend
- Avril Lavigne

Other Labels that they manage:
- Columbia Records
- RCA Records
- Epic Records

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• Warner Music Group (EMI's Parlophone and EMI/Virgin Classics label absorbed into WMG)

Artists that they manage include:
- Kylie Minogue
- Ray Charles
- Wale
- TI
- B.o.B
- Birdy
- Wiz Khalifa
- Sheryl Crow

Other Labels that they manage:
- Atlantic Records Group
- Warner Bros. Records Group
- Rhino Entertainment
- Parlophone Label Group
- Warner Music Nashville
- Warner Classics

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• The EMI Group

Artists that they manage:
- Coldplay
- David Bowie
- Lily Allen
- Republic

Other Labels that they manage:
- Blue Note Label Group
- Capitol Music Group
- Caroline Distribution
- EMI Christian Music Group
- Virgin Music Group

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Independent labels can be just as successful as major labels but operate from a smaller company base. They are traditionally known as offering more 'organic' music rather than manufactured mainstream. 

Examples of Independent labels in the UK: 

• Andmoresound:  Andmoresound was an independent record label based in Glasgow, Scotland, managed and operated by musician and businessman, Lindsey Boyd. It was named in homage to the song "Andmoreagain" by the band Love. Andmoresound was responsible for launching several Scottish indie pop and indie rock bands including Boyd's own group Mac Meda. Most notable signing was another band Boyd occasionally plays in, indie pop group Camera Obscura, a band who would find greater success on the Elefant Records and Merge Records labels. Mac Meda's debut single, "My Favourite Trashcan" claimed NME 's 'Single of the Week' title on its release.

Artists that they manage: 

- Camera Obscura 

- Tacoma Radar 

- Mac Meda  

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• Blue Dog Records: Blue Dog Records was an independent London record label located in offices above the original Barfly Club (The Falcon, Camden). Started in 1997 by Nick Moore and Jeremy Ledlin it was licenced and distributed by Richard Branson’s V2 Records, and had a mostly guitar band roster of artists. Many of the acts who released their first singles on Blue Dog were then snapped up by bigger labels, with Sona Fariq signing to Warners, Contempo signing to London, Murry the Hump signing to Beggars Banquet, and Crashland to Independiente/Sony. The label dissolved in 2000 due to funding cuts from V2 Records and the label's main artist The Crocketts transforming into The Crimea. Moore set up short lived online label Animal Noise that continued to work with Alchemicals, The Disorientee and also released records by Baby Bird & Carina Round.

Artists that they manage: 

- The Crocketts 

- Daytona 

- Contempo 

- Sona Fariq 

- Super J Lounge 

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• Creation Records: Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation,whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were also in the band Biff Bang Pow!, which was also the title of a The Creation song. The label was revived at one point in 2011 for the release of a compilation album, Upside Down, spanning songs from the label. The label ceased operations in 1999.

Artists that they manage: 

- Oasis 

- My Bloody Valentine 

- Teenage Fanclub 

- The Cramps 

- Medicine 

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Consider the following questions:

1.    Is it right from a music point of view as well as an industry point of view that 4 companies dominate the music industry?

2.    What affect do you think this has on the industry?

3.    Are Independent labels as successful as major labels, how do you judge this?

4.    Is there anything that independent labels offer the industry that the majors do not?