Major Record Label

Major Record Labels are large companies within the music industry that many also own smaller record labels. A record label is a brand or a trademark which helps to market music and music videos for artists. It is important for an artist to be singed to a Record Label as they could not manage and market their music and videos themselves. Record Labels have more experience than an artist would at these particular skills, therefore will have the best chance at promoting their music and their music videos. 

Warner Music Group

One example of a Major Record Label company is Warner Music Group, which is also known as Warner Music, with operations in more than 50 countries in the world. Warner Music is a Major Global Record Label which is headquartered in New York City. Warner Music is known as one of the "big three" recording companies as this is the largest American owned music conglomerate worldwide. The recording label also operate some of the largest and successful labels in the world. This includes Warner Bro's Records and Atlantic Records. Major record label, Warner Music Group manages many successful artists. This includes artists such as Jason Durelo, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran. Warner Music Group also has links in within the media. An example of this is Warner Bros which is an American entertainment company which produces film, television and music. Warner Bros is also a subsidiary of Time Warner which headquarters is in California.

EMI Group Limited

EMI Group Limited is also known as EMI and EMI Music which is a British multinational music recording and publishing company. At the time of its break in 2012 it was the fourth largest business group and family records in the recording industry. EMI records manage artists such as Tinie Tempah, The Spice Girls and Katy Perry. EMI owned smaller companies such as EMI Record Labels which was founded by the EMI company in 1972, and the EMI label was launched worldwide, in addition to this other small companies owned were Parlophone, Virgin Records and Capitol Records. The company also has links to television, before the War, the company also used broadcasting equipment providing the BBC's second television transmitter also with ITV using the cameras additionally. 

Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American Recording Label which was founded in 1887. Columbia Records  is under ownership of Sony Music Entertainment. The record label was the second major record company to produce records. Columbia also has subsidiary companies which are owned by Sony, such as Kemosable Records and Small Giant Records. This record label manages well known artists such as Beyonce, One Direction, Rita Ora and Pharrell Williams. Columbia Records also has links to the media, including film. This is through the company Columbia Pictures, which is an American film production and distribution through the Sony Motion Picture Group. 

Independent Record Labels are music labels which operate with one or few music labels. Independent labels can be just as successful as Major Record Labels such as Columbia, Sony and Warner Music Group but from a smaller company base. Independent Record Labels are traditionally known as offering more organic and original music rather than manufactured, conventional mainstream music.

Sonic Vista Music



Sonic Vista Music is an Independent Record Label. The record label was founded in Kingston Upon Hill in 2005 by the band members of the band Ernest. The record label wanted to escape the London music industry by exploring markets oversee especially in Canada and Japan. This exploration lead to the formation of Jaded Rebel Entertainment and Sonic Vista Japan. Ernest went to release their first song, and secured slots at Leeds Festival in 2006 and a mini-tour of Japan in 2007. 




XL Recordings is a British Independent Record Label owned by Richard Russel. The company originated in 1989 as part of the Beggars Banquet Records and is part of the Beggars Group Label. XL Recordings originally launched to sell dance music, however has now signed artists such as Adele and Dizzy Rascal.




I think that Independent Record Labels have a positive effect on the music industry. This allows for raw and unique talent to be discovered and given a chance to become successful instead of it constantly being the mainstream, conventional artists. I personally do not think that it is right for four companies to dominate the music industry as this does not allow other artists to be recognized and discovered and only gives mainstream artists a chance to showcase their talent. Additionally to this, a smaller, independent artist which is found on media such as YouTube can't compete with a major, well-known artist as they do not have the funding to create music and their videos as well as the major artist would. Creates a hierarchy in music record label so leaves less opportunity for smaller record label companies to build their success. An example of this is Warner Music Group, who manages artists such as Katy Perry, fame only expands so this again leaves less opportunity for independent artists and have to seek opportunity elsewhere as major record companies are dominating. I do not think that independent labels are as successful as Major Record Labels due to the selling figures and chart positions which artists signed to a major record label hold in comparison to a independent label artist which the majority of the time would not make it into the charts. However, this does not go to say that an Independent label can't be successful. An individual can be successful based on their own individual success. This can be seen through the Prime example of Sonic Vista Music which also expanded its label as far as Japan and was able to get their artists recognised securing slots at well known festivals and mini tours. Another good example how how independent labels do have potential to be as successful as major label record companies is XL Recordings as they have signed Adele which is a well known artist in the music industry. If they have the ability to help Adele to get to the stage of her career she is at now they have intentional to help many others and can show that you do not have to have a well known record label to be successful, in the music industry. However I do think that Independent Record Labels do offer more than Major Record Labels do. This is because as previously mentioned, it enables un-known artists to have a chance in the music industry with their unique talent which wouldn't happen if the music industry was completely Major Record Label dominated as they seem to scout and sign conventional, mainstream artists which can get boring and it is good for new, undiscovered talent to be recognised. Furthermore, independent record labels are beneficial as this allows the artist to have time to develop as a person and mould into the artist which they would like to become. This gives them time to become more diverse and unique which in turn could gain them a wider and varied audience. Whereas an artist which is signed to a major record label could be set with a high amount of pressure which makes them feel as though they have been rushed into the industry for money purposes only, if the artist is not performing for the major record labels demands, they will drop the artist all together, which is different to the independent record label as they allow time for the artist to develop and therefore earn profit for the company.