major record label

MAJOR RECORD LABELSony

What is a Major Record Label?

The major record labels are so called because they dominate the music production and distribution scene and own or have shares in masses of smaller labels.

• They have a huge amounts of power over the music we all listen to and buy.

• The majors have money to invest in slick videos, promotion, tours and public appearances.

• Without a major label backing a music artist or band, becoming successful is so much harder.

Examples?

- Song BMG- Universal Music Group- Warner Music Group- EMI Group

What is an Independent Record Label?

An indie record label is one that is not owned by any of the majors.

There are 2 kinds of indie labels:

The MAJOR DISTRIBUTED INDIE This is a label that finds its own talent,

signs it own acts, records its own music, but then has a contract with a major label to do all the other stuff, such as promotion, manufacturing CDs, and distributing

The TRUE INDIE No links to a major and does everything in

house. Often these labels specialise in certain genres of music, and have a niche market.

Who’s signed with them?

Who are they?

Founded in 1929, when several record labels merged.

In 1991 it merged again with BMG to make a bigger, better corporation, but in 1998 Sony bought out BMG’s 50% share and went solo once more.

It has over 200 artists signed to it.

Sony’s labels

Distribution…

Vevo

On 8th December, 2009 Sony, along with Universal Music Group and Abu Dhabi Media Company, launched Vevo. It is an online music video channel.

This is hosted on Youtube.

Production…

Marketing…

Sony market their artists through many ways: Their website has news/regular updates. They encourage their bands to have

myspace/facebook/twitter etc pages. Web 2.0 has made it possible for Sony to

market their artists on a global scale, not just putting up posters and handing out fliers.