THE BiG 4 MUSIC ReCORD laBELS

Warner Music Group

Universal Music Group

Sony Music Entertainment

EMI

Walat Kurdi and Izu Ikechi

Universal Music GroupGeneral Info

Originally founded in 1934 and was first named Decca Records. It was renamed Universal Music Group in 1996.Universal Music Group Distribution has been the industry market share leader for the past ten years. The company is divided into 4 sections called Universal Music Distribution (UMD), Fontana, Vivendi Entertainment (VE), and UMGD Digital.

UMG’s roster is made up of artists covering the full spectrum of music around the world, making UMG the leader in both international and local repertoire. Artists from all genres including Pop, Rock, R&B, Hip Hop, Indie etc are signed to Universal Music Group.

New Technologies and Techniques in DistributioneLabs, a division of UMG, is responsible for handling the company’s electronic commerce initiatives, Internet exploitation, and new technology business opportunities worldwide.  eLabs’ business development and business affairs staff supports all of UMG’s e-business initiatives, including digital download, subscription, webcasting, interactive radio and pay-per-play through all digital channels of purchase.  eLabs works closely with and supports all UMG’s record labels and other businesses to enhance opportunities for music driven by new technologies, while protecting the value of recorded music.

Artists linked with Universal: Akon, All American Rejects, Beck, Black Eyed Peas, Mary J. Blige, Bon Jovi, Busta Rhymes, Colbie Caillat, Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole, Daddy Yankee, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Melissa Etheridge, Eve, Fall Out Boy, Fergie, 50 Cent, Nelly Furtado, The Game, Keri Hilson, Hinder, Jack Johnson, The Killers, Diana Krall, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Maroon 5, M.I.A., Nelly, Ne- Yo, OneRepublic, Pussycat Dolls, Lionel Richie, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Josh Turner, Sting, and Kanye West. Through an arrangement with Hollywood Records, UMG also distributes the Jonas Brothers and Myley Cyrus, Taylor Swift.

Europe: Bryan Adams, Bjork (outside North America), Marco Borsato, Calogero, Sergio Dalma, Duffy, Mylene Farmer, Feist, Gianna Nannini, Girls Aloud, Elton John, Jovanotti, Juli, Kaiser Chiefs, Keane, Ronan Keating, Amy Macdonald, Michael McDonald, Metallica (outside North America), Mika, Noir Désir, Orson, Florent Pagny, Paco de Lucia, Rammstein, Rolling Stone, Michel Sardou, Scissor Sisters, Snow Patrol, Sugababes, Take That, Amy Winehouse, Zazie, and Zucchero.

UMGROSTER

Universal Music Group are also the owners of various smaller recording companies. For example they own Mercury Records which have artists such as Duffy, Razorlight and Noisettes along with Def Jam Recordings which have R&B and Hip Hop superstars like Rihanna, Rick Ross and Fabolous.

Also being owning other labels such as Motown Records, Interscope Geffen A&M, Decca Broadway, and Nashville. Also being responsible for the major investment of ‘Geffen Records’, which have signed Eminem, Lady GaGa, La Roux, Black Eyed Peas, Marilyn Manson, 50 Cent, Sting and many more it is no wonder that UMG are the biggest music label company in the world.

Record Labels under UMG

Sony MUSIC EntertainmentSony Music is known as the second largest global music record company below UMG and above Warner Music Group. Original founded in 1928 and was first called by the name American Record Corporation which was expanded through the merge of several smaller record companies.

As like UMG Sony Music have many major international superstars like to their company. It is almost like whichever music icon isn’t linked with Universal they would be linked with Sony Music Entertainment.

The rename and re launch of the record company Sony Music Entertainment (SME) was born on January 1st 1991.

In August 2004, Sony agreed to a 50-50 joint venture with Bertelsmann by merging Sony Music and Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) to form Sony BMG Music Entertainment. However Sony’s Japanese music influence continued to operate independently from Sony BMG (while BMG Japan was made part of the merger).

SME is owned By the two key characters of the company which are the CEO of the company Rolf Schmidt-Holtz and CFO Kevin Kelleher.

roster of current artists includes Leona Lewis, Will Young, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Dido, Christina Aguilera, Lemar, Foo Fighters, The View, Natasha Bedingfield, Kings Of Leon, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, Bob Dylan, Pink, Kasabian, The Hoosiers, The Ting Tings.

Sony don’t like to just focus on the bigger stars of the music industry but also put a lot of their emphasis on upcoming and local including Gossip, Seether, Scouting for Girls, Daniel Merriweather, the View and more.

Roster for Sony ME

Similar to Universal Music Group, Sony also have many smaller labels that are attached to some of the biggest music stars in the world from all the specialised genres there are out there. For example Columbia records which is owned by Sony Entertainment possess such as Aerosmith, Beyonce, Cypress Hill, Kings of Leon, Il Divo, Celine Dion and many more big names.

Other Labels from Sony Entertainment are Epic records which are responsible for music artists including such as ABBA, Anastacia, and The Fray. Another record label that is known as legacy recordings has “legendary” artists and some of the all time greats including the late Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Marvin Gaye

EMI is one of the world's leading music companies, home to some of the most successful and best known recording artists, songwriters and music catalogues. In 2007 EMI was acquired by leading private equity partnership Terra Firma, making EMI the only privately-owned major music company.Through our own companies and network of licenses, we are able to serve our artists, writers and consumers all over the world.

EMI has two operational divisions - EMI Music and EMI Music Publishing.

EMI Music brings artists and fans together by driving action and creating value wherever music is experienced. To do this most effectively it is divided into three business units: New Music, Catalogue and Music Services.

New Music finds and develops new, exciting and successful music. Its record labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, EMI Classics, EMI CMG, EMI Records, EMI Televisa Music, Manhattan, Mute, Parlophone and Virgin.

Record label Capitol are responsible for big names such as Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry and Lily Allen whereas Virgin record label also have big names such as Joss Stone, Jamie T, Daft Punk and Robbie Williams. A lot of their big name players have contracts on going with Virgin Records.

EMI are responsible for many “non established” or upcoming acts perhaps more so than the other three record labels. Names include flex, late of the pier, we the kings, a place to bury strangers and more.

Artists that are with EMI records include, The Beatles, Beastie Boys, Coldplay, Lily Allen, Depeche Mode, Doves, Gorillaz, Iron Maiden, Norah Jones, Massive Attack, Kylie Minogue, Pink Floyd, Queen, Sir Simon Rattle, Katy Perry, KT Tunstall, Keith Urban and Robbie Williams, and also international artists such as Amaral (Spain), Camille (France), Empire of the Sun (Australia), Tiziano Ferro (Italy), Flex (Mexico), LaFee (Germany) and Utada Hikaru (Japan).

Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) is the world's only publicly-traded major music company and comprises an array of businesses aimed at helping artists achieve long-term creative and financial success while providing consumers with the highest-quality music content available. WMG is engaged in the recorded music business (including artist services) and the music publishing business.WMG is owned by Chairman and CEO of the company Edgar Bronfman Jr alongside head of management and executive for most aspects of the company Mark Ansorge.

•Reaching 21% U.S. Total Album market share in both fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2008, our highest full-year album share in a decade, according to Nielsen/Sound Scan data;

•Having the No. 1 label in the U.S. in calendar years 2005 and 2007 (Warner Bros.), and calendar 2008 (Atlantic), according to Nielsen/Sound Scan data; 

•Reporting the highest U.S. market share growth of all major music companies in Total Albums sold between calendar 2004 and calendar 2008, according to Nielsen/Sound Scan data;

Warner Music Group

Companies with WMGWMG is a global leader in national and international repertoire and home to some of the best-known labels in the recorded music industry including Asylum, Atlantic, Cordless, East West, Elektra, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word.

U.S. labels, WMG operates through numerous affiliates and licensees in more than 50 countries.  Our recorded music business includes our growing artist services business, which offers artist management, merchandising, touring, fan clubs, VIP ticketing, sponsorships and brand endorsements, and numerous third-party solutions that facilitate the sale of music-based content directly to consumers. Our artist services business works with WMG artists as well as artists not otherwise signed to WMG labels. 

Artists With Warner MG are names such as Bad Religion, Gnarls Barkley, Basshunter, Jimmy Barnes, Avril Lavigne, NickelBack, James Blunt Alisha Dixon, T.I., Michael Buble, Estelle, Plies, Flo Rida, Lupe Fiasco, F.I.R., Fiona Sit, Flaming Lips Fleetwood Mac, T Pain, Marilyn Manson, Mike Jones, Kid Rock, Lost Prophets, Machine Head, Limp Biscuit, Static X, Slipknot, Paramore , Sean Paul, Van Morrison, Luis Miguel, Green Day, Atmosphere, Blondie, Cassie, Cher, Craig David, Devil Driver, Missy Elliot, Enigma, Elephant Man, Gorilla Zoe, Hard Fi, The Kinks and more.

END