The Music Industry case study.

About the major record labels

What have been the challenges to these major labels in recent years? The music industry has changed dramatically in recent years and will continue to change in the future; changes can be a

positive view i.e.) using the new technology as a sells point however it can be a problem as the price of CDs and other merchandise is still expensive for some people they have to reside to illegal downloading which is problem in the music industry as it affects everything. New software were other corporations have created to make these people happy e.g.) Apple with iTunes.

The music industry or music business sells compositions, recordings and performances of music. Among the many individuals and organizations that operate within the industry are the musicians who compose and perform the music; the companies and professionals who create and sell recorded music (e.g., music publishers, producers, studios, engineers, record labels, retail and online music stores, performance rights organizations); those that present live music performances (booking agents, promoters, music venues, road crew); professionals who assist musicians with their careers (talent managers, business managers, entertainment lawyers); those who broadcast music (satellite and broadcast radio); journalists; educators; musical instrument manufacturers; as well as many others.

OwnershipThe state or fact of being an owner/ legal right of possession; proprietorship.

Production.The act of producing; creation; manufacture/the entertainment itself: an expensive production

Distribution.Arrangement; classification

Marketing.The total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer or seller to the consumer or buyer, including

advertising, shipping, storing, and selling.

Words to know

My Chosen Major record label Type Subsidiary of Sony Corporation of

AmericaIndustry Music & entertainmentGenre Various

Predecessor

American Record Corporation (1929-1938)Columbia/CBS Records (1938-1991)Sony Music (1991-2004, 2008-present)Sony BMG (2004-2008)

Founded 1929

Headquarters New York City, NY, United States

Key people

Howard Stringer (CEO: Until July 1, 2011)Doug Morris (Chairman & CEO: From July 1, 2011)Kevin Kelleher (CFO)Clive Davis (Chief Creative Officer)

Products Music & entertainment

Revenue 11% $1.33 billion USD (2009)

Owner(s) Sony

Parent Sony Corporation of America

Website sonymusic.com

About the Sony Music Entertainment

Sony BMG Musi c Entertainment is a recorded music company The venture’s successor, the again-active Sony Music Entertainment, is 100% owned by the Sony Corporation of America. It is one of the Big Four music companies, and includes ownership and distribution of recording labels such as Arista Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records, Jive Records, RCA Victor Records, RCA Records, Legacy Recordings, Sonic Wave America, and others. The company signed a content deal with the popular video sharing community YouTube.

What Happend to the PS3? The system was shut down on April 20 2011. The system will "will shortly begin a phased

restoration by region of PlayStation®Network and Qriocity™ services, beginning with gaming, music and video services to be turned on. The company also announced both a series of immediate steps to enhance security across the network and a new customer appreciation program to thank its customers for their patience and loyalty."

The Sony Music Entertainment Group

On their website they include information on their artists, up to date news, information about them and even the labels they own.

Chosen Examples of Artists

My first choice of an artists is AC/DC as they are in the news at the moment, the Sony BMG have a quick link to their official web page.

Extras about the SMG

A unique feature with the Sony Music Entertainment group is that they have clear data with information on history and contact details for future workers.

Production, Distribution, Marketing and Exchange

The question whether the label benefits from media technology is what the industry today completely relies on. Media technology such as the internet The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet to serve billions of users worldwide. using this they can contribute to the rest of the world, for producing the content (music) through sites such as iTunes, Napster and even play.com. The modern way of marketing has changed completely for example people were resulted into illegally downloading music because of the lack of choice and timing to get music now, downloading and online purchasing is available as well as YouTube were you can watch videos and listen to music, for the less known bands can use the website to place their music and their details so record labels can find them and so they can gain fans and get comments on their music so they can improve or gain information for performing. With the internet distributing goods has also changed with the act of using Amazon, play.com and other web providers the distribution is still using the mail however the use of digital retailers i.e.) iTunes, Napster etc the use of downloading is more popular with this illegal downloading and theft is limited and the artists and the record label pay has improved.

Independent Record Label.

An independent record label (or indie record label) is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels. The boundaries between major and independent labels. In practice, however, the traditional definition of a 'major' record label is one that owns its own distribution channel. Some independent record labels, in particular those with successful performing artists, sign dual-release agreements (and make other deals) with major labels and may rely to some extent on international licensing deals, distribution agreements, and other arrangements with major record labels. Major labels may also wholly or partially acquire independent labels. Other nominally "independent" labels are started (and sometimes run) by major label artists but are still owned at least in part by the major label parent. These spin-off labels are also frequently referred to as vanity labels or "boutique labels" and are intended to appease established, powerful artists and/or to give them latitude in discovering and promoting new talent.

The history- Independent labels have a long history of signalling developments in popular music, stretching back to the post-war period in the United States. Disputes with major labels about publishing led to a proliferation of labels specializing in country, jazz, and blues. Sun Records played an important part in the development of Rock 'n' roll as well as country, with artists such as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Charlie Rich. The independent labels usually aimed their releases at a small but devoted audience, not relying on mass sales for success, giving artists much more scope for experimentation and artistic freedomIn the United Kingdom during the 1950s and 1960s, the major record companies EMI, Philips, and Decca had so much power that independent labels struggled to become established. Several British producers launched independent labels as outlets for their work launched by Chris Wright and Terry Ellis, was perhaps the most successful from that era, and continued to expand. Several major rock stars set up their own independent labels - The Beatles with Apple Records, The Rolling Stones with Rolling Stones Records, and Elton John with Rocket, but they generally failed as commercial ventures.

My Chosen Independent Record Label.

Current artists: The White Stripes, Adele, Radiohead, Monkey, Thom Yorke, Friendly Fires, Beck, Vampire Weekend, M.I.A., Titus Andronicus, Basement Jaxx, Gil Scott-Heron, Sigur Rós, Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx, The xx

About xlrecordings.com:xlrecordings.com is a tumblelog and a lifestream aggregating all XL related content from across the internet into one place

Contact Us:Postal:xl recordings,one codrington mews, london, W11 2EH 304 Hudson Street,7th Floor, New York,

10013

Founded1989

Founder Tim Palmer, Richard Russell, Nick Halkes Genre Various

Country of originUnited Kingdom

Official Websitewww.xlrecordings.com

My Chosen Examples of Artists

Radiohead to perform 'The Kings Of Limbs' in its entirety on BBCFrom www.nme.com at 04/05/11 06:00 AM. 0 comments.'Radiohead â€' The King of Limbs: Live From The Basement' will be shown on July 1

Radiohead News:Radiohead to Play <i>The King of Limbs</i> on TVFrom pitchfork.com at 03/05/11 05:45 PM. 0 comments.Photo by Sebastian EdgeWorldScreen reports that Radiohead will play their new album The King of Limbs in full for an upcoming television broadcast. The BBC will internationally distribute the 55-minute broadcast The King of Limbs: Live From the Basement, which will also feature behind-the-scenes footage. According to a press release from the BBC, it will air on July 1. (Thanks to Craig Hunter for the tip.)

No Instant Link to official website however they do have a link which goes to facebook & twitter which let the fans (friends) of any incoming events or news.

About XL Recordings.

XL Recordings is a British independent record label which was launched by Tim Palmer, Nick Halkes and Richard Russell with Beggars Banquet Records in 1989 to release its rave and dance music. The label has grown into one of the most commercially successful and influential independent record labels in the world. Originally the label was an offshoot of Beggars' more commercial dance label called Citybeat which was known for records by acts such as Freeez, Starlight, Dream Frequency and the Ultramagnetic MCs. However with the success of acts such as The Prodigy and SL2, XL superseded Citybeat in the company's line up.

Thom Yorke, of Radiohead fame, released his first solo record, The Eraser, on the label in July 2006. While not reaching Number One in any specific country it was Number One for worldwide sales during its initial week of release. In October 2007, Radiohead completed negotiations to sign with XL for physical release of their seventh studio album, In Rainbows.

A vast difference between this and the UMG just by looking at the webpage. This is very basic and nothing saying something new. However similar aspects are here such as news about “recent” events with artists. Information (very limited) about the artists, about the company and asking for people to follow them via facebook and twitter.

Long Tail

Sony Music Entertainment. XL Recordings.