UK Record Labels

Focus on the UK

Who are the major labels in the UK currently?

Universal Music Group
EMI
BMG
Warner Music Group (AOL Time Warner)
Sony Music

1.    Who do the major labels manage?  Major records labels such as Universal manage and sign artists which will fit into the mainstream RnB/pop and rap catergory such as Rihanna, Jay-z and Kanye West. Due the record lablels being large they manage many different music genres to allow them to cover the vast music industry, appealing to many audiences. The warner music group has international offices.

BMG exploits the music rights of the biggest artists in contemporary music such as Bruno Mars, Blondie , Cee Lo Green, Foo fighters, Rizzle Kicks, Will.i.am. Producing songs for artists such as Adele, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Jay-z, One direction and Rihanna.  
EMI also claims to 'one of the world's leading music companies, home to some of the most successful and best known recording artists', with artists signed such as The Beatles, Lily Allen, Gorillaz, Snoop Dog, Eliza Doolittle, David Guetta, 30 seconds to mars.  They have also partnered with The Echo Nest in order to bring the developers a unique opportunity to work with some of the biggest artists in the world. This is to work towards, create and achieve new and innovative applications and services. They may partner with you in order to help bring an interesting concept to the market. 

Universal Music Group (UMG) are a music content company which record music, work in music publlishing and merchandising. The recorded music busniness discovers and develops artists, then marketing and promotes their music through different formats. Where as their music publishing group has a different focus which discovers song writers, owning and administrating copyrights for use of recordings, films and advertisements. While the merchandising company sells artist/music based branded products through fashion retail, live performances and internet.  They have artists signed such as Big Sean, Carly Rae Jepson, Demi Lovato, Nicki Minaj and Neyo just to name a few. 




Warner Music Group- Hava/had artists signed such as Michael Buble, Neil Young, Nickelback, Green Day, Frank Sinatra.WMG is related to a collection of other best known music records in the industry including Asylum, Atlantic, Cordless, East West  and many more, Their main focus is working with broad businesses in aiming to achieve long term success through creative and financial achievement.  They offer artist management, merchandising, touring, fan clubs, VIP ticketing, sponsorships and brand endorsements. They have also become known as the worlds third largest recorded music business and third largest music publishing business, establishing themselves as one of the most successful companies. 

Sony Music 
Manage artists including Paloma Faith, Usher, Michael Jackson, Labrinth and Rita Ora.  Sony Music entertainment own various subsidory labels such as columbia Records and Epic. Columbia record have major artist signed such as Beyonce and Adele 

2.    Do the major labels own smaller companies and which artists do they manage? The major labels have subsidory labels which allow them to own different artists that may appeal to a smaller more diverse or niche audience.  

3.    Are there any links within Media e.g TV/Film/Magazines etc?

What is an Independent Record label,how are they different to a major record label? 

An independent record label is a label that establishes itself without the support or link to major organisations of record labels therefore they do not have the funding or support, this is why they are generally smaller. They also target a niche audience in order to differentiate themselves from mainstream music. 

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•    A major record label will sign who they consider will be most popular, therefore obtaining and using millions of dollars. Allowing them to fund and promote artists through the media.
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•     Advantages & Disadvantages of an Independent Record label 
•     Being an independent artist could allow you to be involved with your promotion, able to form a personal bond with their fan base - controlling elements.
•      However, independent record labels pay more attention to individual artists therefore there is less competition when fighting for attention from your record label. 
•      Due to the companies being a lot smaller, they have more interest in you as an artist and a person, no required conventions or specific persona to be produced.  

•      Difficult to get noticed by media and established- reflects shallow industry. 
•      Works on a much smaller budget.  Independent record labels do not have major funding in order to promote an artist as nationally or internationally. They have to contribute to promoting an artist. 
•    Cant send/promote and release thousands and thousands of copies internationally, due to lack of it. 
•    Indie/independent companies can fall into similar catergories-Some companies may have many acts/artists where as others may have fewer. Therefore this leads to artists still competing for attention in attempt to stand out. Where as a company with a smaller number of people might struggle to cater for your needs as they have less influence for example struggling to find you a band to fit into etc which would be a major disadvantage for you.  

Advantages & Disadvantages of a Major Record label

•      Artists signed to major record labels roughly earn between 10-15% royalty on their music when starting off. However before an artist can earn profit their label must be clear of any debts relating to their music, failing to do so you can be dropped. 
•      Lack of control, must fulfil expectations, specific tracks to produce, numbers to sell. Any unreleased, unofficial music made beforehand the record number now have control over. 
•      You can produce and write your own songs but the record label claims copyright over it. Own the songs even if you get dropped and you have no power or control to claim. 
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•      You have to fit into the specific persona they want to create leading to writing/performing and fitting into a genre the record label want you to, or again you will be dropped. Pushed to produce or write what they think will sell and be successful regardless to happiness.
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•     Better distribution of products and recognition, (will get CDs etc put into shops) if someone is signed to Sony they are going to be respected and noticed more than someone signed to a small unknown independent company or a smaller less successful record label. This allows the artist, if liked to be noticed quicker 
•      More publicity because the record label is respected, trusted and thought of highly, links to release internationally, generally in countries such as UK, USA, Japan and across Europe. 
•     Lots of support from people in this profession such as your manager and tour managers, advertisement companies/ promotion and accountants. Not left to do all yourself.

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Task:

1.    Identify some of the independent labels in the UK and a brief history of each.

2.    What artists are signed to these labels

One of the most successful independent record labels are Rough Trade which is a British Indie record  label. It was successfully founded in 1978 by Geoff Travis in the back of his Notting Hill record shop. The shop offered diversity, at the same time capturing a specific niche audiences as between the 60s and 70s there were new forms of music developed. This shop was focused on trailblazing by being unique from other current shops, offering 'picture sleeves whose market was about to explode', raggae- Bob Marley Vinyls, punk fanzines and badges. A French punk rock band named Paris Maquis had the distinction of being the first Rough Trade release, followed eleven further singles.  Due to the location Reggae, punk and electronic music were presented and became popular with artists such as Cabaret Voltaire, Augustus, Electronic Eels. 

 By the end of 1979; having successfully promoted and sold records by punk, indie pop and post punk, a number of bands were now associated with Rough Trade and began to release records on the label, for example The Raincoats.   Travis began to manage and distribute bands. The labels importance was recognised when a television programme named South Bank Show which was devoted to it when its first album 'Stiff little fingers' 'Inflammable Material' was released later in the year and it became the first independent record in history to sell over 100,000 copies, charted at number 14. The turn in the decade revealed different music genres coming to light which meant an increasingly successful growth throughout their label, this lead to the distribution of many hundreds of independent record labels, a larger premises had to be founded, later moving in December 1980 to Blenheim Crescent. 
The move highlighted Rough Trades golden success, as they continued to release some of the finest music ever committed to vinyl with new acts such as 'The Fall'. However the signing of The Smiths in 1983 drew the label to be recognised as Indie. Due to the success and the attention the media had embraced in them, the record label had to learn how to promote a band like never before. Although having previous experience, this was done differently, and unusual but all four studio albums still reached the top two. However due to is growth the company had failed to define its principles and characteristics such as 'egalitarianism' and 'inclusivity' the ability to be equal. Rough Trade were tactical in highlighting this through taking advantage of political events releasing 'Strike' to help support miners families and donated records to the children of the miners.

In 1987, Keannette Lee joined Rough Trade and co-devloped it, in being successful in steering it towards bigger influencial 80s successes. However the growing popularity of guitar bands led to a lack in success, by 1991 the company were faced with administration, everything was sold off including the name itself. Rough Trade relaunched in 2000, a jointed partnership between Travis and Jeanette Lee, and smaller partners such s Sancutary Records, until 2002 when BGM bought out the business. However in July Sanctuary Records then sold Rough Trade to the Beggars group making Rough Trade continuously Independent.  

Mute is another independent record label established in the UK 'born' in 1978, originally  

publishing artists such as Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Wire, covering genres from post punk gothic rock to post industrial music, which is a collection of related music genres. Mute has a number of writers to help with the production of music. 
Tracks were originally recorded by Daneil Miller who distributed music through Rough Trade shops and was initially formed to release a single called 'T.V.O.D'. Miller began recording and playing live, going on tour and supporting a punk band known as 'Stiff Little Fingers', who had also released an album through rough trade. 
By 1980 Miller had recorded and released a cover song, later releasing the 'Silicon Teens' album. Miller began to approach and sign other artists, releasing singles and albums with artists such as Depeche Mode proven to be extremely successful by quickly emerging as a 'radio friendly pop group'. They were successful with their next three singles and even reached the UK top ten 'Just can't get enough', which became known internationally. This band had caused major record labels a loss as they proved them wrong, they were predicted to be a failure by major record labels and therefore denied a signing. 
Mute Record's continued to be a commercial success with bands such as Yazoo which set up their own studio and continued to produce successful singles. The success of the record label was noticed and in 1983 an Australian band named 'The Birthday Party' transferred from 4AD to mute records, and although the band broke up one artist continued to release singles, they were now beginning to be noticed as a international record label. They continued to sign, record and distribute many artists, constantly up to 2002. 
 In 2002 Mute Records was bought out by EMI for 23 million-pounds, however Daniel Miller remained in charge of the companies global activities, releasing eleven CDs by The Residents., and rereleased music from other artists.  Being signed to a major record label allowed them to work bigger, producing larger quantities globally, earning more money quickly and efficiently. By 2010 EMI agreed to support Miller in the establishment of a second record label, allowing the Mute brand to once again become an independent record label, with the new label planned to operate under the Mute trademark. However this will still be licensed and supported by EMI through sales services, distribution and licensing. Daniel Miller continued to control the majority, leaving EMI with a minority interest in the company, therefore EMI would help fund the new label licensing part of the Mute catalogue, offering extra support in areas from royalty to administration. However Mute artists do remain signed to EMI music in order to market them , but many bands will move over to Daniel Millers new independent record label set up. 

Task:

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?

It is not right in the sense that there should be alternative varied, diverse music promoted in the industry. These are perhaps over shadowed by the huge successful major record labels. On the other hand these four companies can help independent record labels such as Mute, without mute they would not be as well established, successful or internationally known as they are now. This is a positive example of how a major record label can be used to benefit smaller companies as they offer stability which independent records may not be able to produce themselves, Mute will now be successful for a very long period of time, with the support, management and funding from EMI. Although proven to be successful beforehand, if something did go wrong Daniel Miller would not have any further support to rely on. They are also continuing to express similar interest in this genre of music which is positive, evoking varied genres.

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?