Research into major and independent record labels

There are two existing types of record labels in the industry: major and independent.

 Major record labels are defined as large companies within the music industry that may also own smaller record labels. The music industry is  dominated by three major record labels (The Big Three in 2012) which include: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group of which I will discuss throughout this post.

The Universal Music Group is most known for managing big name artists such as Lady Gaga (Dance-pop), Katy Perry (Pop) and The Killers (Rock/Pop-rock) This major record label also owns a number of smaller companies who manage an array of artists. The Universal Music group own smaller record labels including Def Jam and Island Records (Island Records is the label our chosen artist Nina Nesbitt is managed by) Def Jam however manages Jay-Z (Hip-hop/rap), Kanye West (Hip-hop/rap) and Rihanna (pop/R&B/Dance) In addition to managing Nina Nesbitt (Indie/Indie-Pop), the label are also asocciated with Jessie J (Pop), Drake (Hip-hop/Rap) and Nicki Minaj (Hip-hop/Rap/Pop) It is also credible that the Universal Music Group co-developed the website Vevo which is designed to display music videos (often promoted through video search engine YouTube) Vevo allows free, ad-supported streaming of music videos and other music content to audiences and is very easily accessible. Vevo therefore makes the major record label all the more successful because it is another platform identified and associated with the label therefore benefitting it. 

Another one of The Big Three record labels in the US music industry is Sony Music Entertainment which is most known for managing/'owning' numerous artists. These include Miley Cyrus (Pop), Britney Spears (Pop) and Justin Timberlake (Pop/R&B) The conglomerate company also own subsidiaries: Arista and J Records which aren't as well known as companies within Universal which is world-renownd. Arista manages Alicia Keys (R&B), Avril Lavigne (Pop-rock) and before the legends unfortunate death, Whitney Houston (Soul/Pop) whilst J Records manages: Maroon 5 (Indie-Pop/Pop-Rock) and Christina Aguilera (Pop/Dance). Sony as a brand however is very well known as it is a brand of a variety of electronics (televisions, mobiles and computers to name just a few) and also has a number of links within media in addition to the major record label which is recognised amongst the other two. Because Sony is a well known brand and household name due to it's aray of electronical devices/providing technological services, it makes the major label all the more successful. This is because if the audience is aware of the brand previous to discovering the artist, making the artist increasingly appealing. 

Michael Buble (Pop), Cee Lo Green (Pop) and Christina Perri (Dark-Pop) are just a few artists to name when exploring the Warner Music Group in which manages them. This US music group owns Atlantic and Warner Bros Records which are recognised as subsidiaries. Atlantic manages Ed Sheeran (Indie), Bruno Mars (Pop) and Wiz Khalifa (Hip-hop/Rap) whilst Warner Bros Records manages Biffy Clyro (Rock), Jason Derulo (Pop) and The Veronicas. Warner Music Group is owned by Time Warner, the worlds largest media conglomerate which has numerous links including film, entertainment, publishing and television. Due to Warner Music Group having a variety of cross-media links, it allows the audience to relate to the artist signed to the label more so than if it didn't  offer other services to the public. 

An independent record label is defined to be a music label that operates one or a few music labels. It operates with the lack of funding which makes them different to major labels which generate a large profit and are funded often to 'keep them going' Many artists and bands start their career within the music industry signed to an independent record label and then venture out to a more recognised label; considered to be major and in turn become more successful. However, independent labels can be just as successful as major record labels although they operate from a smaller company base. Independent labels can be just as successful but the only difference is that they operate from a smaller company base. They are traditionally associated as offering more 'organic' music as opposed to 'manufactured' material which appears within official mainstream charts. 

There are a number of independent record labels in the UK. These include Rough Trade records who managed artists such as The Libertines, Arcade Fire and The Strokes. The independent label was founded in 1978 with artists originating from punk and indie pop genres which were rife and legendary in music history. This record label therefore closely relates to our chosen song as it is of the indie genre because Nina Nesbitt is an artist of the Indie/Indie-pop genre and appeals to a niche audience as opposed to a mass market much like mainstream artists do.

Another independent record label currently within the UK industry is Warp Records, founded in Sheffield in late 1989. The record label is known for discovering some of the most successful artists within the electronic music genre. These include: Aphex Twin, Maximo Park and Flying Lotus. Warp is also known as a film company entitled Warp Films in which receives funding for many of their Indie films by the lottery fund and Film 4 which is considered to be a large film company which can afford to dispose of money to contribute to other entertainment related projects. This makes Warp Records different to Rough Trade as it is also recognised within another field within the entertainment music: film in addition to music. However, Rough Trade are promoted through a shop in London which appeals to young people who are interested in historical music records as it sells vinyl in addition to offering a photo booth service, also attracting other audiences. The Rough Trade shop is based in Brick Lane, London which is popular amongst many young people who enjoy music of the Indie genre as it is a quirky location which has a lot to offer. 

Is it right from a music point of view as well as an industry point of view that 4 companies dominate the music industry?

I believe it is a positive thing that 4 main companies dominate the music industry, mostly due to them having the most knowledge, experience and resources. This will therefore enable the artist an increasingly high chance to become successful within their specific genre and therefore contribute to music history. Despite this, there are negative aspects in addition to the positives. It is a hard task to break through the music industry if an artist is managed by an independent label due to the competition of the 4 companies which currently dominate it. Because the dominating companies have to identify a high-standard before confirming the management of the artist, it is unfair on artists who have 'started from the bottom' by starting as an artist managed by a label which doesn't dominate and is independent, therefore less-recognisable. Dominating companies/labels are very likely to confirm an artist wanting to be managed by them when there is a potential opportunity/gap in the market. This makes it less likely for an artist signed under an independent label to become involved with a label which dominates the music industry and therefore the artist will struggle to gain a position which will affect their success.

What affect do you think this has on the industry?

By having 4 main companies that dominate the music industry it could have a profoundly positive affect on the industry. This is because the 4 main companies will manage artists of an extremely high standard and will also be able to implore them high up in the music industry with ease through exposure to record label fans. By having 4 main companies within the music industry it may also entice independent record labels to increase their artists musical standards which would therefore provide more competition within the industry. This could therefore lead to a rise in success of artists within independent record labels. 

Are independent labels as successful as major labels, how do you judge this?

Measuring success is difficult as success can come in different forms and sizes and depends on a number of factors. However, if success in the music industry is dependent on whether an artist is well known/a household name and the artists music is recognisable/in the top charts, major record labels are more successful in comparison to independent ones. This is because they have access to the best artists around as they have extreme power within the industry. This would therefore attract upcoming artists to side with signing to a major record label rather than an independent record label. Major labels also have larger funding allowances than independents which also increases their success which therefore benefits the artist signed to the label. Moreover, an artist signed to a major label may become more successful because the label is experienced and manage fellow artists who may belong to a music genre which is popular amongst a large audience. This would benefit both the artist and label because the artist is associated with the major label therefore appealing to many new artists. To conclude, independent labels are often over-thrown in the industry and not considered by new and upcoming artists who want success within their chosen art form because they are not seen to produce music popular with vast audiences. Therefore, I believe that major labels are far more successful, although independents are viewed as more innovative and 'organic' which is why many Indie artists favour a small record label and may chose to re-sign to a major one once they have become 'successful' within the independent route.

Is there anything that independent labels offer the industry that the majors do not?

Independent record labels are able to offer the music industry real artists who are not moulded to fit a specific persona that the public are desperate to have. Therefore, this means that the music industry is likely to have more down to earth and relatable artists that are likely to highly appeal to the public who do not all want role models within the mainstream genres such as dance/pop as their manufactured images can become unachievable and not good to aspire to after all (sexualisation of young people/being exploited....) Despite this, Independent record labels are more likely to sign underdeveloped and unusual artists, providing the public with a variation from the artists they would usually find themselves listening to. Additionally,  independent record labels will have more time assist their artists with their music but may unfortunately lack resources. However, this could potentially  increase the quality of the songs they produce. Therefore, this should entice a larger audience size to listen to their artists music and as a result they will be more satisfied with what they are listening to. 

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