Record companies are media institutions and are commercial organisations that make moneyWhat they do: • Talent scouting• Development of new artists• Manage bands and artists• Production, manufacturing and distribution of records• Marketing and promotion e.g. music videos• Copyright protection

These artists have been found and have got to topping the music charts because of their record label such as :

Big 3 – since 2012Universal Music GroupSony Music EntertainmentWarner Music Group

• Record labels under control by a company called a ‘music group’• Usually owned by a conglomerate that also has non music divisions• A music group controls – music publishing companies, recording,

manufacturers, record distributors and record labels• The big three control over 80% of the music market worldwide and

70% in the USA market• They all own or have a joint share in many other larger record labels

• A smaller record label that operates without the funding of the big three

• Usually release non mainstream music• Many big artists begin their careers on minor labels• Gives more artistic freedom and control to the artist

UK INDEPENDENT RECORD LABELS• LAB Records• 4AD• Glassnote Records• Mute Records

They are many more…

Ariel Pink

Mumford and Sons