Research - Music labels

Researching record labels:

Record labels are the companies that market recorded music and music videos. They engage in a wide range of functions in the music industry including new artist recruitment and development which is also known as A&R; music publishing and copyright enforcement. Marketing is one of a record label’s most important functions. This is because public awareness of the brand is the way that they make their money. Record labels are responsible for the copyright and promotion of artists and their products. As well as this they are to manage the distribution of the artist work. There are different types of labels from independent institutions which are small labels, too much bigger major institutions. Music labels have control over the publishing companies that control the productions, manufacturing, distribution, promotion, merchandise and enforcing the copyright of the sound recordings and the music videos. As of 2012 there are only three labels that can be referred to as "major labels" (Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group)

Sony music entertainment;

Sony is the second largest of the “big four producers”. Sony music entertainment is a world’s recorded company that includes both local and international artists. It homes hundreds of artists from around the world through their numerous labels and studios that Sony own. Sony own some of the biggest singers; including Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and many more. Sony sells their music across a variety of media platforms which include, digitally, through websites such as itunes, play.com and other online retailers. Traditional ways, through the means of CD’s and streaming sites such as radio and spotify.

 Warner music group;

Warner music group is an American major label company and are located in the city of New York. Founded in 1958, they are one of the three biggest companies and have signed singers such as Madonna, Prince, Ed Sheeran, Michael Buble, Rod Stewart and more. The company owns and operates some of the largest and most successful record label in the world, including Atlantic records, Parlophone records and Warner Bros records. In 2008, The New York Times reported that WMG's Atlantic Records became the first major record label to generate more than half of its music sales in the U.S. from digital products. In 2008 Warner Music Group teamed with several other companies including Sony to create the concept of spotify where users can stream music. This was in aid to fight piracy with a legal way of streaming. However they pulled out of being a part of spotify in 2010. In 2010 WMG teamed with MTV networks and that allowed MTV networks to sell their adverts.

Universal music group:

Universal Music Group, Inc, Or more commonly known as UMG Recordings, Inc. (or UMG for short) is an American-French worldwide music corporation, UMG also owns, a music publishing group called Universal Music Publishing Group. Universal Music Group's global corporate headquarters is located in Monica, California, United States. Artist signed with UMG include; ABBA, Backstreet boys, Eminem, Taylor Swift and Take That. Universal Music Group co-developed Vevo, a site designed for music videos inspired by Hulu.com, which similarly, will allow for free, ad-supported streaming of music videos and other music content.