Research - Record Labels

A record label is a brand or a company that is associated with the marketing side of the music industry. They represent artists, managing the production and distribution of the music of an artist and their brand.

There are 4 major labels that represent up to 75% of the music sold on the music market each year. An artist that is signed to one of these labels are either signed to the central label, eg. Sony, or they are signed to a subsidiary label of this company, eg. Columbia Records. Subsidiary labels like Columbia have their own staff, artists and often manage their own finances. However, they are still answerable to the central company.

The four major labels are:

• EMI 

EMI's subsidiary record labels are EMI Records, Parlophone, Virgin Records and Capitol Records.

Parlophone has artist's such as Two Door Cinema Club, The Verve, Lily Allen (outside of the US), Gabrielle Aplin, David Guetta and Gorillaz,

• SONY BMG

Sony BMG has several subsidiary labels includin g Columbia Records. Sony BMG is the label to artists such as Bruno Mars, Frank Turner, Foo Fighters, La Roux and Rizzle Kicks.

Their subsidiary label Columbia has artists such as Adele, Beyonce, Daft Punk, DJ Fresh, George Ezra, One Direction, London Grammar and Secondcity. 

• Warner Music Group

Warner Music Group's subsidiary labels include Warner Bros Records and Atlantic Records. It is also the label of artists such as Biffy Clyro, Green Day, Foals, Linkin Park, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

• Universal Music Group

UMG is the largest music corporation in the world. It owns labels such as Interscope, Island Records, Def Jam, and Motown; labels to artists such as Justin Bieber, Eminem, Disclosure, Jay Z, Lady Gaga, The Killers, Avicii, The 1975, Swedish House Mafia and Sam Smith.

Independent Record Labels

Dominio Recording Company 

Domino is an independent record label based in Londo n, that also has branches in New York and Germany, that was founded in 1993. Success for the label didn't come immediately as they were releasing more established American rock and and unusual British music that was sidelined during the BritPop era. Recent more high-profile releases from bands like Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand have acted as a catalyst to the increasing credibilty of the label. Domino is now one of the UK's longest running and most successful record labels.