Music Label Research

Jesse Hammond

Independent (indie) Record Labels

Independent record labels are funded independently and are not connected to one

of the big three music label companies.Indie labels do not lack financial support as they can range in business size from large

profitable companies to small in-house hobbies.

As the music industry has developed and grew, some of the larger indie labels are now

distributed by the big three.

British Indie LabelsDomino Records

Domino records are a record label based in south London. They base their music around rock which

makes them highly profitable due to the artists they’ve worked with such as Artic Monkeys

XL Recordings XL Recordings was launched in 1989 to release independent dance and rave music, later on the company expanded their music genre and have

become very profitable. Artists that they have worked with are: Vampire Weekend, Dizzee Rascal and Tyler

the Creator

The Big ThreeUniversal Music Group

Universal Music Group was founded in 1934. It is one of the largest music companies in the world owned by French media conglomerate Vivendi which owns other companies such as Universal film. Universal

Music group has their subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing group which is the second largest music

publishing company in the world. Some famous artists that are signed to the record label include Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Tom Jones,

Elton John and Ellie Goulding.

The Big ThreeSony Music Entertainment

Sony Music Entertainment is the second largest music corporation in the world. The company was founded in 1929 and is now owned and controlled by the Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary

of Japan's Sony Corporation.SNE has other smaller record labels, one well

known label is Columbia Records.Some famous artists that are signed to the record label include: Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Fatboy

Slim and One Direction

The Big ThreeWarner Music Group

Warner Music group is an American multinational company that features

entertainment. The record label’s headquarters are in New York City. The company have a

range of genres and locations that they feature music in from small scale to world-wide.

Some famous artists that are signed to the record label: Madonna, Coldplay, Metallica and

Wiz Khalifa.

My Music LabelIf I were to release my music to a record label then I’d stick to an

independent company rather than the big three as the smaller companies are able to target more niche audiences. I would choose XL Recordings as they

are known as releasers of contemporary British Sound.