RECORD LABELS

Tomas McLoughlin

What is a record label?

• The record label of a music artist is responsible for the production, marketing, manufacture and distribution of both recordings and music videos. Record labels also protect the artist from copyright infringements. Without record labels, artists would find it much harder to promote their music on the radio and online.

Independent and Major Record labels

• There are two types of record labels. Independent record labels are smaller organisations who work with underground and local artists. Those who join independent record labels tend to focus on a single genre.

• Major record labels, however, work on a much wider basis. They are usually under control from what’s known as a music group, a sub-organisation owned by a global conglomerates. These conglomerates often branch into various other sections of the media. For instance Warner Bros. Entertainment divides into Warner Bros. Music, Film and Television. Inevitbaly these record labels have huge funding, which enables artists music to be easily promoted.

What my artist is suited to..• I believe MC LOCKLIN is more suited to a major record label

than an independent one. The lyrics in his songs aren't like all other rappers, boasting about bling and cars etc. The lyrics are both realistic and relatable. His genre is alternative Hip-Hop, which brings something both unique yet conventional.

• His genre is alternative Hip-Hop, which brings something both unique yet conventional. Hip-Hop is a very popular genre which will not die down anytime soon, so labels will reap the rewards from funding my artist. MC LOCKLIN makes for a refreshing change to the stereotypical hip-hop artist, and for this reason I think he will do well. Hip-Hop is the type of music which, under controls of independent labels, unless you search for the music yourself you wont hear it. Therefore the fan base will be restricted to those who are already Hip-Hop fans. In contrast, major record labels promote their music so that all fan bases can listen to it, for instance on Radio 1. My artist is a versatile and unique, therefore approaching an independent label and focusing on one single genre wouldn't maximise my artists potential audience base. A major record label on the other hand allows for huge media exposure which will allow much wider audiences to listen to my music.

• Having researched various major record labels, DefJam recordings appears to be a suitable studio for MC LOCKLIN. DefJam recordings specialize with urban artists, so I think they would understand my artist and how to work with him. DefJam was founded by Rick Rubin in 1983. It has since evolved into one of the biggest urban recording labels in the music industry. DefJam has a great reputation for producing successful songs and has many famous artists to its name, both current and former. DefJam recordings are owned by Universal Music Group and are distributed by mercury recordings and Island DefJam Music Group.

Current artists include: Amber Rose, Rihanna, Frank Ocean, Jay-Z, Big Sean, Ludacris, LL Cool J, Ne-Yo, D'Banj, Kanye West and Rick Ross

What is Copyright and how are record labels responsible for this?

• Copyright is the exclusive right of protection for a creator of ''original work.'' The copyright holder is credited with the original piece of work and holds permission over who adapts it and who financially benefits from it. The Copyright act is a legal act and is automatic, so there is no need to register for it, but it is important that an artist or band claims copyright by using the copyright symbol.

• Record labels tend to hold the copyright for artists songs. This means they own the songs and permission lies with them, hence the term ''all rights reserved'', commonly seen on the back of album cases.

From this task I have learnt…

• Exactly what record labels do• The difference between independent and global record labels• Why some artists choose major record labels and why some

choose independent ones.• That in the making of my music video I cannot state that the

song is mine and must acknowledge that it is a cover• I cannot simply copy ideas and themes from the original video• I must use the appropriate logos which are associated with

the original artist Kid Cudi (i.e. logo of record label, distributor)

Tomas McLoughlin ©