Institution: Independent Record Label

To meet the demands of any target audience, every band is signed to a record label. This is to make sure they have enough money for the marketing campaigns, the video, the CD and the tour. Every record label and media text is recongised by the band or TV programme they market. For example, BBC 3 is popular with teenagers as it shows comedy programmes such as Family Guy which is very popular with young adults. Channel 4 is known for its rebellious characters in the media texts which are shown on the programmes, for example, Hollyoaks has many rebellious characters featured in it.
When considering music, the main record labels are known as the 'BIG 4', these are Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, EMI Group and Warner Music Group. Each of these record label owns some of the biggest music starts around at the moment and they are partly responsible for the success for these artists.

Universal Music Group

This record label sells more music than any other record label. They have some of the top sell artists signed to their label. For example, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Cheryl Cole, Ne-Yo and Rihanna are all signed to the mini labels that make up Universal Music Group.


Sony BMG Music Entertainment

Sony and BMG used to be seperate record labels until August 2004. They merged together and each label owns 50 per cent of the label each. Sony BMG owns many of the biggest artists around at the moment and they also have signed some of the biggest names in music ever, for example Michael Jackson. Here are some of the artists which are signed to Sony BMG: Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Usher and JLS.

EMI Group

EMI is the third biggest record label in the world. It owns artists such as, Robbie Williams, Coldplay and Queen. Even though EMI hasn't signed some of todays most popular artists, it is still seen as one of the biggest record labels in the world by signing of the most popular and influential groups in music, Queen.

Warner Music Group

Warner is the fourth biggest record label, it has remained successful by signing key artists, such as, Madonna, Oasis, Paramore and Plan B.

 

These record labels dominate the music industry and they make it hard for independent record labels to promote their artists. Indie labels find it hard to market their artists and give them high tech CGI and Green Screens for the music videos as they have a limited budget and can't make the videos that Lady Gaga makes becuase they don't have the money. However, they have other ways of promoting their artists and still produce a video with audiences would like to see multiple times. Our band will be signed to the indie record label, Rough Trade Records.

We have chosen this record label as it works with many indie rock bands and helps push their brand image across. One of their artists is The Libertines. We have looked at their videos and brand image and they have given us ideas for our music video. Rough Trade records broke into the US in 2007 when they joined with The Beggars Group. This has pointed Rough Trade in the right direction as British Sea Power taking ''Do you like Rock music?' into the Top 10 and onto the Mercury Prize shortlist in 2008, their artists such as, The Hold Steady find themselves rising stars.

By Romany