In this post I will talk about Major Record labels and Independent Record Labels. I will compare them and say what both contribute and offer to the music industry. I will share my opinion on the music the labels and the music they share to the industry and if I think that its fair for the music industry to be dominated by 4 record labels. I will also share my opinion on mainstream music.
Record labels produce music which cater for different audiences, however there are major record labels and independent record labels. Major record labels cater to a massive percent of the population, producing one or many genres in music. Independent music labels cater to niche audiences, which are much smaller than major record labels audience, creating original or small bands music for example. Three of the major record labels in the UK at this time would be EMI, Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group. The major record labels would have subsidiary labels, this is to narrow genres, artists and audience interests, for example they would put similar artists or similar genres within a subsidiary label.
Examples of subsidiary labels with genres of music or specific artists in them from the major record labels are as follows. EMI have Parlophone for example, this label was founded in 1896, which specialized in jazz music, however in the 50s, they signed the Beetles and evolved into pop/rock. Sony Music Entertainment have Columbia Records, they have signed allot of artists, founded in 1888, they first focused on RnB and Urban Music, however with the economic crisis, labels sign anyone who they think would make money for them, making them a commercial label, artists like Calvin Harris and Beyonce. Universal music group have Def Jam records, started in 1983, they have a 'various' range of artists, however most people would recognize the rap genre and artists that play for them, like Rick Ross, Pusha T, Ludacris and DJ Khaled.
Within the major record labels they also have links within other media, like TV/Film/Magazines etc. With Sony, they have a range of other links within media as they are an Oligopoly, and they also have business within the financial industry, banks etc. They have a range of electronic products, which use synergy to advertise their artists with their products, for example, in Sony's film Bad Boys, Will smith (who is a sony artist) did the sound track for the film. Universal have done many films, for example King Kong and Jurassic Park. Major record labels are commercial labels, driven for profit only. Independent record labels are not, they also cater to a niche audience, which is usually driven by probably 3 to 10 people, its usually original music or a label for local small bands.
Independents
Independent records cater to niche audiences, much smaller than the commercial audiences that major labels cater to. Examples of UK labels would be, Dancing Turtle Records, Erased Tapes Records and Burning Shed records. They produce more 'organic' music rather than the mainstream music.
Erased Tapes records was founded in 2007 by Robert Raths. They have released 8 albums and 2 music videos. Their genre and styles consist of many. an Artist to mention would be Nils Frahm and his song which is also a music video has been released and has over 80 thousand views on YouTube His song 'Said and Done' which consists of a solo piano performance which has got reviews saying its 'beautiful'.
Burning Shed records was founded in 2001. They lean towards the rock genre with their artists and bands they sign. A band that the have would be Porcupine Tree for example. it was founded by Tom Bowness and Peter Chilvers in association with duplication company manager and former Noisebox Records boss, Pete Morgan.I feel that the music industry should not be dominated by just four labels as there are many other genres and styles of music that needs to be broadcasted. And the music is all mainstream, commercial music which is seen to be repetitive and standardized. I feel it gives the music industry a bad name and its not loyal, as labels will sign anyone (which could mean their music is not great) as long as it makes sales, for example Justin Bieber. I believe that Bieber's music is not by any means good, and he makes sales as he is an icon that young girls look up to and adore, and the girls are dominating the industry as Bieber relies on his cute image rather than the music he makes to make sales. The music industry should make music, and it shouldn't be a fashion or a image that appeals to people, people should just enjoy music, and i feel that sometimes music videos ruin music, as people view them for the video and not the music, for example if attractive women were involved, more men would watch it for this reason only sometimes.
Independent labels are not as successful as major record labels, as they do not have the power or money to advertise for example, or sign big or good artists / bands. The labels are usually new also, successful major record labels have been around since the 1900's, and it seems that the major labels have been successful as they have gotten older. Independent labels offer more organic music, and original music, rather than the similar mainstream music which major record labels supply.
Summary
In summary I feel that the music industry is now a commercial industry which is dominated by labels just trying to make profit, and not focusing on making good or proper music. The music industry is dominated by four major record labels which all make mainstream music which is similar to each other, and music is now becoming standardised as it is all sounding the same or and consisting of the same things. I feel that the reason for music becoming standardised and becoming mainstream is due to the younger audience, the younger audience from ages (8 to 15) don't really know what good music is, and they only enjoy music as the thrive upon the artist as they appeal to them, like Justin Bieber for example, he does not make the best or talented music, he is just a role model or a icon for the younger audience (mainly girls) to look up to. Therefore the younger audience dominate other audiences as the look up to artists that appeal to them only, not taking in consideration about music and how it needs to be enjoyed, and then their parents buy them the album of their chosen aspiration model of their choice which in this case would mainly be Justin Bieber. So what I am saying is that music needs to be enjoyed for what it is, its music! Music videos could be the reason for music becoming mainstream and standardised as the artists can be moulded and appealing to the audience as I talked about, Music is a heard asset, it shouldn't be made visual, it should be enjoyed as being listened to. Therefore again, the music charts are being dominated by the standardised music made by the star image artists, not letting other music which could be seen as much more enjoyable to the ear into the charts, so I feel that the music industry being dominated by four record labels producing the same music is a con, destroying the name of 'music'.
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