Record Labels

"a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion, and enforcement of copyright protection of sound recordings and music videos; conducts talent scouting and development of new artists; and maintains contracts with recording artists and their managers." - Wikipedia

Most recording artists today are dependant and reliant on getting signed to an established record label to get noticed, be promoted and get heard more on tv and radio. The internet has become a major way of gaining new listeners and audienes and at a low cost too. There are two different types of record label, major and independant. A major label will be part of a large established media group, whereas an independant label will be small and localized. Record companies and music publishers that are not under the control of the big four are generally considered to be independent (indie), even if they are large corporations with complex structures. Below is a list of how the top labels have altered slightly over the years and how they have now become known as "the top four".

Major labels 1988–1998 (Big Six)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony Music (known as CBS Records until January 1991 then known as Sony Music thereafter)
4. BMG Music
5. Universal Music Group
6. Polygram

Major labels 1998–2004 (Big Five)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony Music
4. BMG Music
5. Universal Music Group (Polygram absorbed into UMG)

Major labels 2004–2008 (Big Four)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony BMG (Sony and BMG joint-venture)
4. Universal Music Group

Major labels since 2009 (Big Four)

1. Sony Music Entertainment
2. EMI Group
3. Warner Music Group
4. Universal Music Group