Major & Independent Record Labels

Major record and independent record labels. Between the two, what are the main differences?

One of the biggest differences between the two is that firstly the major labels will actually make the artist in question hand over the rights for their music as part of their contract. Therefore, leaving all the work to the label company. With the independent labels, the company will reach an agreement with a contract with the artist to supply their funds and support them but wont actually get the rights for their music. With the rights, the artist is then free to sell any music in any amount he/she likes. For example; radio/TV advert soundtracks or films even. The major labels though will offer a lot more money more often than not to have this extra power with their client.


The major three record labels:

The major labels have the majority of the power in the music industry, at the end of the day, money talks! Following research I found the following information regarding major and independent record labels. Including the "big 3" and some of it's history.

Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, and Warner Music Group are the powerful "big three" whom control around 88% of the music industry market today. Artists who are signed to one of these major record label are either signed to the 'central label' or signed to a subsidiary of that label. A band might be signed to Sony, or it might be signed to Simco, RCA Records, Columbia Records or EPIC Records, all some of many subsidiaries of Sony. These subsidiary labels have their own way of working, staff, they sign their own artists and they make most of their own financial decisions. The "main" company sets their overall budget and makes decisions regarding things like reducing staff as after all they do have the power.

In addition, a poor performance financially can close the subsidiary. Its artists would then be distributed among the other subsidiaries under the major label. The conglomerate, UMG or Sony for example will always keep their signed artist, unless sold of course. 

Controversy of once "big four":
Pre to September 2012, EMI Music Group was part of the "big four" major record labels in the worldwide industry. The UK based company, formed in 1931, announced on 12th November 2011, that EMI would sell its recorded music operations to UMG for £1.2 billion ($1.9 billion) and its music publishing operations to Sony Publishing for $2.2 billion. Among the other companies that had competed for the recorded music business was Warner Music Group which was reported to have made a $2 billion bid. Prior to the sale EMI controlled just under 10% of the music industry with signed artist such as Blur and The Beatles (1960-70). 



Independent Record Labels:

A few examples of independent companies are M.A.S. Records, Mad Decent and XL Recordings. These control much smaller amounts of artists but the day to day life of the business is very similar. 

Travis Scott Music Analysis

Travis Scott Cross-Media Case Study from Oliver Pickett

Music Video Task - Pros & Cons

In small quick, slightly fun tasks, like this one recently just done it is very useful and probably better on paper to be working in groups of five to six. therefore there's more people to get more work done. However there are some cons to this.


One con is that not everyone in our group actually had a role free to be assigned with. this is obviously not great for these people because they wont have anything to do. The group size is definitely something I will consider when re-choosing groups and pairing up with people in the future.


Even if someone isn't the best in the role that they're been given compared to others outside of the group, if the others are supportive and straight forward everyone can learn off of each other and as a result work to get better outcomes.

Music Video Storyboard

In a small group, we storyboarded a 30 second sequence from Adele's music video 'Hello'. This went very smoothly as we began to discuss filming techniques, roles and positions for the filming of the scene(s).

Travis Scott Research

Following research of Andrew Goodwin I researched into Travis Scott, a Texas born artist, and made this Powerpoint presentation on him.

Andrew Goodwin Theory - Step By Step

Andrew Goodwin Theory Elements

• Relationship between the music and visuals - this is done by three different ways:

Illustrate - Music videos use certain images &shots to illustrate and explain the meaning of the actual song lyrics.

Disjuncture - This occurs when the meaning of the song and the lyrics are completely ignored in the music video.
Amplify - (repeatability), this is when images and camera shots are used to be presented repetitively throughout the music video. This is then therefore drummed into the viewers vision.

• Thought through beat - seeing what the lyrics mentally mean:

Firstly, the music video through this theory is analysed through the structure - understanding the chorus and the verses. Then what happens is that the voice of the artist/performer is brought through in the video so the sounding of the song is unique and representable with that artist and their other work. Then the last element will be the fact that the artist normally tries to tell a story through the narrative of his/her music video.

• Relationship between the music and visuals: 

Andrew believed that music videos can also promote a song by the way it represents the lyrics in the song. For example, when this is applied the characters in the music video carry out whatever it is which is being said in the song. Furthermore, "Jump! Jump! Jump!" is sang whilst characters in the music video are actually jumping. 

• Narrative and performance of song:

Goodwin thought that it was important for an artist to be involved in the music video by performing/acting out as the role of main character. This helps the song to look more realistic and also giving the audience more of a special connection and understanding of the song.

• Star image, protagonist:

The protagonists in music videos usually are portrayed as the main star by numerous camera shots making it clear that he/she is the main character. The star image is also normally very unique by being presented in very different ways to any other artist. Managers will find this very important. This helps promote a stars self public image amongst their fans and also the overall public in an obvious attempt to grow their fan base. 

Andrew Goodwin Theory

Andrew Goodwin 

Goodwin's music video theory is based on 5 main factors, these are as listed below;

- 'Thought through beat', seeing what the lyrics are and what they mean in your head
- Relationship between the song and visuals
- Narrative and performance of the song
- Technical aspect of a music video
- 'Star Power', making the star performer the centre of attention. Done by lots of shots and movements screening him/her to make them the centre of attention.