Hello All Bloggers & Readers Alike,
The inspiration for this week’s topic is derived from
assignment research (Not everyone goes on Wiki and just site the references at
the bottom of the web page.) This month, my degree program coordinator adjusted Intro to Marketing in my schedule, and I am ever so grateful, because that’s the entire
reason I began this blog. Last week in the course,
we had to options for choosing market research for an established company
between entertainment types. Needless to say, I chose a Record Company to
research. Of course I did.
However, to my surprise many,
many writers, editors and journalists did not understand the difference or
separate concepts between a Record Label (hereinafter “Label”) and Music Group...
It made me think to an upcoming meeting topic of the band I manage –
the difference between my company and what we do, and other companies and what
they do. As Band Management, I am the Managing Member and President of an
Entertainment Consulting company to which this band is signed. It’s in the
title, we consult, but we are still mistaken as a label or music group or arts
collective, and the list goes on.
Hopefully, this article will set the record straight between
the two, Labels and Music Groups, and more students will have more proper
references to research they conduct (and more writers will have a better
understanding of what they write.)
To begin, different Artists and Bands can be signed to
different recording labels, but be apart of the same music group. For example:
Rick Ross and Wale, American rappers/lyricists, are signed to the different Recording Labels, but apart of
the same Music Group. Rick Ross is signed to Def Jam Recordings and Wale is
signed to Warner Bros Records, but they are both apart of Maybach Music Group
(Just an example, this is not the only case.)
What is a “Record Label?”
According to About.com Music Careers, a Record Label is
recognized as a company that manufactures and distributes recorded music and
promotes said music (either directly or indirectly). It should be noted, there
are different types of labels: Major and
Independent.
Major Record Labels are large corporations owned by a parent
company, like Sony or Universal. Major labels are primarily recognized as the
Big Four – Sony, Universal Music Group (UMG), Electric and Musical Industries (EMI)
and Warner Music Group (WMG). Combined, these four companies make up about 75%
of the American music market depending on the year.
It should also be noted that Artist could sign to the
central label or a subsidiary label to have staff and manage financial
decisions. (McDonalds, 2012) For example, Kanye West signed to Roc-A-Fella
Records. Roc-A-Fella records is a subsidiary of Def Jam Recordings, which is
apart of Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG) and essentially Universal Music Group – of whom Seagram’s is the
parent company of. In respect, major labels have a "complex" hierarchal structure, which
differs from label to label. Sometimes, distribution is
offered to independent labels through major labels.
Independent Record Labels (Indie Labels or "Indies") are companies without a corporate
backing. Just because labels don’t have a corporate backing, does not mean they
produce music of any less quality than Major Record Labels. Actually, if you
need extra motivation, Indies are Number 2 in Gross Revenue under
Universal Music Group and over Sony/BMG. (Cole, 2012)
I say: the tip to drive an
independent label’s success is finding one niche in Artist services and
continually market and develop that niche as the label grows.
Hey, Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller are currently apart of an
independent label, Rostrum Records – A label that focuses on Artist Development.
However, just because you are a indie label, don't mean your company is a music group, or vice versa.
So, What’s a “Music Group?”
The Free Dictionary recognizes a music group as nothing more
than an organization of musicians who perform together. Could it really be that
simple? Maybe. But how would you explain Universal Music Group and other large
non-recording label corporations? Pulling from many different sources (and
not-so-common sense), here’s my definition of Music Group: an organization of
individual Artists, Bands and Recording Labels that exuberate qualities in
Artist Services, Management, Song Publishing, Distribution and Corporate
Affairs. With this definition, it would make sense that people from two
different labels, with two different parent companies, to collaborate as a
music group and not have any legal disputes with song royalties, publishing
rights, etc.
Although I have all this information, I still can’t figure
out if Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music is Recording Label or Music Group or
neither. Maybe if we can catch an interview…
Read. Converse. Enjoy.
Cherry
Read. Converse. Enjoy.
Cherry
References:
Artists. (2012). Island
Def Jam. Retrieved from: http://www.islanddefjam.com/artists/default.aspx?labelID=74
Artists. (2012). Warner
Bros. Records. Retrieved from: http://www.warnerbrosrecords.com/#/artists?page=9&ajax=1
Cole, M. Major Labels See Decline In Global Market Share As
Independents Grow. (2012, May 4). Complex
Media. Retrieved from: http://www.complex.com/music/2012/05/major-labels-see-decline-in-global-market-share-as-independents-grow
Interscope Records. (2012). Universal Music Group. Retrieved from: http://beta.interscope.com/#!/interscope/all
McDonald, H. Big Four Record Labels. (2012). About.com. Retrieved from: http://musicians.about.com/od/musicindustrybasics/g/BigFour.htm
McDonald, H. What Is A Label. (2012). About.com. Retrieved from: http://musicians.about.com/od/ip/g/recordlabel.htm
Musical Group. (n.d.). Farlex,
Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/musical+group
This was an excellent research. I learned quite a bit but knew most of this at the same time if that makes any sense. The only reason Ksoundd Inc. is not a label yet is because of the complexity of being one although we operate like such. I was thinking to evolve soon into a music group since it makes better since to involve many other entities without the strings attached like a label.
ReplyDeleteIt was a pleasure reading your blog and hope we can connect sometime later down the road. Just search Ksoundd in your search because we everywhere lol
Hello Cheryl, I really really appreciate your post as it was extremely informative. I actually like kevin's reply when he said he thought about evolving into a music group since many other entities can be involved without strings attached. My question to was what would be the difference with "entertainment"? We see SO & SO MUSIC GROUP OR SO & SO RECORDS. What is difference between SO & SO ENTERTAINMENT. I ask because I am a up and coming producer who wants to start a production company or record label depending on which is the correct choice after more research. I know deciding the name is first step.
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance and Best Regards
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