Major Labels & Major Label Deals

[hummingbird]

At the Taxi Road Rally in 2005, I heard it said there are only 4 major labels left in the recording industry. On songwriting boards, people often talk about 'major label deals' or 'major label cuts' as being the pinnicle of success for an artist or a songwriter. (I personally don't agree with this definition of success, but for the sake of this post, I'm asking anyway.)So I'm curious...First - #1 Who are the 4 major labels?Second -2 - Name one major label.i - Which artists did that particular label sign in 2006. (Any idea how each newly signed artist obtained that deal?)ii - Which songwriters got cuts with that particular label in 2006. (Any idea how each songwriter got that cut?)iii - Which songwriters (if any) got signed/or staff writing positions with that particular label in 2006. (Any idea how each songwriter got that deal?)Hummin'bird

[arkjack]

Vickithis is a great subject... worth doing the research and sharing.... 4 major labels Sony Arista Warner Universal2nd tier Island Virgin Curb there is also EMI I'l do some homework tonight and report back...ArkJack

[zircon]

arkjack; your listed four major labels is not quite correct. The four major labels are Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony/BMG, Warner Music Group (WMG), and The EMI Group (EMI). These four labels control about 85% of the US' music market, and about 75% of the world market (!). Now, keep in mind, each major label has a lot of smaller labels under its wings. They may be directly connected or they may be only connected through distribution. Even though smaller labels may be connected to bigger ones who are funding them for distro/promotion, the smaller label may still be called "independent" - so the % of labels that have a decent market share and have NOTHING to do with the 4 majors is quite small!Now, while I do get Billboard magazine and am currently studying the music industry (that's my degree, actually - Music Industry) I don't follow the majors much. Because my music and interest falls outside the scope of what they do I am not really interested in their activities, though I guess I should be. I'll have to dig around on the internet to see what they're up to...

[hummingbird]

The four major labels:Universal Music GroupSony Music Entertainment/BMG EntertainmentEMI GroupWarner Brothers MusicThese labels have Universal as their parent company:Interscope/GeffenIsland RecordsDef JamMCA RecordsMercuryMotown RecordsVerve MusicUniversal Records

[arkjack]

The fifth label group is BMG, again as pointed out before the big four are "music groups" that encompass ownership of what are major labels, such as DefJam or Island... and the major labels of the group may also have sub-labels, indie ventures, or even joint venture with an unrelated indie label... the industry seems to be alive and well at 40 billion in retail dollars... and since the big four do control over three fourths of the market share... I think we should be paying attention.... BTW BMG is Arista and RCA.... Each label in the group seems to house anywhere from 50 to over 200 artists on the roster... the newest act I could find was "Jet" from Austrailia... they debuted in 2003... and are on their sopmore album... interesting, that whoever the label signed last year might be still in development and we'd have no idea who they are .... search myspace??? and who the label might be talking to right now to sign a deal may not come out as a major release for ..... 1 2 3 years.... ?? I can see our delving into this is going to be some very insightful info....Gotta go now...TTFNArkJAck

[zircon]

BMG merged with Sony several years ago. They are now considered one label, Sony/BMG. Thus there are only four majors now.

[arkjack]

So.... how would you like to be an artist on the roster of a BMG label finding out that Sony is taking over and you're getting a pink slip? Who says they're immune from the corporate politics....

[matto]

Quote:Who says they're immune from the corporate politics....Does anybody really say that??