Independent record labels may be small and localised with a niche audience compared with major record labels with a large international media group. The major labels are Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. These labels can make up almost 80 percent of the music market or even more depending on the year, although it was estimated to be about two-thirds in 2016.
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 Columbia Records, which is a Sony subsidiary. These subsidiary labels have their own staff, they sign their own artists and they make most of their own financial decisions, but in the end they must answer to their parent company. The "main" company sets their overall budget and makes decisions regarding things like reducing staff.
These Big Three record companies also occasionally offer distribution to indie labels. Under these deals, the major label offers the indie's releases to stores along with their own releases, but they do not have a say in what albums they releases or how they manage its label.
No comments:
Post a Comment