Research into the industry

Record company is in control of most things involving making and selling a music recording or video. It deals with the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion and importantly it enforces copyright over the song/video. They also scout for new talented artists ad maintain contracts with current artists and managers. Their are four major record label conglomerates and these are Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, EMI Group and Warner Music Group.


Universal Music Group:


UMG is the world's largest music content company. The music group was first founded in 1924 by Dr. Jules Stein.Universal promote their music across a wide array of formats and platforms. They have a massive family of record labels belonging to them which is why they are so successful and large. Some of these record labels include: Decca, Deutsche Grammophon Emarcy, Island Def Jam Music Group, Machete Music, Mercury Records, Polydor Records, Show Dog–Universal Music, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal Music Latino, Universal Music Group Nashville, and Verve Music Group.

History of UMG:

1999: MCA Music Publishing is renamed Universal Music Publishing.


2003: Universal Motown inks deal to distribute Casablanca label.


2005: Gwen Stefani becomes first artist to sell one million commerical downloads.


2008: UMG partners with MySpace to create MySpace Music


2010: The Black Eyed Peas become first group to sell over 6 million US digital downloads with “I Gotta Feeling and VEVO named #1 online music destination by comScore.






Artists:
Snow Patrol
Rihanna
Jessie J
Maroon 5
Mumford and son
Nicki Minaj
Enrique Iglesias
Florence + the machine
Justin Bieber






Sony BMG Music Entertainment:


Sony BMG Music Entertainment is the second largest record company after UMG. They have offices in 43 countries across the world and the headquaters is in New York City. They also own many record labels such as: American Recordings, Battery Records, Beach Street Records, BNA Records, Columbia Nashville, Day 1, Epic Records, Jive Records, LaFace Records, Legacy Recordings, MASTERWORKS, RCA Records, Roc Nation, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Verity Gospel Music Group, and Volcano Entertainment. So they also have a wide variety of music making them one of the largest companies.

History of Sony BMG Music Entertainment:

2006: Google signs ageement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment to give users access to expansive catalog of music. Sony BMG Music Entertainment signs content license agreement with youtube.


2008: Sony Ericsson adds unlimited music download service to its 'PlayNow' brand and expands 'PlayNow'' to new countries. Sony BMG Music Entertainment joins Nokia comes with music.

2011: Edgar Berger named president &  CEO, International, Sony Music Entertrainment. 




Artists:
Foster the People
Shakira
Beyonce
Willow Smith
Chris Brown 
Britney Spears
Avril Lavigne 
Foo Fighters
Pitbull






EMI Group:


The EMI Group are the thrid laregst company. Through their own companies and network of licensees, they serve their artists, consumers and partners all over the world. Their record labels include:  Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Latin, Capitol Records Nashville, EMI Classics, EMI CMG, EMI Records, EMI Records Nashville, Manhattan, Parlophone, Virgin Classics and Virgin Records. 

History of EMI Group:

1920-1929:  Columbia expanded through a number of acquisitions of record companies in Europe, including Odeon in Germany, Pathe in France and, in 1926, the Parlophone label in London.

1962: After being rejected by all other major music companies The Beatles were given a contract with EMI and in the same year The Beatles released their first single, ‘Love Me Do’.

2007: In May 2007 leading UK private equity firm Terra Firma announced details of a recommended offer for the shares of EMI and assumed control of the company in August 2007. 

2011: In February 2011 EMI was acquired by Citigroup who undertook a successful recapitalization of the company.

Warner Music Group:

Finally Warner Music Group is the fourth of the major music companies in the world. It is propbably the oldest of the four companies as well. With its broad variation of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry such as Asylum, Atlantic, Cordless, East West, Elektra, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word.

History of Warner Music Group:

1811: Chappell and Co. opens for business on London's Bond Street as a shop for sheet music and musical instruments.

1925: Warner Bros. studios purchases exclusive rights to the Vitaphone, allowing them to synchronize music and effects to silent film.

1980: Roadrunner Records is launched in the Netherlends.

1992: Rhino and Atlantic form worldwide distribution agreement.

2005: WMG listed on the New York stock exchange with the ticker WMG.


2010: WMG celebrates the 60th anniversary of Elektra Records.






Artists: 



Bruno Mars
Paramore
Greenday
Death Cab for Cutie 
Michael Buble
Trey Songs
Ramones
Metallica
Frank Sinatra
Plan B
T.I
B.o.B
Paulo Nutini