Music Labels and Brand Research

There are many different genres of music videos and certain record labels will go for either certain types of music or bands that they feel will become very popular and make them the most money. The "Big 4" in the business today include:

- Sony Music Entertainment

- EMI Group

- Warner Music Group

- Universal Music Group

The Big 4 are a group of music groups who are at the top of the corporate umbrella in music. They are in control of the different record labels who sign the bands. As of 2005, the "big four" music groups control about 70% of the world music market, and about 80% of the United States music market. Record companies (manufacturers, distributors, and labels) may also comprise a "record group" which is, in turn, controlled by a music group. The constituent companies in a music group or record group are sometimes marketed as being "divisions" of the group.

An example of a record company/label collaboration is Universal Music Group who are a multinational music company and one of the big 4 in the business today since 1998. They sign in bands of all different genres, varying from bands and artists such as Florence and the Machine, Take That and Justin Bieber to Metallica, Enter Shikari and Dead by April. They sign bands and publish their music for the different record labels, one of them being the Record Label Victory Records, who signs bands within the rock/metal/hardcore genres. Bands included in this are Atreyu, The Bunny The Bear, A Day To Remember, Emmure and Jamies Elsewhere. Since their beginning in 1989, they have signed over 100 bands and have accumilated sales in the 250,000 mark. Victory Records briefly had a deal with Universal Music Group in 2002 until VR terminated the contract later on that year. They are currently working with RED Music, a branch of Sony.

This is an example of a band from the record label. The label introduce themselves at the start of the video and advertise the new album at the end.


Independant labels
Record companies and music publishers that are not under the control of the big three are generally considered to be independent, even if they are large corporations with complex structures. The term indie label is sometimes used to refer to only those independent labels that adhere to an independent criteria of corporate structure and size, and some consider an indie label to be almost any label that releases non-mainstream music, regardless of its corporate structure.

Development and History of Music Videos

1929 - This was the first music video ever to be released. It was for "St Louis Blues," a song by Bessie Smith. It was premiered in theatres in 1932.

1940 - "Fantasia" was a music video featuring Mickey Mouse created by Walt Disney Studios. It featured a classical music soundtrack to portray the story with, using the instruments to show expressions and feelings of characters.

1956 - Singer Tony Bennet was recorded walking through Hyde Park as his song "Stranger in Paradise" was played in the background.

1967 - This was a time when promotional music videos were of significant importance. The song "Subterrenean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan was featured in the film documentary "Don't Look Back" by D.A. Pennebaker.

1970 - The TV show "Top of the Pops" began. This show was used to show new musicians performing live in the studio, many of these were used as official music videos for the band.

1981 - This was the year in which MTV (Music Television) was started. Back then, it was the primary source for all music videos for all different genres.

Present Day - Music videos these days use a variety of different methods. Mostly, it is used as advertising