Record Companies

Record labels may be small and independent, or they may be part of a large international media group. The largest four record labels are called ‘Major Labels.’ Since 1988-2009 there has been a change in these major labels. It first began with the ‘Big Six’ consisting of record labels such as Warner Music Group, EMI, Sony Music, BMG Music, Universal Music Group and Polygram. Over the years this has decreased to just 4 labels now being called the ‘Big four.’ Till today the big four record label groups are Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Group and Warner Music Group.

Universal Music Group (UMG) is the world’s largest group of record labels in the recording industry. It is the largest of the ‘Big Four’ record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations.  UMG owns a music publisher named Universal Music Publishing Group, which became the world’s largest following the acquisition of BMG Music Publishing in May 2007. "Universal Music" was once the music company attached to film studio Universal Pictures. Its origins go back to the formation of the American branch of Decca Records in 1934. Artists signed to UMG include Akon, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Robin Thicke, Lady Gaga, Lil wayne, Drake and many more.

                                                 Lil Wayne is signed to UMG

Warner Music Group (WMG) is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies. Warner Music Group also has a music publishing arm called Warner/Chappell Music, which is currently one of the world's largest music-publishing companies.  WMG is the only one of the big four record companies that cannot trace its ancestry, WMG's roots date back to the founding of Warner Bros.  Diddy, Alesha Dixon, Gucci Mane, Gym Class Heroes, Madonna and Plan B are all artists signed with Warner Music group.

                                                      Madona is signed with WMG

Sony Music Entertainment abbreviated SME is the second largest global recorded music company of the ‘big four’ record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America. The company which evolved into Sony Music was founded in 1929 as the American Record Corporation (ARC) through several smaller record companies. Sony renamed the record company Sony Music Entertainment (SME) on January 1991. Sony Music Entertainment throughout the years have signed many successful music artists. Some of these include Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Bob Dylan, Kings of Leon, Leona Lewis and one of the most widely beloved entertainers the late Michael Jackson.

The EMI Group (Electric and Musical Industries LTD, is a music company headquartered in London, England. It is the fourth largest business groups and family of record labels in the recording industry making it the fourth of the ‘Big Four’ record companies. The Electric and Musical Industries LTD was formed in Mrach 1931 by the merger of the UK Columbia Graphophone Company Columbia Graphophone Company and the Gramophone Company, with its "His Master's Voice" record label, firms that have a history extending back to the origins of recorded sound. Artists with EMI Group include The Beatles, Katy Perry, Queen and Letoya Luckett.