The area we have studied is the music industry. In this
essay I will be writing about major and indie record labels and the different
variety of products that they produce. I will be looking into Warner as a major
record label and as my indie record label I will be looking into High Focus. Warner
has grown in the recent years to become the world’s third-largest recorded
music business and third-largest music publishing business and, during
a time of dramatic industry transition, they have established themselves as one
of the music industry's most successful companies. The CEO of Warner Music
Group is Stephen F. Cooper. A catalogue of more than 40,000 songs with
approximately 45 Christian songwriters under contract. They have offices in
more than 40 countries. Warner/Chappell
dates its origins back to 1811 and the formation of Chappell & Company. High
Focus Records was established in 2010 to offer a platform for a new generation
of rappers & producers in the UK. With support from all of the major hip
hop promoters, distributors, magazines and websites in the country, you can
expect a steady flow of diverse releases, live showcases, videos and viral in
the future from the artists on their roster. Horizontally interfaces but has
aspects of vertical, e.g they produce their own music (exceptions for big
features such as dj premier). High Focus has one aim – to resurrect the legacy
of UK hip hop.
Warner Music Group has 105,339 subscribers on YouTube. They also have a lot of distributes. The
three main labels are Atlantic Records Group, Warner Bros. Records, Parlophone.
There are alternatives such as Warner Chappell, Alternative Distribution
Alliance, Warner Brothers etc. The Atlantic Records Group was founded in 1947
by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson as a one-room operation in New York City
that was dedicated to finding, recording and promoting independent R&B and
jazz. Warner Brothers. Record Inc. is one of the most successful recording companies
in music history and home to some of the most influential and innovative
artists of our time. Parlophone; with more than a century of experience in
discovering and nurturing iconic recording artists, Parlophone is among the
best known and most loved record labels in the world. The company joined the
Warner Music Group family on July 1st, 2013. Warner Chappell is a global music
publishing company of Warner Music Group. Alternative Distribution Alliance was
created in 1993 to focus on the independent music business, where some of the
most successful artists and record labels have built their initial followings. Warner
Brothers is a fully integrated, broad-based entertainment company and a global
leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of
all forms of entertainment and their related businesses.
Warner Music Group includes artists such as Barry Gibb,
Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Eric Clapton, fun, Gamble & Huff, Green Day, Jay-Z,
Katy Perry, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, among many others. They produce merchandises
such from Stalley Ohio Deluxe T-Shirt Pack, Hunter Hayes Storyline CD, Janelle
Monáe Electro Phi Beta Sorority Sweatshirt, Hoodies, sweatshirts and CDS. This
then proves that the major record labels look into more of the entertainment
side, they prefer more merchandise and to earn more money with these stuff.
On the other hand High Focus as an indie music label focus
on more of the songs they give across to their audience with a variety of
different social networks and the different apps they use. Main form of
platform based on YouTube, currently 62000 subscribers and counting. They
showcase all their music and events on the channel and links to purchasing
their merchandise, music and other are in the video description. They are
fairly new established in 2010 and have acquired an array of highly skilled
lyricists and musicians. Their most recent signing is onoe Capone who is from
London and has a very psychedelic/spiritual aspect to his music and his image
is very abstract. They have an emphasis more on the art of music than making
money, a major difference between major labels such as Warner Brothers Music
Group. They focus on releasing music videos to most of their tracks and
constantly release new material. The main rappers are currently on tour and are
producing an album.
Their artists include: Fliptrix, Verb T, Onoe Caponoe, Edward
Scissortounge, Jam Baxter, and many others. Very urban and conscious people may
refer too. Contrasts with the very popular trap rap scene popularised by link
up tv and groups such as section boyz. They brand extend through their website
and their rugged urban look they give out. Exclusive merchandise such as vinyl
all the way to hoodies. Upcoming shows are listed and in this instance they do
horizontally interface as underground music such as theirs don’t have known
venues. They featured in boom bap festival 2014.
