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.