The record label is a significant player in the music industry. They are in charge of locating talent, but talent can also locate them. When a musician or artist signs with a label, the label is responsible for producing the “records,” as well as manufacturing, distribution, marketing, and promotion. They are also in charge of enforcing intellectual property rights. Here are the World’s top 5 music labels you should know:
Interscope
Interscope, which is owned by UMG, was founded in the 1990s with the goal of giving artists and producers complete creative control. They were a major part of the gangsta rap controversy in the mid-1990s and were owned by Warner at the time. Warner severed ties, and Universal took over.
Interscope Records is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and is home to Dr. Dre, Eminem, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Selena Gomez, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, Maroon 5, U2, and Billie Eilish.
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group, also known as UMG Recordings, Inc., is an American corporation. While they are an American company, Vivendi, a French media conglomerate, owns the majority of the company, and Tencent, a Chinese technology company, owns a minority share.
This umbrella company houses a massive collection of labels and brands. Their catalog includes businesses from Argentina to the United States, as well as 40 countries in between. In the United States, they own Capitol Music Group, Def Jam Recordings, Fame House, Interscope Geffen A&M, Island Records, Polygram Entertainment, Republic Records, Spinefarm Records, Universal Music Enterprises, Universal Music Group Nashville, Universal Music Latin Entertainment, Universal Music Publishing Group, and Verve LIVE.
Universal Music Group is the world’s largest music company, and according to their website, they exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. With such a large number of artists on their roster, it’s safe to say that they’ll be able to achieve their goal.
The company’s history dates back to 1934 when Decca Records established an American office, which later branched out on its own in 1939. American Decca did not merge with MCA until 1962.
MCA was purchased by Japanese Matsushita Electric in 1990, but five years later, Seagram purchased 80% of MCA, and the company was renamed Universal Studios, Inc., with the music division renamed Universal Music Group.
That is only the beginning of the mergers and sales. As you can see, this record label has a complicated family tree.
Atlantic Records
The Atlantic Recording Corporation was founded in 1947 and quickly rose to prominence as one of the leading labels for jazz, R&B, and soul music. Today, Atlantic Records is owned by Warner Music Group, and their genres have expanded to include rock and pop music.
Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Roberta Flack, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Otis Redding, and Ray Charles are among Atlantic’s most famous artists. Despite the fact that there are many, many more.
Island Records
Island Records is another label that has made a name for itself in jazz music just like Tseries owned by an individual, Bhushan Kumar Kumar. Wondering who he is, find Bhushan Kumar bio and you would wish to be like him. UMG now owns what began in 1959 as a British-Jamaican record label. They, like most other labels, went through several owners before landing here, and their music went through a few changes as well.
From history, Island Records can be dated back to jazz but fell into the world of large independent record labels in the late 1980s, which was fortunate for them because indie music was huge at the time. Island rose to prominence in the progressive music scene.
It will surprise you that legends such as Queen, Tracy Bonham, Justin Bieber, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse, Iggy Azalea, Janet Jackson, and Cat Stevens are among their key artists.
Now that you are done reading the World’s top 5 music labels, your comments on this post will be appreciated.
