media

1. What kind of
media institution
might distribute
your media
product and why?

2. Columbia Records
Little Comets, are a current small indie rock band from Jarron and
Newcastle-upon-tyne. They are described to play ‘kitchen sink’ indie
music, which I have simulated to GoldBloom, a similar indie trio, creating
a similar genre of music. In early 2009 Little Comets were signed to
‘Columbia Records’ and soon released their debut album.
Columbia Records
- American Record Label, owned by Japan’s Song Music Entertainment founded in 1888
- First Record Company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders
- Columbia Records went on to release records by an array of notable singers,
instrumentalists and music bands
- Columbia Records remains a premier subsidiary Label of Song Music Entertainment

3. Logo’s Branding
The acquisition of rights to the the
Columbia Trade marks from EMI
(including the ‘Magic Notes’ logo)
presented Sony with a dilemma of
which logo to use. It eventually
decided that the ‘Walking Eye’ would
be Columbia’s logo.

4. Columbia Records purchased 415 and the independent label became Columbia/415
deal, a model for multitudes or other major label ‘umbrella-ed Indie’s’
Why I think ‘Columbia Records’ would be a good media Institution to distribute, GoldBloom?
Big Four Labels/Major Record Labels As a unknown, small Indie Music band, like
represent the majority of the music GoldBloom it is the ‘safe bet’ to be signed to a
sold, making up as much as 75% of the company that you know are successful within the
music market or more depending on music industry, and a company who knows what
the year. they are doing, and have high figures to prove.
Artists/Bands who are signed to a big four
label are either signed to the central label, or As a small beginning band, entering the competitive
signed to a subsidiary of the label. For world of music industry, GoldBloom would be
instance, a band may be signed to Sony, unaware of what decisions to make and the right
subsidiary label - Columbia Records. These ones, this is especially important that they would be
subsidiary labels have their staff and usually provided with staff that make the financial decisions
sign their own artists/bands and make most for the band.
of their financial decisions
These big four record companies also I think it is good for record labels to have a good
sometimes offer distribution to Indie Labels. balance between managing the ‘new’ band, and
The major label offers the Indie releases to allowing the band to make decisions for
stores along with their own releases, but they themselves, as at the end of the day, the band
do not have a say in what albums the indie created the music, so they should be allowed
band releases or how the band manages their their say in the distribution of their music.
label.

5. Bands that have been signed by Columbia
Records
The band GoldBloom are very similar to the type of bands that Columbia records
sign. For example the image of the band is very similar to the ‘Vaccines’ and
‘LittleComet’ (both groups of laid back indie guys) and also their genre of music is
very similar.