Major record labels account for the majority of music sales worldwide and in the US. The top four major record labels are Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, EMI Group, and Warner Music Group. Each label has several well-known subsidiary labels and represents top recording artists. The document provides statistics on the market share of each major label from 2005 data from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

1. Record Label
Research

2. What is a record label?
In the music industry, a record label is a
brand and a trademark associated with the
marketing of music recordings and music
videos.
Statistics say that Major labels account for
70% of music sales worldwide and 85% of
music sales in the U.S.

3. Universal Music Group
O The Universal Music Group is the biggest
major record label and sells more music than
any other major label. They accounted for
25.5% of the market in 2005, according to
IFPI.
O The group's well-known label branches
include Geffen, Interscope, Island, Motown,
and Universal.
O Key artists are: Black Eyed Peas, Mariah
Carey, 50 Cent, Kanye West and Gwen
Stefani.

4. Sony BMG Music
Entertainment
O Sony BMG Music Entertainment is the
second biggest major record label in
music sales. They accounted for 21.5% of
the market in 2005.
O The company's well-known label branches
include Arista, Columbia, Epic, J, Jive,
and RCA.
O Key artists are: Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys
and Britney Spears.

5. EMI Group
O The EMI Group is the third biggest major
record label in music sales. They
accounted for 13.4% of the market in
2005.
O The group's well-known label branches
include Astralwerks, Capitol, EMI, Mute,
and Virgin.
O Key artists are: The Beatles, Coldplay and
The Rolling Stones.

6. Warner Music Group
O The Warner Music Group is the fourth
major record label in music sales. They
accounted for 11.3% of the market in
2005.
O The group's well-known label branches
include Asylum, Atlantic, Lava, Reprise,
Rhino, and Warner Bros.
O Key artists are: Greenday, Madonna and
My Chemical Romance.

7. O Statistics according to IFPI click this link to
see their website.
O http://top40.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&z
Ti=1&sdn=top40&cdn=entertainment&tm=
407&gps=441_357_1276_815&f=00&su=
p284.13.342.ip_p504.6.342.ip_&tt=3&bt=0
&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.ifpi.org/

8. O My chosen Band (The Gaslight Anthem) is
with a record label called Mercury
Records.
O Mercury Records is in the United Kingdom
and is part of the Island Def Jam Music
Group in the United States. Both of which
are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group.
(The biggest major record label).