Record labels are responsible for coordinating the production, manufacturing, and distribution of music. They also promote newly released music and music videos. Record labels own the copyright to all songs and music videos. Major record labels can offer more support, resources, and promotion to artists compared to independent labels. They have more experience and can help an artist become more established. The artist in this case study would be suited to a major label like Def Jam Recordings, which has experience with mainstream hip hop artists. Def Jam was founded in 1983 and has had success promoting artists like Kanye West and Ludacris. It is now owned by Universal Music Group.

1. 7- Record Labels
By Damian Zlotorzysnki

2. What are record labels and what do they do ?
Record Labels responsibly have to coordinate
the production, manufacturing and distribution of
the music, record labels are also responsible for
the sufficient advertisement and promotion of
newly released music videos. Record labels
content is protected by the copyright law due to
record labels enforcing copyright protection on all
their songs and music videos. Lastly record
labels maintain contracts with recording artists
and their managers.

3. Is the artist signed to a major or independent record
label ?
• My artist would be signed to a major record label due to the fact they are able to
offer a lot more support to the performer. A major record label would also be able to
provide the artist with efficient resources to record their music and help them
promote their music by getting it more out there. Another benefit is that major
record labels have a lot more experience behind them and that would be beneficial
for my artists as they will be more experienced. A big record label would be able to
offer my artist a good studio with the right resources and good budgets for the
creation of music videos.
• The genre of my artist is very mainstream in today's society (Hip-Hop) so I believe
for this simple fact it will make it easier for my artist to get established in today's
society. If the right marketing and promoting techniques are implemented by the
major record labels, it would bring my artist a lot of popularity, something a smaller
independent music label would not be able to do so well in.

4. Our artist, what record label type is suited?
I strongly believe that my artists would suite Def Jam
Recordings due to the fact that they are a huge record label
and they have worked and currently working with a lot of
highly successful Hip-hop artists. The group is owned by
Universal Music group and they have been around for 33
years. There current artists include Kanye West, Logic,
Ludacris, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and many more. The record
label is widely recognised on the music charts. Over 48
different artists have been recognised in the music charts
while under the management of Def Jam.

5. History of Def Jam records
Def Jam records is a major record label owned by The Universal Music Group
which was founded by Rick Rubin in 1983. The first ever single released by the
Def Jam Recordings group was a punk-rock group ‘Hose’. Russell Simmons
joined as a co-founder of the record label when they were introduced together
by Vincent Gallo. In 1992 Def Jam records was undergoing some financial
problems even under multi-platinum releases from EPMD and Public Enemy.
In 1994 the label was forced to fold due to PolyGram purchasing 50% stake in
Def Jam Recordings. In 1996 Polygram bought another 10% of Def Jam
Records by enforcing more ownership of Def Jam. This further lead on to
Polygram purchasing the remaining percentage of Def Jam Recordings from
Russel Simmons by a staggering $100 million. Meanwhile Polygram was
purchased by Seagram and merged becoming Universal Music Group (UMG).
Universal music group decided to merge 14+ record labels including Def Jam,
Mercury Records and Island records in order to form The Island Def Jam Music
Group. After the forming of IDJMG the labels continued to operate as separate
labels just where all underneath that one bigger umbrella (UMG).

6. Copyright applied to record labels
The copyright law was created to give someone ownership
over something they have created or made, in this instance
its content. Ownership consists of permissions to reproduce
the content originally made. Distribution of the content to a
public audience and producing similar type of content from
the same idea is also part of the law. An example is when
someone uses a song or video from YouTube for their own
use, it can get restricted. Music must be purchased and not
illegally download when using the content and permission
must be gained from the artist/producer.

7. Copyright in consideration of music
In order to make sure I'm not going to be breaking the copyright law, I
have considered to obtain permission from the record label itself or
possibly even the artist who recorded the music video. In order to do
this I'm going to write a letter to the record label stating clearly that the
music video will be used for educational purposes for my A2 Media
coursework. I will have to oblige by the Fair Use Act, this act states that
the content will be utilized within educational, critical and commentary
purposes meaning I will not be able to use it for financial gain or
publicity.

8. Knowledge of copyright and record labels applies to
production
I have learned from this research task that I will need to have the
correct precaution when using the music of another artist. I will have to
oblige with the Fair Use Act and take no credit for the content. I will also
reference the original song giving it credit and state that I will not make
any profit out of the song. Doing these steps it means I will be able to
avoid copyright claims. The video will be used for educational
purposes.

9. The History of our Record Label.
This is the logo I have designed for my record label Urban
Vibe Records (UVR) which is a British Hip-Hop record label
that was formed in 2016. My record label become a major
label in result of Def Jam Recordings financial difficulties,
causing the company to fold.This is where the newly made
record label UrbanVibe Records obtained full ownership
within a six-month period.The shares were brought for a
total sum of 200 million pounds, which in later months
caused UrbanVibe Records to take legal actions in
alternating the record labels name to the currently known
UrbanVibe Records.This helped my record label re-brand
the previously corrupt record label ; UrbanVibe Records are
yet to announce its newly signed artist.

10. As a group we all designed a logo each and then
we choose which logo looks the best and will
represent our Record Label in the most
professional level, the logo we have chosen is
basic but looks very professional and that the
look we were going for with out record label.
The logo to the right is the logo we have chosen,
it’s a very stylish design and says ‘UVR’ which
stands for UrbanVibe Records.
The logo we chose to represent our Record label