Epic Records is a subsidiary of Sony Music Group and has had great commercial success by distributing albums like Michael Jackson's Thriller, the best selling album of all time. Sony Music Group uses horizontal integration to own other record labels and distribution companies. They promote artists through social media, music videos on sites like YouTube, and by making music available across streaming and download platforms. A smaller label like XL Recordings, which distributes Adele's albums, also relies on digital distribution and social media to reach a large audience.

1. Case studies task
By Daniel Gerrish

2. (some of the)
Artists I Like

3. Associated
labels

4. Case Study 1:
Major Label

5.  EPIC is a subsidiary record label of Sony Music Group
who belong to Sony Corporation. It is also part of a
conglomerate in the music business with Sony owning
other labels such as Syco, CBS, and Arista record
labels.
 Sony Music Group is part of a oligopoly since they own
21.9% of the market which they operate in.
 Biggest achievement
 Album: Thriller (1982) – Michael Jackson
 World’s Biggest Selling Album of all Time

6. Other Artists at
This Label:
Currently-
. Paloma Faith
.Sade
.The Script
.Ozzy Osbourne
. Jennifer Lopez
Past-
. WHAM!
.Meat loaf
. Alice Cooper
.Luther Vandross
.Culture Club

7. Horizontal integration: Sony own other record labels
such as Syco, RCA and Columbia
Sony
Corp.
Sony Music

8. Production: They have record labels/ music
producers such Epic.
Distribution: They also have distribution
RED distribution
Exchange: They also have Music Unlimited
and online sites to access music from in
order to exhibit and exchange music.

9. John Branca and John McClain are
executors of the Michael Jackson estate.
Previous managers are Frank Dileo

10.  Bad 25 is the 25th anniversary edition reissue of the
original 1987 album and was released in September
2012.
 The album is a multi-disc set which includes the original
album (Remastered) as well as unreleased material
recorded during the Bad sessions.
 Original Bad Album (1987) is the eleventh best selling
album ever.

11. Pepsi printed an image of Michael Jackson
on one billion Pepsi cans.
Spike lee Made documentary on The Bad
Album and it’s creation.
A TV 2 hour show was shown of all the
original music videos from Bad.
A reissue of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”
single with a New B-side “Don’t Be Messin’
around”

12.  Michael Jackson is involved on many social media websites so it can
post and advertise news on current events and keep fans interested.
 For example the Michael Jackson Facebook Page has 52 million
likes.
 Also music videos can be found on YouTube under
michaeljacksonVevo

13. Michael Jackson’s music is on many
streaming service (free + subscription) as
well as download sites and stores.

14. During an album released in 2010 the
company set up a project called “Behind
the Mask Project” (which was advertised
over the web and social networking sites)
to get fans to help create a music video for
a song on the album.

16. Adele’s latest album is 21 which was
released in January 2011.
This album was recorded in various
studios in London and LA.
This is unlike some other larger
labels/artists who some record whole
albums in one studio because they can
afford to use them.

17. Manager: Jonathan Dickins (who also
managers other artists) was introduced by
another artist to Adele.

18. Adele’s album and other releases from Xl
Recordings and Distributed by an outside
company called the Beggars Group.
This is unlike Sony who own Distribution
companies to distribute there own
releases.
The album is available in most formats
both physical and Digital.

19. Adele is on social media websites just like
other artists and Michael Jackson.
This again includes websites such as
facebook and YouTube.
This means that smaller labels/artists are
able to reach the same amount of people
and remain competitive despite being
sometimes smaller.

20. Again the music is available to download
and stream on many different sites.
Examples are below...