The document summarizes the four largest music companies, known as the "Big Four": Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Music Publishing. It provides details on the founding and history of each company, as well as some of the major music labels and artists associated with each one. Independent labels are also mentioned as dominating the global music industry by targeting niche audiences with smaller numbers of artists.

1. Music Institutions

2. The Big Four The Big Four are the largest in the music industry, this includes: ‘The Universal Music Group’, which is the largest of the four, ‘Sony Music Entertainment’, which is the second largest recording company ‘Warner Music Group’, which is the third largest recording company ‘EMI Music Publishing’, which is the fourth largest recording company and is the smallest company in the Big Four. The big four is owned by live nation which stands as the largest promoters and music venue owners, and therefore controls the live music industry. The big four don’t only promotes music, but other forms of entertainment, for example; Films, Magazines and TV. Moreover, the big four have authority over smaller companies which provide entertainment of all kinds which target audiences like you and me consume.

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4. Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is the largest business in the music industry therefore, being apart of the Big Four. The company was founded in 1934 as DECCA Record USA but was developed in 1990 and formed MCA Music Entertainment Group. After six years, the first UMG incarnation was formed which was further developed to what we know it as ‘The Universal Music Group (UMG)’. The headquarters for The Universal Music Group is located in New York City, in the United States. The Universal Music Group shares a great deal of music labels including: Geffen Records, Interscope Records & Polydor Records ETC UMG has supported many well know artists in the music industry, such as: Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne ,Eminem &Justin BieberETC…. http://www.universalmusic.com/

5. Sony Music Entertainment Sony BMG Music Entertainment was a global recording music company which was a joint business enterprise between the Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann AG in 2004. The merge affected both music group companies in a negative way world wide apart from Japan, As a result of this, on August 5th 2008, the Sony corporation of America then decided to buy the other half belonging to Bertelsmann AG and became the venture’s successor for $1.2 billion. With Sony corporation of America now owning 100% of the company, they decided to rename it to Sony Music Entertainment Inc which we are familiarised with. The Sony Music Group is also apart of the Big four and is the second biggest music company in the recording industry. Like the Universal music group, Sony has also got a main headquarters set up in New York City in USA. The following are few labels which Sony control: Columbia Records, Epic Records & Syco Music ETC SME has supported many well know artists in the music industry, such as: Chris brown, Willow Smith & BeyoncéETC http://www.sonymusic.com/

6. Warner Music Group Warner Music Group is the third largest recording company, making it part of the Big four. The company was founded in 1958 and was known as Warner Bros Records but was sold to Seven Arts Productions in 1967. In the 1970s the Warner Group built up a strong Status in the music industry, and in the same year they gained its first overseas Bureau in Canada and Australia. With Warner’s growing success in 1972 the company had renamed itself WEA Corp which stood for it’s three main stood for it’s three main labels, Warner Bros, Elektra and Atlantic. IN 2004 the company was renamed to the Warner Music Group as it became an independent holder. The Warner Music Group has a headquarters placed in new York City in the USA. Some music labels belonging to Warner: Bad Boy Records, Electra Records &Warner Bros Records ETC Here are some artists who’ve worked alongside Warner: Wiz Khalifa, Plan B & Bruno Mars ETC http://www.wmg.com/

7. EMI Music Publishing EMI Music Publishing is the Fourth Largest Music Company in the recording industry and is a British Music Company, and also holds a place in the Big Four. EMI was founded in 1931, as the Electric and Music Industries ltd, and has had a merger of the UK Columbia Graphophone Company and the Gramophone Company which was well known during that period for one of it’s record labels, His Master’s Voice. Still EMI Remains and continues to flourish it’s name in the music industry. EMI stands apart from the rest due to it’s headquarters which is located not in New York, USA But in London, England. Examples of EMI’S Music Labels: Angel Records, Circa Records & Blue note Records ETC Artists that have worked with EMI:Bom Gosto, Bon-Bon & Bosco (Paula Lambert) ETC http://www.emi.com/page/Home_UK/

8. Independent Labels As shown in the source, you can see that the independent labels are dominating globally for the music industry.

9. An independent- they are generally small independent recording labels, for example Triumph Records which have no connection to the major’s, whatsoever. Their audience is often head towards the niche audience and employ a small number of artists which they aim to keep a more ‘organic look’. An example of this is artist under the dubstep genre as it hasn’t been around for that long, it is originally from south London, and has grown large in popularity over the years by the young generation/ Youths