1. Major Record Labels
Major record labels are large companies within the music industry that may also
own smaller record labels. Record labels manage brands and trademarks they
also control the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,
and enforcement of copyright protection of sound recordings and music videos.
Record labels are known for watching upcoming talent and signing them to their
major record label due to normally their image or mixtape success, once this is
completed the record label develop the new artist through the mainstream.
The record labels control most of their artists when making their music videos
and albums which are seen commonly as some artists have no choice but to
change their original lyrical content and image to expand their audience. This is
done to mostly so that the artist can be promoted better and heard on radio and
television more often this gains the artist positive media coverage which helps
market their merchandise to increase more sales for the artist and record label.
Four Major record labels:
Universal Music Group
Owns or has joint shares in thousands of record labels
Covers the widest range of genres
Sony Music Entertainment
11 subtypes of labels, specialising in different genres
Wide range of independent labels
Warner Music Group
More than 20,000 record label subtypes under the „Warner Music Group‟
Extensive record labels/Large range of genres
Wide range of independent record labels
EMI
6 subtypes of labels, specialising in different genre
Wide range of international labels
Record Label acts
Solo image:
Cam‟ron

2. This mixtape cover by hip-hop artist Cam‟ron is an old style of mix tape covers as
it doesn‟t use many bright outstanding colours although references back to the
text in the bubble of the left corner “The purple mixtape” because the artist and
his surroundings are in grey while objects and clothing in purple are shown.
Audiences can tell that this artist is not commercial because the cover shows the
„Life entertainment‟ a well known recording studio for artists who are not signed;
it is also unprofessional for record labels to show their branding on front covers.
Mixtape covers like all mosthavenarratives. These ideas are sprung up from the
title of the mixtape. The title means everything while creating mixtape covers. It
allowsthe artist to find several of objects that would convoy the art of the
mixtape, the typographic style, and the general feel of the design these are the
conventions of mixtapes which stand above album covers.
Signed image:

3. This album cover of Cam‟ron‟s album „Purple Haze‟ is shown to be more
professional than his first mixtape cover „The Purple Mixtape‟ as he shows more
depth and appeal towards his audience as the album cover shows more detail and
style as effects are used throughout the album cover to relate to his title. An
album cover is the first thing that audiences look at when they decide to
purchase a music album; this is why its design is very important for the record
label as it creates sales. It takes a certain amount of time and skills to create a
remarkable album cover as the record labels have the funds to pay qualified
designers unlike signed artists. Some designers use typography, some use
illustrations and other use photography to produce the album‟s artwork this
features make it noticeable in such stores as HMV of unsigned and signed artists.
Mixtapesnormally include the unsigned artist „mcing‟ over another
artist‟sinstrumental who is generally known throughout the public. Mixtapes are
made or hosted by a DJs, combining new beats and vocals mixed and put
together forming their own musical content to appeal to major record labels by
getting the best tracks played on radio.
Albums areusually what audiences can find in the stores as they are official as it
is studio based. Albums are quality based due to studio based productions,
organised collaborations with other artists, label decided music, marketing, and
commercial viewing throughout television and social networking sites.
I will now show an example of a successful major record label umbrella who owns
other successful companies:

4. Warner Bros.
Recordings
1017 Brick
Squad
Records
Asylum
Records
Black Wall
Street
Records
Blacksmith
Records
BME
Recordings
Doghouse
Records
Decaydance
Records
Festival
Mushroom
Records
Maybach
Music Group
Maverick
Records
No Limit
Forever
Records
Word Records

5. Warner Bros distribute all their record labels such as the Hip-Hop record label
Maybach Music Group. The record label was taken over by Warner Bros following
the expiration of a deal with Def Jam Records.
Maybach Music Group is a label that relates to my artist as they constantly
release new videos that relate to their genre and audience for example Meek
Mill‟s video Ima Boss ft Rick Ross contains the values and content of the genre by
showing voyeurism, high status and hip-hop fashion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1cxP2nCBdU
Maybach Music Group market their artists by magazine advertising, internet
articles, interviews and social networks in all to appeal to their target audience
and to generate album and single sales for their artist.