The four main music institutions that dominate the industry are Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Music, collectively known as "The Big Four". These institutions fund and create music videos that are promoted across various platforms like television, magazines, films, and especially online via YouTube and VEVO channels. They work with many popular artists, discover and develop new talent, and market music in different formats.

1. Music Institutions
[ DEFINITION ]
MUSIC INSTITUTION : The companies that fund
and create the music videos that consumers watch.
By Masie Thumwood.

2. Music Video Institutions
There are four main institutions that dominate the current music
industry. These institutions are known as ‘The Big Four’. They
are:
• Universal Music Group (UMG) – largest of the four.
• Sony Music Entertainment – the second largest.
• Warner Music Group – the third largest.
• EMI Music Publishing – the smallest of the four.
All of these institutions are owned by Live Nation. This is the
largest music venue owner and promoter there is, and also
controls the live music industry. Not only do these institutions
promote media, they promote:
• Film.
• Magazine.
• TV.
The ‘Big Four’ also have authority over a network of smaller
companies that provide the forms of entertainment to their target
audience (smaller companies).

3. Universal Music Group (UMG):
Founded in 1934 as DECCA Records USA, UMG is the worlds largest
music institutions. In 1990, the company developed into MCA Music
Entertainment Group, and after another 6 years after that, they
developed further to lead to what we know them as today, UMG. With
having leading market positions in recorded music, along with
publishing and merchandising, UMG both discovers and develops
recording artists and songwriters. They then go on to market and
promote their music through a variety of different formats and platforms.
(e.g. YouTube). UMG has worked alongside many successful artists
such as:
• Rihanna
• Snow Patrol
• The Who
The company is mainly situated in New York City, USA where the
institution also manages various labels including:
• DECCA Records
• Island Records
• Def Jam Music Group

4. Sony Music Entertainment:
Sony Music Entertainment company is a global recording
company that boasts about its local and international success on
artists such as:
• Jimi Hendrix.
• The Fray.
• One Direction.
Sony Music Entertainment is solely owned by Sony Corporation
of America after the Bertelsmann half joint business enterprise in
2004. It was then bought by the corporation in 2008. It was then
renamed to what we know it as today. The company’s
headquarters are located in New York City, USA and is home to
a number of labels including:
• Epic Records.
• Roc Nation.
• Columbian Records.

5. Warner Music Group:
Warner Music Group was founded in 1958 and was more commonly
known as Warner Bros Records, was later sold to Seven Arts
Productions in 1967. The company was growing in success and in
1972, renames itself to WEA Corp. This stood for three main labels,
Warner Bros, Elektra and Atlantic. With further success within the
industry during the 1970’s, Warner gained its first overseas bureaus in
both Canada and Australia in the same year. In 2004, as a result of
becoming an independent holder, the company was once again,
renamed to what it is known as today (based in New York City, USA).
They offer artist management and merchandising similar to UMG. It is
home to many records such as:
• Asylum.
• Rhino.
• Sire.
It has also has assisted many successful artists such as:
• Green Day.
• Plan B.
• Estelle.

6. EMI Music:
EMI music is one of the ‘Big Four’ therefore being one of the world’s
leading record labels along with being home to many independent
record labels. Some of these labels are:
• Angel.
• Capitol.
• Parlaphone.
• Virgin Records.
In addition to this, they also have a huge range of different artists signed
to their label. Some of these artists are:
• Coldplay.
• Katy Perry.
• Snopp Dogg.
• Thirty Seconds to Mars.
• Tinie Tempah.
EMI Music allows its artists and labels an opportunity to expand on their
business with allowing access to a huge range of commercial services.
These include press and promotion, brand partnerships, merchandise

7. Information:
In order to promote the song fully through its music
video, these institutions mentioned cover a variety of
viewing methods and platforms in which to do so. These
include:
• Music Channels (4Music, Viva).
• Coverage of entertainment news.
However, with constant development of the internet, it is
becoming increasingly common for consumers to view
music videos online e.g. YouTube or the artists individual
official website. Looking at my research on music
institutions, I found that many of them use the online
music and entertainment service VEVO. This is because
it enables the product, in this case music videos, to
reach the vast and thriving user community on YouTube
through a VEVO branded channel. In addition to these
channels, VEVO offers many more through its site.