The four main institutions that dominate today's music industry are Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Music Publishing. Collectively known as "The Big Four", they control the global recorded music market and work with many successful artists. In addition to promoting music, these institutions also promote different forms of media like film, magazines, and television through their network of smaller companies.

2. 
There are four main institutions dominating today’s music industry.
These institutions are known as ‘The Big Four’ and include:
 Universal Music Group (UMG) – the largest of the four
 Sony Music Entertainment – the second largest
 Warner Music Group – the third largest
 EMI Music Publishing – the fourth largest and the smallest of the
four.
All of which are owned by Live Nation, the largest music venue owner
and promoter which, therefore, controls the live music industry.
In addition to promoting music, these institutions also promote
different forms of media, including, film, magazine and TV.
The Big Four also have authority over a network of smaller companies
that go on to provide these forms of entertainment to target audiences.
The 4 main institutions

3. 
Universal Music Group

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 Founded in 1934 as DECCA Records USA, Universal Music Group(UMG) is the
world’s largest music content company.
 In 1990, the company later developed into MCA Music Entertainment Group,
and after another 6 years, further development lead to what we know as UMG
today.
 With leading market positions in recorded music, as well as music publishing
and merchandising, UMG both discovers and develops recording artists and
songwriters then going onto market and promote their music through a variety
of different formats and platforms, e.g. Youtube and other merchandising
methods such as clothing lines and live shows.
 UMG also owns and governs the copyrights to musical compositions in order
for them to be used in public performances, recordings, and also for use in films
and advertisements. UMG has worked alongside many successful artists such
as Rihanna, Snow Patrol and The Who and is situated, mainly, in New York
City, USA where the institution also manages various labels including DECCA
Records, Island Records and Def Jam Recordings (also known as The Island Def
Jam Music Group).

5. 
Sony Music

6. 
 A global recording company that boasts a broad array of both
local and international successes such as Jimi Hendrix, The Fray
and One Direction.
 Sony Music Entertainment is solely owned by Sony
Corporation of America after the Bertelsmann half of the joint
business enterprise, in 2004, was bought by the Corporation in
2008; after which, it was renamed to what it is know 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 and Columbia Records.

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EMI

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 Founded in 1931 as the Electric and Music Industries, EMI is
the smallest of The Big Four and unlike the three previously
mentioned institutions, EMI is a British company
predominantly based in London.
 The original companies behind EMI were founded by the
inventor of the gramophone, Emile Berliner, and its record
labels include Angel Records, Blue Note Records and Virgin
Records.
 Over the years, EMI has also worked alongside many successful
artists including The Kooks, LCD Sound system and Massive
Attack and to this day EMI continues to develop in the eyes of
the music industry.

9. 
Warner Music Group

10. 
 Founded in 1958, Warner Music Group was more commonly known as
Warner Bros Records, later sold to Seven Arts Productions in 1967.
 With the company’s growing success, in 1972, the institution renamed itself
WEA Corp, which stood for its three main labels -Warner Bros, Elektra and
Atlantic.
 After further success building up a strong status within the industry
during the 1970’s, Warner gained its first overseas bureaus in both Canada
and Australia in 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.
 Like the previous two institutions, WMG’s main headquarters is based in
New York City, USA, and like UMG, Warner Music Group offer artist
management and uses similar merchandising methods.
 Also like the previous institutions, WMG is home to many record labels
including Asylum, Rhino and Sire and has also assisted many artists that
have gone on to become very successful such as Green Day, Plan B and
Estelle.