Major record labels account for most music sales worldwide and in the US. The top four major record labels are Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, EMI Group, and Warner Music Group. Universal Music Group is the largest label, accounting for 25.5% of global music sales in 2005, followed by Sony BMG with 21.5%, EMI Group with 13.4%, and Warner Music Group with 11.3%.

1. Record Label
Research

2. What is a record label?
In the music industry, a record label is a brand
and a trademark associated with the
marketing of music recordings and music
videos.
Statistics say that Major labels account for
70% of music sales worldwide and 85% of
music sales in the U.S.

3. Universal Music Group
O The Universal Music Group is the biggest major
record label and sells more music than any other
major label. They accounted for 25.5% of the
market in 2005, according to IFPI.
O The group's well-known label branches include
Geffen, Interscope, Island, Motown, and
Universal.
O Key artists are: Black Eyed Peas, Mariah Carey,
50 Cent, Kanye West and Gwen Stefani.

4. Sony BMG Music
Entertainment
O Sony BMG Music Entertainment is the
second biggest major record label in music
sales. They accounted for 21.5% of the
market in 2005.
O The company's well-known label branches
include Arista, Columbia, Epic, J, Jive, and
RCA.
O Key artists are: Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys
and Britney Spears.

5. EMI Group
O The EMI Group is the third biggest major
record label in music sales. They accounted
for 13.4% of the market in 2005.
O The group's well-known label branches
include Astralwerks, Capitol, EMI, Mute, and
Virgin.
O Key artists are: The Beatles, Coldplay and
The Rolling Stones.

6. Warner Music Group
O The Warner Music Group is the fourth major
record label in music sales. They accounted
for 11.3% of the market in 2005.
O The group's well-known label branches
include Asylum, Atlantic, Lava, Reprise,
Rhino, and Warner Bros.
O Key artists are: Greenday, Madonna and My
Chemical Romance.

7. O My chosen Band (The Gaslight Anthem) is
with a record label called Mercury Records.
O Mercury Records is in the United Kingdom
and is part of the Island Def Jam Music
Group in the United States. Both of which
are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group.
(The biggest major record label).