The document discusses record labels, their purpose, and types. It explains that record labels market recorded music and help launch new musical talent. There are two main types: major labels that have large budgets as part of big media companies, and independent labels that have lower budgets. Independent labels sometimes work with major labels for assistance with promotion and distribution. The document also discusses how record labels protect artists' copyrights through contracts and ensure their work is not stolen.

1. Record labels and
permissions
Yasmina Ali

2. What is a record label and what do they do?
A record label is known as or classed as a company that market recorded music as well as music videos, it
is also known as a trademark linked to the marketing of music. Record labels help dispatch new talent
into the world, the do this by creating an artist who they believe the public want to see, this directly links
to Richard dyer’s “Star Image” theory. In this theory he speaks about the idea that icons and celebrities
are created and manufactured by companies mainly for financial gain. He believe that stars are
constructed to represent ‘real people’ experiencing emotions. Through the process of creating a star,
record labels make sure that the stars copyright is protected through contracts they are encouraged to
sign when they join a record label. This means that the artists work wont be stolen by anyone.
There are two different types of record labels;
• Major- They are able to have as much funding as they like as they are often a pat of big media
companies e.g. Warner music group, Sony music entertainment and Universal music group.
• Independent – they work without with a lower budget as they don’t have much funding.
Because major companies have so much funding they are able to promote as well as produce their artists
easily where as independent labels lack in this, sometimes major record labels will help independent
labels when necessary to help distribute the artists work. However this is not too common anymore due
to near enough everyone in the world having access to the internet it is easier to distribute work through
the media e.g. sound cloud, iTunes, YouTube etc.

3. Will your artist be signed to a major or
independent record label?
My artist will be signed to an independent record label as they need help from other industries such as
Universal Music group to distribute the music they produce. Without the help of the distributer my artist
would no had become as successful as other artists. My record label would also be seen as an
independent record label as they produce music genes that are not as popular such as R&B, indie rock
and alternative rock. Due to my artist being signed to an independent record label, their fan base is not
as high as they would potentially want it to be, this may be because they have a lower budget than other
major record labels who sign artists such as Beyoncé. Furthermore my artists social media following
would also be lower as they may not be as well known as not everyone might enjoy listening to his R&B
music. However social media is a great way for others to find out more about my artist as long as they
promote their music well and have people share the music they hear. This would not cost to much for
their label as it is free and a great way to promote new artists with lower marketing budgets than others.

4. How will you be using what you have learnt about
record labels and copyright in your production?
In this task I have managed to widen my knowledge on record labels and how copyright works as well as
the differences between a major record label as well as an independent one. From this task I know that I
will be creating a logo for my record label but also be careful that I don’t copyright other record labels’
logos. By creating my own logo I will be ensuring my artist that their work will no be distributed or used
by others without my consent. I would be placing my record labels logo on the back of my digipack as a
way of increasing the audience and fan base for the record label.

5. My record label
I have decided to call my record
label All streams records as I
want everyone to have the
chance to share their music
through us no matter what
genre they prefer, by doing this I
will gain a high fan base and a
good audience for producing
music from all genres with
artists that are under
appreciated.
As I furthered my research on other record labels and
their logos, from this I realised that they all seem quite
simple and plain therefore I chose my logo to be a
purple upside down triangle as its not something you
see everyday. ,my logo represents uniqueness and we
encourage our performers to be different and to aspire
to do great things with their music.

6. Permission
As a way of showing that I understand the effects of copyright and how it takes place in the music
industry I will be sending an email to Glassnotes records as they worked with Childish Gambino and
produced his song, I am going to ask for permission if I could use the song ‘Redbone’. I will be stating that
I will be using this song for educational purposes and explain to them that my intentions are not to make
any financial profit from this song.

7. My email