Record labels manage artist brands and distribute, promote, and produce their music and videos. They sign artists to contracts. Independent labels like Boy Better Know specialize in niche genres like grime and have fewer widely known artists. Boy Better Know would be a good fit for an artist in my genre because its pioneers like JME and Skepta represent grime. Copyright law protects songs and albums, requiring permission to use music. When using copyrighted music in a video, I must contact the record label and get approval for my intended use and pay any necessary fees.

1. Task 3 Recording labels
By Marissa Whyte

2. Record labels what do they do?
• Record labels are trademarks and brands
associated with the marketing of artist’s music
and videos. They are publishers that manage
trademarks and brands labels are also
involved in how a label distributes, promotes,
markets and the production. Under a record
label artists and A&R’ are signed under
contracts.

3. Major or independent?
My artist would be signed to an independent record
label because the genre is grime/rap is a niche
market that will know about certain artists in the
genre. Independent record labels such as “Boy
Better Know”, “No hats no hoodies”, “Play Dirty Ent”
and “Earth616” only have a few known artists that
do grime on their label that are actually known by
the general public.

4. Existing record label
suited for my artist
• The existing record label my artist would be
most suited to would be “Boy Better Know”.
This is because all artist on the label such as
JME, Skepta and Wiley are pioneers of the
genre and are the most known grime artists.
As my artist’ songs represent grime this label
would suit it perfectly.

5. Boy Better Know
(BBK) Recording
label
Boy Better
Know is an
English grime
record label
founded in
2005 by JME.
JME (producer & MC), Skepta
(producer, MC, & DJ), Jammer
(producer & MC), Frisco (MC
&producer), Wiley (producer &
MC), and DJ Cash. All acts on
the label were first known as
underground artists that
gained support, fame and
popularity because of this.

6. Copyright Music
• Copyright Music is a legal protection for the
creator of songs and album’. The copyright law
allows producers, musicians and others
involved in other creations from a music label
independent or major are being paid for the
song or album. Copyright music is protected
so people are not able to use it without
informing the company and telling them what
the user intends to do with it.

7. Copyright Music Videos
• When using copyrighted music I will need to
ask the company that I am planning to use
one of their songs from an artist on their
roster. Tell them what I am planning to do with
it and structure a plan with them if I have to
pay to use the song. I am not allowed to use
images, music and other video clips that have
copyright on them. I can put my music video
on Youtube crediting the distributor and artist
and put it on other sites.

8. What have I learned?
• What I have learned about record labels and
copyright will help in my production as I am
now aware of what I can use the music for and
what is allowed to be in my music video. As
well as the process and work that is involved
when making digipack’.