Sony Music is a major record label that owns several subsidiary labels including Columbia Records, Epic Records, and RCA Records. The document discusses how several prominent artists on these labels, such as Beyoncé, Adele, Drake, and Chris Brown, help widen the appeal and increase sales for their respective labels and Sony Music through their diverse audiences and global popularity. Their ability to sell millions of albums worldwide and attract audiences across genres demonstrates how these artists provide substantial value and revenue to Sony Music through expanding the reach and appeal of its labels.

1. Major Record Label Research
Aaron Jamaal

2. Sony Music
• The major label company I will be discussing in this research is he Sony music record label who is globally
recognized. The company is set up and divided in various countries which it operates in such as Sony music
UK however I will be discussing the Sony operation placed in America. The market share that Sony had
received in the year of 2015 was 20.9%.
Sony carries a lot of companies under its title. Holding subsidiary companies and being a large organisation,
there are a lot of Chief executive produces however the main CEO of Sony is Doug Morris.
https://www.sonymusic.com/executives/
There is a set revue amount that Sony had received in the year 2013. the net revenue received by Sony has
been calculated in Yen currency on the account of billons. Its said that the operation income had increased
by 0.9% year-on-year to 37.2 (Yen) billion.
http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/library/ar/2013/highlight/p2.html
Being a Music Label branch to the general organisation of Sony. The parent company of Sony Music is Sony
entertainment Corp. Sony Music was founded in 1929;
There’s a number of business strands that Sony own. These are strands such as: Sony Computer Entertainment;
Sony Pictures Entertainment; Sony Music Entertainment and Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
http://www.sony.com

3. Columbia Records
• Columbia records is a subsidiary to Sony Music Records. It
signs a collection of well respected artists who sales millions
of records each year. Columbia records doesn’t necessarily
have a niche target audience as they sign artists who operates
in different genres such as RnB, POP and Rap. This is evident
from the contrast of artists such as Snoop Dogg, Beyonce,
Calvin Harris, J. Cole, Pharrell Williams and 50 Cent. The wide
range of artists signed, allow Columbia record to be a
mainstream and versatile organisation as they receive a wider
range of audiences listening to artists on their label.

4. Beyonce
• Boyonce is a featured artist of Columbia records who is able to bring a wider appeal to label. Her
star persona and her ‘Diva’ attitude enables both male and female audience to purchase and listen
to her music. Beyonce is classified as an R&B artist allowing her sex appeal to be discovered globally
across all audiences. However; doing music in the R&B genre, doesn’t prevent Beyonce from
producing music in other genres of music. Having sold millions of records and albums, Its no doubt
that fans of beyonce would not think twice about buying her music. Beyonce’s power to expand
Columbia records appeal becomes more evident when she released her secret surprise album
‘Beyonce’in the year 2013. The record sold 617,000 copies in the U.S., and 828,773 copies
worldwide in its first three days of availability, becoming the fastest-selling album in the history of
the iTunes Store. This gave Columbia records a good appeal globally as she manages to attract both
male and female audiences to purchase her music.
• This is a screenshot taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mrs._Carter_Show_World_Tour
showing her tours dates aross ther world. The screenshot enables people to notice jus how much of
an appeal she manages to bring to Columbia records. Perfoming 132 shows across the world
enables fans the chance of seeing her perform the songs she produces. Being able to perfom in the
U.S, Europe, Oceania, South America and North America proves to the audience that she brings a
global appeal to Columbia Records.

5. Pharrell Williams
• Pharrell is also a featured artist to the record label Columbia. He is
another significant figure to the label which brings a wider appeal
to the label. Pharrell operates his music in the hip hop genre.
Evidence in the wider appeal he brings is the constant results of
artists who wish to feature with him on songs. Artists such as Snoop
Dogg; Asap Rocky; Jay Z; Robbin Thicke and Future. Being able to
work with so many artists who do music in different genres to him,
allow The public to see he is a well respected artist in the industry
and is very versatile/flexible with making music in all parts.
Synergizing with a number of artists, enable the label to gain a
wider appeal as people who listen to different genres to pharrell
will gain interst into Pharrells primary music who is signed to
Columbia. Like beyonce, Pharrell sales millions of records on release
such as his recent album ‘Girl’ which managed to sell 242,133 units.
http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.28225/title.hip-hop-album-sales-
week-ending-04062014

6. Adele
• Adele is recent feature to the Columbia records however, makes a huge wide appeal to the
Columbia record label. Adele’s genre type falls into the soul genre. Adele makes a significant
appearance to the music industry as there is a argued point that she is the fastest spreading
artist. Being a British artist, Adele proves her power to widen the appeal of Columbia records
by having her album being the most sold album in the U.S. since her previous album ‘21’ in
the year 2011. http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6813934/adele-25-
billboard-200-biggest-selling-album-since-2011
• having sold the most albums in America allows the public know that Adele has a very global
appeal to the industry and not a niche audience. A grand total of 8,008,000 units sold of her
album places her above American artists such as Taylor Swift.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6835248/adele-25-top-album-of-
2015-in-us
• In addition to the global distribution of her album, Adele also succeeds in tours globally.
Adele is able to take her shows across the boarder to perform her top hits to thousands of
fans who enjoy her music. In and outside of Europe go to her shows which proves her power
in widening the appeal of Columbia records. http://www.viagogo.co.uk/Concert-
Tickets/Alternative-and-Indie/Adele-
Tickets?AffiliateID=49&adposition=1t1&AdID=80416104775&PCID=PSGBGOOCONADELE4C5
665E9F9-000080&MetroRegionID=&gclid=CPLEpJHAtssCFQkq0wodNewFsA

7. Epic Records
Epic Records is American record which is an another subsidiary Label
under Sony. Epic Records have a balanced genre of artists signed to
their label. The label contains artists from genres rap, rock, POP and
RnB. Having a mixture of genres under the label allow Epic Records to
make millions of sales worldwide.
Featured artists:
- Future
- Rick Ross
- Ciara
- Travis Scott
- Ozzy Osbourne
- ABBA

8. Drake
• Drake is a featured artist to the Epic Records music label. He is a artist who
definitely widens the appeal for the label he is signed to. This is expanded
by his number 1 singles and his frequent stage surprise showings. The
genre Drake does music in is rap. Drakes gift to expand the appeal of the
label is again demonstrated through his international appearances with
English artists such as Skepta and Section Boyz, such as his recent
appearance to the Brit Awards 2016. His manage to feature and chill with
English artists allow his appeal to already expand the appeal of the label.
In the year 2013 for his most recent album ‘Nothing Was The Same’
moved 535,000 units in the week ending 15th of February (pure album
sales: comprising 495,000). An album that came without notice did
significantly well as it projected the set to sell over 500,000 copies.
This is proof of his manage to widen the appeal of Epic Records
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6473126/billboard-
200-drake-surprise-album-debuts-at-no-1-fifty-shades

9. Mariah Carey
• Mariah Carey is an artist signed to the Epic Records music label. Her ability
to widen the appeal of the label is demonstrated jus like all the the artist
succeed. Mariah Carey is a successful global 80s singer who makes and has
made grand public appearances to shows such as ‘Wild n Out’. Her present
day appearances prove how respected people are of her music today and
how she is still relevant to the music industry. Sales from her album are
proven to the idea of her expanding the appeal of the record label.
Although the biggest album she released ‘Music Box’ was released in 1993
which sold 26,000,000 worldwide (10,000,000 U.S), her recent albums still
sell millions of records worldwide. The most recent album ‘Mariah Carey’
sold 9,000,000 records in the U.S but 13,500,00 Worldwide. This is the
proof of the appeal that Mariah Carey is able to bring to the label. In
attempt of further expanding the appeal, Mariah Carey was invited to
perform at the Billboard Music Awards in 2015 and managed to make a few
stag performances this year (2016).
• http://www.mariahjournal.com/infozone/charts/albums/worldwide/

10. Michael Jackson
• Michael Jackson is an artist who is
remembered and still featured to Epic records.
Although he has past (died June 2009), Epic
Records still promote his music today due to
him being such a memorable and respected
artist. Michael Jackson is an accomplished
artist who made both inspirational and
controversial music which allowed him to be
the amazing figure he is today, from his dance
moves still being acted out.

11. RCA Records
RCA records is a subsidiary label to Sony. In
comparison to other subsidiaries of Sony, RCA
somewhat specializes in one specific genre (RnB)
as their artists lay mainly in one category.
However, although they mainly sign artists in RnB,
they are still able to sell millions of singles and
albums due to the artists widening the appeal.

12. Chris Brown
Chris brown is a signed artist to RCA records. He Is a leading artist in the industry who widens
the appeal of RCA and Sony. His career has been respected for his 11 year career allowing his
audience to see us how respected of an artist he is.
The proof of his power to widen the appeal was through his recent album ‘Royalty’ selling
184,000 units (162,000 in pure album sales) in the first week.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royalty_(Chris_Brown_album)
His extra push into increasing the appeal of the label is through his pictures posted on his
Instagram page. Here he can post both videos and pictures where his fans can comment on his
posts and communicate with him and his activities.

13. Bryson Tiller
• Bryson tiller is a former artist to RCA Records. His manage
to widen the appeal of the label is evident from the amount
of streams his recent album received. A total number of
24,688,579 managed to let his album run #1 for three
consecutive weeks.
http://djbooth.net/news/entry/2016-03-21-bryson-tiller-
trapsoul-album-hit
Tiller’s album reached #9 this week which is his highest
position since its September release. The first week of its
release, Trapsoul managed to sell 35,361 albums equivalent
units and was streamed over 21 million times.
http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.36981/title.hip-hop-album-
sales-bryson-tiller-chris-brown-future

14. Zayn Malik
• Zayn is a recent signed artist to RCA Records.
He is now established as a single artist. His
ability to widen the appeal of the label is
present through the 160,00 equivelant album
units in the week ending march 31.
• 120,000 pure album sales.
• http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/c
hart-beat/7317815/zayn-no-1-debut-
billboard-200-chart