The document discusses the consolidation of the major music companies from four to three. EMI faced large debts and was unable to restructure, leading to Universal Music Group acquiring its recorded music operations and Sony acquiring its music publishing in 2011. This reduced the "Big 4" music companies to the "Big 3" of Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. Sony Music is part of a large Japanese conglomerate operating in various industries, while Warner Music was previously owned by Time Warner but was spun off and went public before being taken private in 2011.

1. The Big 3
Types of Music Companies

2. Big 4 become the Big 3
• As of November 2011 the big 4 became the big 3.
• EMI had huge debts and were unable to restructure these. On 12
November 2011, it was announced that EMI would sell its recorded
music operations to Universal Music Group and its music publishing
to Sony. This is called consolidation of media ownership.
• http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/sep/21/universal-emi-
takeover-approved

3. Sony Music Entertainment
The Sony group based in Japan
works in a range of markets
including;
 Financial Services
 Electronics and Communications
 Film Production and Distribution
 Games hardware and software
development
 Interactive Services
 TV Production and Distribution

4. Formerly owned by Time Warner, the worlds largest media
conglomerate. It was traded on the New York stock exchange until May
2011, when it announced its privatisation.
The creation of Warner music is what we call a spin off. It was spun off
from Time Warner.

9. Go Research…
• Create a detailed case study of the big 3.
• Find out: What labels they own What artists they have signed to them
How many global stars they have What genre of music they deal with
Contracts they have provided artists with