The four largest record labels that control about 70% of the global music market are Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, EMI Group, and Warner Music Group. These "Big Four" labels sign and promote recording artists, market and distribute their music, and accounted for 71.7% of total music sales in 2005. Universal Music Group was the largest with a 25.5% market share, followed by Sony BMG with 21.5%, EMI Group with 13.4%, and Warner Music Group with 11.3%. Independent labels combined made up the remaining 28.3% of the market.

1. The Big Four Record Labels
By Ikhlas, Kate and Nicola

2. Music Industry:
Within the music industry, most recording artists have
become increasingly dependent on record labels to expand
their audience, market their albums, and be both promoted
and heard on radio, television, with publicists that assist
performers in positive media reports to market their
merchandise, and make it available via stores and other
media outlets. The Internet has increasingly been a way
that some artists avoid costs and gain new audiences, as
well as the use of videos in some cases, to sell their
products. Record labels may be small, localized,
independent or they may be part of a large international
media group, or in between. The largest 4 record labels are
called major labels.

3. Record Labels:
• Record labels are often under the control of a corporate
umbrella organization called a music group. A music group
is typically owned by an international conglomerate holding
company, which often has non-music divisions as well. A
music group controls and consists of music publishing
companies, record (sound recording) manufacturers, record
distributors, and record labels. As of 2005, the "big four"
music groups control about 70% of the world music market,
and about 80% of the United States music market. Record
companies (manufacturers, distributors, and labels) may also
comprise a record group which is, in turn, controlled by a
music group. The constituent companies in a music group or
record group are sometimes marketed as being divisions of
the group.

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

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

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

7. The Warner Music Group is the fourth major record label in
music sales. They accounted for 11.3% of the market in 2005.
The group's well-known label imprints include Asylum, Atlantic,
Lava, Reprise, Rhino, and Warner Bros. Key artists are:
Green Day
Madonna
Alanis Morissette
My Chemical Romance
Rob Thomas
Warner Music Group:

8. Statistics:
The global market was estimated at $30–40 billion in 2004.Total
annual unit sales (CDs, music videos, MP3s) in 2004 were
3 billion. The big four accounted for 71.7% of retail music sales:
• Universal Music Group—25.5%
• Sony Music Entertainment—21.5%
• EMI Group—13.4%
• Warner Music Group—11.3%
• independent labels—28.3%