What is the Music Industry?

The Music Industry

The music industry is a business created around the performing, recording and selling the music for an artist through a variety of different methods. Inside the music industry, there are many important roles in order to achieve sales and to create success. Not only are there the musicians who write and sing the songs involved, but there are many important people behind the scenes that contribute in the process. These include people such as the sound engineers that records a track, producers who are usually involved in the production of the musician’s album as well as studio executives which are in charge of the business side and road crew who help set up live performances.

Live performances and charity gigs are vital in the music industry as it is a chance for unsigned artists to show off their talent in front of potential record labels and companies as well as great promotion for those looking to make sales. They also give opportunities to fans of an artist to attend a venue to watch listen and enjoy music that they love and support.

Radio stations also play a huge part in the music industry. They enable different songs to get air time and to be showcased across the country to promote new artist.

Over the years, the format of music has changed drastically. Where as in the early 20^th century vinyl records were popular, music is now easier than ever to access through digital music on portable media and devices. This allows songs to be spoken about and shared across the world in a touch of a button through social networking sites and live streaming. This also sparks opportunities for unknown musicians to get recognised on sites such as ‘YouTube’ and ‘Vine’ without going through TV shows and mangers.  

In anywhere in the world, the music industry is overseen by recording labels that produce the money for the music to be distributed physically or digitally. The studios also deal with the legal side of music such as royalties, concert funds and marketing expenses. 

Major Record Label - Sony 

                         


Advantages of a Major Label:

• Artists - They get more money invested on them.
• They are guaranteed success.
• They do not have to worry about paying to record and distribute their track - major companies already own recording studios and distribution channels.   

Disadvantages of a Major Label:

• Artists do not get as much say in how they are represented to the public - shaped as the labels wishes.
• They legally have less power in a contract.
• Their fame is limited - It may last ten years or one single.
• It is harder to get signed as so many artists send demos to the labels. 

Independent Record Label:

An Independent label (Indie Record) is a label that does not have the funding or distribution connections as major record companies do. The main difference between the two labels is that the major owns distribution channels which enable them to advertise and promote music by spending minim amount of money and gaining a large profit. Independent labels invest money in scouting for new and exciting talent which may or may not be compatible with a major company. Instead of searching for artists via reality TV shows, independent companies have to find artists through live gigs and events.

Artists under independent labels have a harder job in promoting their work. After writing and recording their music, it’s up to them to self promote themselves. This is commonly done through social media such as Twitter, Facebook and Soundcloud. They may give tracks for free after reaching a certain follower count. Live gigs also give the artists the opportunity to perform their tracks to a small crowd who may become loyal fans. The main type of distribution they have is uploading their track onto iTunes and linking it to their webpages for fans and major record companies to find after discovering them through gigs and YouTube.

List of Independent Record Labels:

• LAB Records
• Stolen Recordings
• Jagjaguwar
•  Rough Trade
• Sub Pop
•  XL

Advantages of Independent Record Labels:

• The artists will have more freedom with what music they want to release and how to present themselves to the public (star images).
• They get a chance to interact with fans on a regular basis.
• They will have more of an input in the contract with the label.
• The label discovers new talent which gives artists the opportunity to make a start in the music career.

Disadvantages of Independent Recording Labels:

•  They do not have a large amount of money to invest in their artists.
• Although they have a small, dedicated fan base, their music is not distributed to a wider audience.
• They are not guaranteed success.   

From Independent to Major

Island Records:

In 1959, ’Island Records’ was founded by Chris Blackwell, Greame Goodall and Leslie Kong.  The record label was started in Jamaica before being moved to the UK in 1962 where it was known as the biggest independent label in history and influenced a great deal on the progressive UK scene in the 70’s. The label included artists such as U2, Bob Marley and Robert Palmer who helped establish the name into the world of music with their successful hits. However in 1989, Blackwell sold the company to Polygram after fears of the company getting too big for his own hands. After signing the £180 million deal, Island Records no longer was known as an independent record label and instead became a global record label with establishments in the US and Germany. Although Def Jam and Island records merged together in the US to create the ‘Island Def Jam Music Group’ Def Jam continued to focus more on their success of R&B and pop music whilst Island stayed with the Rock genre. Today Island Records have many music US artists signed under them such as Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Taio Cruz, Kiesza, Shawn Mendes,  Avicii, Bon Jovi and Fall Out Boy, whereas the current UK artists  includes The Vamps, U2, Mumford & Sons, Florence + The Machine, John Newman, Hozier, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Disclosure, Leona Lewis, Keane, James Morrison, Annie Lennox, Will Young, and many more.

From this of research, I now understand how the music industry works and who are the main people involved. I am also aware of the different types of music labels that an artist can join and what the benifits and disadvantages are to being signed to a major or independent label. This will help me while planning my music video as I will be clear of what type industry my artist will be involved in which will help influence the type of promotion my artist will take to market their work.