Record Labels

What does a record label do?
A record labels are companies who are the main investors and developers of musicians across the UK and globally. Record labels allow artists, that are signed with them, to engage with marketing and sales support, treating their music production as a full-time career. They market and show the world the work of the artist as well as collecting and paying the resulting royalties on their behalf. Most of the time, record labels pays for the recording and mixing of albums, assuming they know that the music will sell and hence gain the profits back from doing so.

Gives four examples of services a record label provide for an artist

• Pays for mixing and recording the music for the artist
• Pays for the touring costs, raising the artists' profile and sales
• Provides an important promotional and marketing role - developing and executing ads & promoting campaigns.
• Promotes and 'plugs' the artists to the media industry.

Why might an artist want to be signed to a record label?
To be signed with a well-known record label gives many advantages to the perhaps, new and green artist as the label gives the artist experienced aspects of a label such as promotions, marketing and recording. In addition to such, the label (if they see potential within the artist) will take care of the additional costs when touring or the recording fees. Well-known labels will also have strong media connections with other media giants which will allow good, confident support to the artist.


Give four examples of ways in which record labels make money

• A percentage of the revenue the artist makes
• Merchandise of the artist
• Gig concerts of artists
• Artists' songwriting

Name the 'big four' record labels and name two well-known artists who are signed to each one
EMI - Blur
         - Coldplay
BMG/Sony - The Fray
                    - Foo Fighters
Universal - Lady Gaga
                 - Taylor Swift
Warner - Biffy Clyro
              - Armor for Sleep