Record Labels

What does a record label do?
A record label invests in and develops musical talent in the UK and globally. They help artists to use music making as a full-time career, and pay for the recording and mixing of albums. They exploit the artists' recordings commercially, and collect and pay the resulting royalties on their behalf. Record labels also help the artists when they're on tour.

Give four examples of services a record label might provide for an artist.

1. They pay for the recording and mixing of their music.
2. They help promote the band and give them more popularity.
3. They cover all the costs of touring.

Why might an artist want to be signed to a record label?

1. The artist will gain popularity, and will therefore sell more albums.
2. The record label will help to

Give four examples of ways in which record labels make money.

1. Through their A&R (artist and repertoire) departments.

Name the 'big four' record labels (the 'majors') and name two artists who are signed to each one.
Universal -
Rise Against


Weezer


EMI -
August Burns Red


30 Seconds To Mars


Warner -
Avenged Sevenfold


Metallica


BMG/Sony -
AC/DC

Tool

Exam Overview

Institution - The company/organization/business that produces the music (record label).

Audience - The person that listens/buys the music.

Revenue - The money you make from a product.

Proliferation - How popular something has become.

Convergence - One device that performs more then one function (technology).

Synergy - Cross-promotion between more than one industry.

Production - The making of a music album.

Distribution - Getting an album sold to a target audience.

Marketing - Matching a target audience with a new artist/album by a record label.

Consumption - Listening to the album/using the media.