Music Label Research

Universal Music Group (UMG)In my opinion the Universal logo represents the powerful and dominant force of the company. As the globe is pictured behind the words ‘Universal’, this suggests that Universal reaches out to audiences all over the world, as well as having an underline message that there the biggest music company in the world.

Largest record label in the world (Part of the ‘Big Three’ – 1. UMG 2. SME 3. WMG)

American based company , headquarters in California

Started of as part of Universal Pictures, but after the merging with NBC (broadcasting network) they separated and became there own company.

In 2006 UMG became 100% owned by French media conglomerate Vivendi.

UMG completed their acquisition of EMI in 2012

UMG sold Parlophone Music Group to Warner Music Group in 2013

Also in 2013, UMG announced the worldwide extension of their exclusive distribution deal with the Disney Music Group(DMG)

Universal Music Group co-developed Vevo

Revenue: $6.522 billion

Number of employees: 6,967

Locations: California, Hollywood, London

Background Info

From skimming through the artist list on the UMG website, it is no surprise that the biggest music company has the some of the best artist. I also concluded that UMG have a versatility in terms of genre of the artists, between Pop, Rap, Soul etc., as wells as a mixture of ethnic backgrounds. UMG artists are from all over the world, which is effective and essential, as that means that there audience will also be from all over the world.

Artists

Website

Music Label Research

XL Recordings

In terms of me and my partners artist Danny Billz, I think XL recordings will best suit him, as currently have artists from niche genres like Grime, as well as it being a London based label, so therefore reflects the passion and upbringing of our artist.

British

Independent label

Owned by Richard Russell

Founded 1989

In 1989, XL was first founded as a dance and rave music label

XL release on average 6 albums a year – worldwide and across all genres

In 2008, Russell transformed the rear garage of the label's Ladbroke Grove headquarters into a small, in-house recording and mixing studio called XL Studio.

Location: London & New York

Background Info

XL Recordings have artists ranging from a variety of genres and ethnic backgrounds like Universal, but just not as much in terms of quantity. As XL is a British based company, they even have artists from the niche genre of Grime (such as Giggs, Dizzie Rascal and Novelist), as I am a fan of Grime I approve of this as it reflects the sense that Grime artists can have an impact on music, and not just be a genre for the streets. XL is also a record label that does allow the freedom of the artists, which I think is very essential for niche genre artists as it allows them to live more freely.

Artists

Website

References

Universal info found on wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Music_Group

Universal website: http://www.universalmusic.com/

XL info found on wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XL_Recordings

XL website: http://www.xlrecordings.com/

Pictures found on ‘Google images’