2. Def Jam
Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record
label owned by Universal Music Group,
which focuses mainly on hip-hop, R&B and
urban music. This label distributes various
record labels including Roc-A-Fella
Records, Kanye West’s Good Music and
Ludacris’ Disturbing Tha Peace.
Artist signed to this label include; Big Sean,
Kanye West, Leona Lewis, 2 Chainz,
Afrojack, Jeremih, Justin Bieber, Rick Ross
and many more. LL Cool J was just 17 when he
became one of the first artist
signed to Def Jam in 1985. In
2001, Lyor Cohen announced
Def Jam Germany as the first
international Def Jam Company.
This increases the labels
reputation around the world.
However the German institution
failed two years later in 2002 but
some artist were chosen by
Universal/Urban while others did
not get a contract.
Fact File
The parent company of Def Jam
Recordings is Universal Music Group,
founded in 1983 by Rick Rubin and
Russell Simmons.
Def Jam
Recordings
have been
around for
30 years.
3. Sony Music
Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
(SME) is a subsidiary of
Japanese Conglomerate
Sony Corporation, managed
and operated by Sony
Corporation of America. The
label was founded in 1929
as American Record
Corporation and later
renamed itself in 1938 as
Columbia Recording
Corporation. It was then
changed in 1991 to SME
and become to world’s
second largest music
company after Universal
Music Group.
Sony Music Entertainment main
genre focus is Eclectic.
Artist signed to this label are; Becky G, Beyonce,
Bow Wow, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ciara, Jordin Sparks
and many more.
Sony originally developed from its
electronic broadcasting and recording
equipment. Sony’s combination of
services and takeover has allowed it
to become a vertically integrated
business.
Artist’s who are signed to Sony Music
Entertainment can be found in some of
Sony’s produced soundtracks for Sony
Film’s such as Spider Man (2002).
By 2010, Sony continued to branch
out a buy the publishing arm of
EMI Records.
SME has been
around for 86
years
4. Columbia Records
Columbia Records
was founded in 1887
and is an American
Flagship label, whose
parent is Sony Music
Entertainment.
Columbia Records is
one of the oldest
surviving band name
in recorded sound,
being the second
major company to
produce record sound.
Artist signed to this label include:- Adele, Barbra
Streisand, Calvin Harris, Juicy J, Little Mix, One
Direction, Rita Ora, James Arthur and many more.
In 1925 Columbia Records was brought by its
English subsidiary, the Columbia Graphophone
Company, in 1925, the label started creating
Western Electric, by 1926 the label expanded into
jazz and blues artist such as Louis Armstrong.
Columbia Records do not focus on
a specific genre but do a variety of
genres such as; Pop, R&B, Rock,
Alternative and Dance/Electronica.
By 11931, the British Columbia Graphophone
Company became independent and went on to
purchase its former parent American Columbia.
Columbia
Records has
been around
for 127 years
5. What is Copyright?
There are two types of copyright involved in sound recording. The
Mechanical Copyright protects the physical recording and performance and
is usually owned by the record label itself. The Mechanical Copyright fee is
collected by the total sales of the song.
The Song’s composition Copyright is owned by the songwriter(s) and is
handled by a music publisher. The publishing fees are collected from the
physical sale and public performance.
Before a album is released it must have copyrights on the songs. This is
done through the US Copyright Office.
6. How am I going to use what I have learnt about record labels and copyright
in my production?
From my findings I have learnt a lot about the different types of record labels out
there. Copyright has allowed me to understand more about why recording labels
use copyright which is to prevent other companies or people from stealing their
songs or ideas, this protects the business and the artist. By doing this research I
have become more aware that I can not copy, or take another artist or record
label’s music video idea’s. The research I have gathered about record labels has
enhanced my knowledge on the type of work a record label must go through to
sign, promote and make a reasonable profit. This will benefit me in my production
as I will know how to promote and create a music video with a better knowledge.
