Research: Industry

Here is my research for music industries in relation to the genre I am working in (Pop). This post is written by me (Chelsea). 

Before starting an in-depth research on the music industry, I must understand the significance and importance of record labels in the music industry. 

What is a record label?

A record label is a company (large or small) that represents and supports artists by investing in, distributing and promotion their music. Without them, artists would have limited opportunities for success unless they are willing to handle all of the technical, marketing and financial aspects on their own, which can cause immense burden. 

Beyond providing a quick path to artist success, large record labels have their own captive audience, hence some of today's top labels are more niche because they can provide tailored resources to each artist. Many of today's rising artists want to maintain as much control over their music as possible, thus it's essential that smaller labels understand this. 

The role of record label in the digital age? 

As the digital era keeps on moving forward, musicians now can record high-quality tracks using digital recording software from their living rooms with only using a laptop. This accessibility allows musicians to produce and distribute their music independently, making it more difficult for record labels to justify taking a percentage of the earnings. 

However, record labels still can be relevant, particularly for musicians who are still trying to improve their careers as labels provide essential funding for promotion and distribution, which may be too expensive for independent artists. Hence, record labels will play a role to significantly increase an artist's reach because they have connections and experiences. 

What does a record label do? 

➘ Signing the contract: Artists meet various record labels to discuss potential deals and negotiate the terms of recording contract (including financial, creative & promotional support). Once both parties agree, a recording contract is signed. 

➘ Receiving an advance: Money is given upon signing to support artists during the recording process. 

➘ Recording the album: The label will assign a representative to assist the artist, they will help to find the right producers, songwriters and collaborators. The rep will arrange the recording studio time and provide feedback on the recordings. The team will support the artist's creative vision while also making sure it aligns with commercial standards. 

➘ Marketing & promotion: The label's marketing team will create & execute promotional campaigns to launch the artist's music such as handling press releases, media appearance and social media promotions. 

➘ Distribution: The label will make sure the music is distributed through both physical mediums (CDS & vinyls) and digital platforms (Spotify, Apple Music) to reach global audience. 

➘ Revenue sharing & royalties: The label will manage the income from recordings and will handle the licensing of the music for mechanical rights needed for physical & digital distribution. 

➘ Additional revenue opportunities: The label's brand partnership will look for opportunities to collaborate with brands, or to be used in movies, TV shows and commercials which creates more income streams.

➘ Ongoing support: The label will continue to support the artist's career growth through new recording projects, tours and other promotional activities as well as long term strategies for sustained success in the music industry. 

Resources used:

exploration.io

rollingstone.com

killthedj.com

Below are the specific record labels I've chosen to research: 88rising and Island Records. I specifically chose these labels because Island Records, which is owned by Universal, is seen as the music industry's leader, whereas 88rising is considered a small and independent label. Thus, I'd like to compare how they differ from one another in terms of promotion, audience, and organisation.

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Getting to know the record label industries for music, particularly the well-known ones, made me recognise how important it is for them to provide a variety of support to musicians or artists, including investing money in the artist's recordings, style, promotion, and management, which is a lot of work. I'm also surprised that different musicians are in the same industry despite having very diverse styles and eras, allowing for a broad target audience to be reached. I've also noticed that the majority of music videos are distributed through YouTube, making them more accessible to a global audience; this exposure can help artists increase recognition and popularity. Furthermore, I enjoyed conducting this research since I was able to use a media website (Prezi) to develop unique presentations and visuals that are easy to view and understand. Although it took some time to look up specific information on the industry due to the limited information on the internet, I was eventually able to find relevant information from trusted sources. 

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