The Big 4 are Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Group. These labels dominate the music industry. Universal Music Group is the largest with 29.85% market share, followed by Sony Music and Warner Music with around 29% and 19% market share respectively. Independent labels comprise 12% of the market.
Subsidiaries and Ownership
- RCA Records is owned by Sony Music. Founded in 1900 as the Victor Talking Machine Company, RCA has revenues around $38 million annually.
- Interscope Records is owned by Universal Music Group. Founded in the 1990s, it helped launch careers of many electronic music artists.
- Columbia Records is owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Founded in 1888, it focuses on pop music.
- Ghostly International, an independent electronic music label, is creatively controlled by Gareth Emery.
- Dim Mak, founded in 1996, is dedicated to a progressive mindset in music.
Record Label Market Share and Services
Warner Music Group is the third-largest of the Big 4, with a market share of around 18%, and it is home to artists such as Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, and Cardi B. Warner Music Group owns subsidiary labels such as Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records. EMI is the smallest of the Big 4, with a market share of around 10%, hosting artists like Katy Perry, Coldplay, and Sam Smith.
Universal Music Group (UMG) is the largest record label, with a history dating back to 1934. Sony Music Entertainment (SME) has a strong focus on pop and electronic music. Labels under UMG include Capitol, Def Jam, Island, and Motown.
While the Big 4 dominate the music industry, independent record labels have gained success and offer artists more creative control and flexibility.