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A record label, which is also known as a record company, is a company, however big or small, that manufactures, distributes and also promotes the recordings of affiliated musicians/artists.

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When technology enabled the mass manufacture of phonographs and phonorecords, record labels started to appear in the late 1800s. By the end of the century, Thomas A. Edison Company, Victor Talking Machine Company, and Columbia Phonograph Company had all cemented their positions as the industry's top three record labels.

Initial patents on audio recording technologies expired in the late 1910s and entered public domain.  Throughout the 1920s, independent labels began to appear as a result of having access to these advancements. At the same time, the development of radio was gaining popularity and driving customers away from the recorded music sector. The Great Depression also prevented people from buying many luxury items at all. The record business suffered in the late twenties and early thirties as a result of these combined factors.

By the end of the 1960s, Warner Brothers and CBS were the two leading record labels. In the recording industry, RCA Victor, Capitol-EMI, Polygram, and MCA all maintained their positions as leaders.

In the 1970s, Warner was quite active, launching Casablanca and acquiring Sire and Asylum Records. By combining Elektra and Atlantic in 1973, WEA was also founded under Warner Communications. Warner sold half of Casablanca to Polygram, which was founded in 1972 as a result of the merging of Phonogram and Polydor. In 1976, they made the decision to buy RSO Records. They owned numerous labels at the end of the decade, including Polydor, Mercury, Smash, MGM, and Verve.

MCA was purchased by Matsushita in 1990. The label group that is still at the top of the market today was established when CBS Records changed its name to Sony Music the following year. In the same year, Warner Music Group, formerly known as Warner-Elektra-Atlantic (WEA), changed its name. After Seagrams acquired MCA, another significant record company today, Universal Music Group, was created in 1996. A MCA subsidiary label called Rising Tide changed its name to Universal Records during the acquisition. After that, Universal acquired Interscope and Polygram, securing their leadership position in the industry.

In order to counteract the upcoming trend of illicit file-sharing, numerous big record labels moved to court at the beginning of the 2000s with assistance from the RIAA.

In April 2003, Apple changed the face of music consumption with the introduction of the iTunes Music Store. Offering legal and fast MP3 downloads for just $0.99, the store became America's #1 music retailer in 2008, even overtaking Walmart.

In 2004, Sony Music Entertainment merged with BMG to create SonyBMG. This narrowed the list of major labels down to just four: Sony BMG, Universal, EMI and Warner. Four years later, Sony purchased BMG's stake in the joint venture, reverting it to the Sony Music Entertainment name. In late 2012, the sale of EMI to Universal Music Group was approved. This acquisition cemented the three major record labels that exist today: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. (Davis, 2023)

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Even if you don't have any money, anyone can start a record label. You'll eventually need funding to build it up, but you can save a lot of money when you starting an indie label. Your label will be deemed legitimate once you've chosen a name and developed a social media presence, both of which are free.

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1) Pick a Name for the Label.

This should be something that is marketable, personal to you and that you can build a brand off of.

2) Decide on a Business Structure.

Because of the cost-benefit calculations, many indie labels and many others avoid these formalities, at least at first. It takes money to form a legal entity, and one of the key advantages of forming an LLC is the limiting of personal liability should something go wrong with the firm, which isn't a serious danger early in one's music career.

However, if you want a company bank account or credit card, you must be a genuine, legal business, and it certainly makes tax time a lot easier.

If you're launching the label with other partners (or "members" as they're referred to in LLCs), you'll need a partnership or LLC operating agreement that addresses issues like 1) the percentage of ownership each partner has, 2) how each partner can leave the business, 3) how decisions will be made in the company, and so on. Your agreement may be subject to extra duties imposed by the state in which your LLC is established.

3) Find Your Music.

Many people were inspired to create a record label after hearing some outstanding music that no one else was releasing. If that's the case, proceed to the following step. However, if you know you want to create a label, you'll need a release — or even a few releases — lined up before you can move on to the next phases, such as securing distribution and promotion.

Because the music industry is so competitive, it takes time and knowing who to talk to. Because music is competing for your attention, a little bit might go a long way towards differentiating yourself from the crowd. As a result, many veterans offer tried-and-true tips on how to choose music, such as:

· Release music you believe in;

· The music should come first, then the label;

· Think quality, not quantity; and

· Establish your own lane.

4) Artist Deals and Recording Contracts.

Once you've decided on the music you want to release, you'll need to strike a contract with the artists. One of the advantages of signing with an indie label is that they can be much more flexible with the arrangements they can make; nonetheless, there are some questions you'll want to address with the artist (usually in a recording agreement):

Will the artist provide a master, or will the label cover the recording costs?

Is the label making an advance payment to the artist?

How will the proceeds from the releases be divided between the label and the artist? Will the label recover manufacturing and promotional expenses before compensating the artist?

Will the artists be able to approve promotional expenditures in excess of a particular amount? If so, how much is it?

Is the deal only for one record or several?

Will the musicians have the right to audit your books? How often, and what kind of notification is required?

5) Figure out Distribution.

Distribution was once reserved for major labels, who could ship physical copies to thousands of outlets across the country and around the world. However, much of the activity has migrated to digital distribution, and any artist may now easily acquire their songs in the world's largest online music retailers.

6) Promote your Music.

Artists sign with labels mostly because it allows them to have their work noticed by a new audience. Social media is an important part of this, and record companies should maintain consistent presence on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

A big issue for new labels is whether to undertake their own promotion or hire someone to do it. Because promotion fees may quickly add up, many fledgling labels opt to handle promotion in-house, which takes time and work to create the same contacts that a publicist can bring to the table right away.

7) Collecting All of Your Royalties.

At this time, you should be seeing some sales and streams for your music, and you should have received your first cheque from your digital distributor. However, this is not the full amount of money to which you are entitled. This most likely excludes mechanical royalties, public performance royalties, Soundexchange payments, and so on.

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Rough Trade Records, 4AD and Factory Records

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People frequently inquire as to what actually qualifies you as a 'official' record label. Making you an official record label is the result of various factors coming together. They are as follows:

You have a publicly visible brand, such as a website bearing the label's name.

You have established a firm in your country that trades under the label's name.

You've commercially released music on major music platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon, among others.

To appear on Discogs, simply release a music release and you will be added to its database.

You can register your label as a trademark, although this isn't a top concern when starting off. Priority should be given to your first ten record releases.

Once you've decided on a name, go ahead and register your website domain.

There are other places where you may accomplish this, including GoDaddy.com, One.com, and Squarespace.com, where you can register your name for as little as $1 at the time of this video.

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The four most common types of business entity include:

sole traders

traditional partnerships

limited liability partnerships

limited liability companies

When determining the optimum sort of company for a business's activity, there is no single and straightforward option. It is critical to conduct your own study and determine which type of corporation is most suited to the specific demands of your firm. Each type of corporation has its own set of rules and regulations to adhere to, and understanding the many features of each type of business entity can assist you in making the best selection for your specific scenario. Consider the following factors:

the nature of the business

eligibility and legal requirements

business goals

specific business needs

registration and other costs

who owns and runs the business

financial liability

whether anyone intends to scale the business

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There are a few gaps in the music market that are not currently being fully addressed by existing platforms. One is the lack of a centralized platform for discovering and promoting independent music. Many independent artists struggle to gain visibility and build a fanbase, and existing platforms tend to favor more mainstream or popular musicians. Additionally, there is a growing demand for platforms that focus on niche or underrepresented genres or artists.Another gap in the music market is the lack of accessible and affordable music production and distribution tools for independent artists. Many independent musicians struggle with the cost and technical expertise required to record, produce, and distribute their music, and existing platforms may not provide them with the necessary tools or support.Additionally, there is a lack of platforms that focus on music culture, history and education. This can be a gap for music enthusiasts who want to learn more about the music they love and the artists who make it.Overall, there are many opportunities for new platforms and services to enter the music market and offer unique value to independent artists and music enthusiasts.

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What makes an innovative record label?

With record labels springing up all over the place these days, it's critical for brands to be original and creative; not only responsible for making outstanding music, but also for forming communities around the sounds they represent. Understanding the entire value chain that surrounds music is critical to establishing a fan base and keeping integrity in a disposable music environment that has altered with the rise of the internet.

The main points to remember are:

Build a Community Not A Record Label

Capitalise on Niche Markets

Focus On The End User

Invest in Content

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A lot has changed in the world of major music labels between 1988 and 2020. There were six significant record labels in 1988. These were by far the largest music labels in the world, which is why they were dubbed "The Big Six."

The Big Six were as follows:

EMI Warner Music Group
BMG Sony Music Entertainment
Universal Music Publishing Group
PolyGram
Due to mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring, the major label landscape is always changing. There are now just three big labels. Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group are the 'big three' major record labels. All of these corporations possess numerous other brands and thus create a label family.

The Big Three today are as follows:

1. Universal Music Group

2. Sony Music Entertainment

3. Warner Music Group

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Merchandiser

A merchandiser is in charge of sending records and other products from musical artists to stores for sale. They help to design promotional plans, collaborate with distributors, interact with retail stores regarding the placement of their artist's CD, and supervise manufacture. Merchandisers may also do some graphic design work on the record cover, t-shirts, and other things for sale.

Music Agent

A music agent collaborates with musicians to plan promotions, schedule tours and appearances, and secure deals. They work with other industry experts like as venue managers, event organisers, promoters, and scouts to ensure that the artist they represent receives appropriate support and coverage and is able to share their abilities with the audience. Music agents also analyse and negotiate appearance contracts to ensure that they are in the best interests of their clients.

Publicist

A publicist is in charge of communicating information and news about their clients to the press. They pitch media outlets on news stories about their clients, produce press releases, create media kits, and book interviews and appearances. A publicist may create campaigns to improve their client's public image via their website, social media, digital media, television and radio material, and may also be responsible for crisis communications. A publicist may work with a single artist or act as a press agent for a group of artists.

Promotions Assistant

A promotional assistant collaborates with the marketing department to help a musician or record label. They may set up a booth at a performance or event, offer free materials, speak with concertgoers about the record label and its performers, and collaborate with sales to distribute albums and other artist-promoted merchandise. Promotions aides also develop marketing materials, generate sales reports, handle media calls, and plan ways to generate cash and exposure for the musical artist.

Human Resources Associate

A human resources associate is in charge of HR responsibilities such as onboarding new employees, producing an employee handbook, explaining corporate regulations, and processing payroll. They also publish new job positions, review applications, schedule preliminary interviews and background checks, verify references, and make recommendations to hiring managers. Human resources associates are also responsible for keeping correct and full personnel files.

Market Researcher

A market researcher gathers data and analyses it in order to better understand market circumstances and make recommendations to record label executives and managers on how to effectively promote an artist and their work. They undertake additional research on the competition, run surveys, collect comments, and may establish focus groups to learn more about an artist's prospective listeners, the price CDs should sell for, and other topics.

Creative Consultant

A creative consultant is in charge of developing content, media, and resources for artists. They consult with record labels and artists to better understand their ultimate goals, brainstorm content development methods and styles that will help them achieve those goals, generate graphic designs, written material, and video, and edit their work in response to client input. Creative consultants also conduct market research to ensure that their work is relevant and appealing to the audience.

Marketing Manager

A marketing manager is in charge of developing communication between a record label, its artists, and the general audience. They design and plan campaigns, collaborate with influencers, bloggers, celebrity figures, and media members to share promotional messaging, and publish content across various channels such as websites, social media, blogs, emails, and podcasts. Marketing managers must also manage their department's budget, supervise professionals such as graphic designers, content writers, and videographers, and stay current on marketing trends.

Contract Administrator

A contract administrator is in charge of developing, reviewing, and negotiating contracts. They review contracts with all parties, make changes based on feedback, ensure that the contract is in conformity with all federal and local regulations, and facilitate contract signing and implementation. Contract administrators also keep contracts up to date and have parties resign when needed to ensure the security of the partnership.

Sales Manager

A sales manager is in charge of a team of salespeople. They set sales targets, devise strategies to achieve them, train new sales representatives, assign sales territory, generate sales reports, and collaborate with larger businesses and venues to market an artist's music and merchandise. Sales managers constantly check their team's performance and coach poor sales representatives.

Audio Engineer

An audio engineer is in charge of recording and mixing music and other sounds to make a song or other recording for artists, shows, commercials, and other uses. They test microphone quality, assist the artist during live events, maintain their equipment, and ensure the recording's sound quality is optimised.

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According to research, the average startup cost of a small to average sized record label can be anywhere between $200 – $50,000 (£156.55 - £39,142).

The following is what needs to be taken into account when creating a budget for the business:

* Business start-up costs such as the cost of getting a recording space, filing for government authorisation for a business name etc

* Equipment costs such as purchasing equipment e.g drum kits, microphones, audio interfaces, monitors, mixers, cables etc.

* Legal advice for artist agreement deals and recording contract costs (lawyers to help you create a strong contract)

* Manufacturing/inventory costs i.e the cost of producing CDs, vinyl, ink cartridges, notice boards, printing etc.

* Promotion costs, for example fliers or grand opening marketing promotion expenses

* Label identity and operational costs, such as paying to create a logo or design a website

Granted some, if not most, of these things can be done manually or for a cheaper cost, however, it is worth considering if it is worth it investing in higher quality produce.

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Record Label Promotion:

1. Define Your Brand

While it can be fluid, you should define your act. Create a visual motif that supports your themes by drawing inspiration from the music. Choose a logo and colour palette that will complement the song. Good music branding is essential, so take your time and think about it carefully. This can evolve as the band or artist progresses, but it's beneficial to establish an identity that extends beyond the music. It's something that supporters can get behind. It is also suitable for goods and artwork for releases.

2. Know Your Audience

The more you know about your target audience, the more successfully you can reach out to them. If your fandom is still in its infancy, it can be difficult to get started. Look for similar artists and learn about their fan base. Keep an eye on your audience's interests and behaviours as you expand. As you begin to use paid advertising, leverage the information you've gathered about your target audience. The more precisely you can target them, the further your advertising money will go.

3. Collect Email Addresses

The value of an email list is sometimes underestimated, yet it should be incorporated in your marketing strategy. Some may find it amusing that direct messages and SMS are the favoured modes of communication. However, if you're in the digital marketing business, email is the way to go. There are numerous free email list managers available to assist you with this. Sign up for one and start using it. Collect emails at any moment where fans contact you. You can use download gates to demand fans to provide their email address before they can download your music.

4. Build a Release Schedule

It is not as vital to release music as it is to release it consistently. If you think of it as a curve, any music will pique your interest right away and then fade away. If you have enough material, publish a follow-up track a few weeks later, just when interest in the first song begins to diminish. This allows you to capitalise on the momentum created by your music. When you know people are still engaged, you want to keep providing new content.

5. Free Downloads

Providing free music is an excellent approach to generate interest in your music genre. People are always looking for new music, so giving them free recordings is a fantastic chance. Putting it behind a download gate ensures that you receive something in return. It's fine if you don't want to give away your music. Set it aside for a proper release. Offer demos or cover tunes instead. This not only raises awareness, but also develops your act's personality in the eyes of the fans.

6. Make Music Videos

The majority of music enthusiasts get their songs from YouTube. The video-sharing platform has become an essential component of many indie label marketing strategies. You have a video camera if you have a phone. You can use a variety of methods, from a performance-based video to something more abstract. Lyric videos are another excellent choice.

7. Run Contests

The relationship you form with your fans is one of the most significant aspects of being in a band. This relationship is strengthened whenever you can include them in a project.

Request that your followers help you spread the word about your music. Invite video and t-shirt design submissions. You can use the collective strength of your fans if you incentivize these efforts. Nothing beats the power of word of mouth, no matter how great a marketing strategy may be. Having admirers who will tell others about you gives you credibility that money cannot buy.

8. Find the Right Partners

Social media provides numerous new options. One of its most valuable assets is the capacity to collaborate with the right people and enterprises.

The most immediate advantage is that your artists will be exposed to a new audience. For this reason alone, this is a no-brainer. But there's more to it than that. It enables you to expand your brand. Find an activist organisation that reflects your ideals if you are a label interested in social justice. Find a team or apparel firm that matches what you're offering if you're more into sports and athletics. The most important thing is to find the appropriate partners. You want ones that not only match your hobbies, but also have an audience that would be interested in the acts you represent.

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Being able to identify your target market is crucial regarding the success of your business. Knowing what demographic is the one you appeal to will allow you to further promote your brand more efficiently and to more avail.

To determine this, you will need to research and develop statistics about your specific audience. For example, as a small indie label you will most likely be targeting musicians in their 20-30's looking to get signed. You will need to learn and prepare for what a record label offers an artist, and promote your business accordingly.

Through research, you should be able to build detailed profiles of typical buyers and listeners of the type of music that stems from the kind of musicians you want to represent. With this information, you will be able to better understand where they consume music and how they listen to it.

Once you have a clear definition of what media and audience you want to focus on, you can build a solid content strategy from there.

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30-50% typically