Music Video Record

Label Research
By Lewis Pike
 A Record label is a trademark that markets music
and music videos. The record label will put their
trademark onto music and videos. The label is a
publishing company as well which takes care of
brands, trademarks, coordinates , production,
manufacture, distribution, marketing and
promotion and the enforcement of copyright for
Intro sound recordings and music videos. In this task I
will be conducting research into existing record
labels to see what genre of music they promote,
what artists they represent, and weather they are
a independent or a conglomerate.
 Independents are media companies that are free
from influence from the government and
conglomerates. Independents are smaller than
multinationals and work in media such as
television, radio and newspapers. Domino
Recording Company and Grace Productions are
What is a examples of independents.
conglomerate Conglomerates is a company that owns a large
and amount of smaller companies. The conglomerate
which is the larger company will hold the majority
Independent? share in each company in which they own, this is
so that they can control many outflows of media.
Sony is a example of a conglomerate, owning
smaller companies such as Syco, Legacy and
Relentless.
 Independent labels
Examples of
Independents
and
Conglomerates

Conglomerates
 RCA Records is a American record label, which is owned by Sony Music.
RCA is one of the three flagship labels along with Columbia and Epic
Records, of whom is the record label for the track I will be making a music
video to. Artists that have been signed by RCA Records are Zayn, Alicia
Keys, Britney Spears, Pitbull and Pink. The genre of music they promote
and sell, varies including pop, rock, hip hop, electronic, R&B, Blues, Jazz
and Country genres. RCA has been operating for 115 year when it was
first established in October 1901, founded by Emile Berliner and Eldridge
R. Johnson. The record label operates in France, Italy, Australia and the
United Kingdom where artists such as Paloma Faith have been signed.
I believe that RCA Record fits my production because it promotes the
RCA Records genre of music that Im producing a music video for. RCA Records music
videos tends to be narrative and I do believe that this is the best style for
me to use in my music video to give my interpretation of the USA. The
record label does seem to sign more solo artists than a band. I think RCA
Records would best fit in terms of ethos and audience because the label
tends to sign more solo artists than bands and they offer a variety of
genres so they attract a huge audience but consider everyones needs in
a individual song. Living in America is a song that isnt targeted towards a
particular age group its targeted towards a diverse audience. RCA Records
fits my production because its very similar to the Living In Americas
label, Epic.
 Domino Recording Company is a independent record label and was first
established in 1993. Domino operates with no funding from major labels.
Commercial bands start their music careers on independent labels.
Independents have no restrictions and there is more freedom to do what
the company want to do. A disadvantage is that there is a lot of
competition. I have chosen to look at this recording company because of
how successful they have been and that theyve signed well known artists
and bands such as Arctic Monkeys, The Kills, Franz Ferdinand, Animal
Collective and The Last Shadow Puppets. Domino label promote various

Domino genres of music however the main genre seems to be Indie Rock. Domino
is based in London, United Kingdom, a wing of the company is located in

Recording Brooklyn which operates that is in charge of released in America and

there is a division of the company in France and Germany.

Company The style of genre of Domino is Indie music so this doesnt match my
style of genre, but the videos tend to be narratives which I will be looking
at for my production as I will be incorporating a narrative style which will
suit with the lyrics. With the song Living in America the audience is
such a diverse audience. As the soundtrack was in the Rocky IV film in
1985 . I dont think that this label would fit my production because they
seem to sign bands while mine is a solo artist. I dont think it fits in terms
of target audience because Living In America is a song thats a classic and
any age group like this song, however not everyone would like the Kills
and Indie.
 Mom + Pop is a independent record label based in New York.
The label was founded in 2008 and was founded by Michael
Goldstone. The record label favour a particular genre of music
instead of various styles, Mom + Pop promote and sell Indie
Rock and Alternative Rock. The record label have the following
artists signed; Ashe, Bayonne, DMAs, Hinds, Lucius, Polica and
Wild Club.
I dont think that this label would be suitable because the track
Living In America is a funk and R&B track, while Mom + Pop
Mom + Pop seems to focus on the Indie style genre. The age group for Indie
is 16- 25 years old. I want to produce a music video for any age
range, who may like the soundtrack of living in America. The
video will not be rude, so therefore will be suitable for under 16.
Some indie labels are financially secure, however small record
labels are just trying to stay afloat. That means that they don't
have the money to fund an amazing video. Withindie labels
you'll usually have to remain financially invested in your own
music career.
 I believe that my production would best suit RCA Records and the label best suiting
my production. RCA is a part of Sony and they try to aim their music to a wide
audience so that they have a high revenue. The label for the Living In America
track was Epic Records and Epic and RCA is a subsidiary of Sony. RCA promote and
sell a variety of bands and artists as do Epic Records. RCA Records try to aim their
music to a huge audience. However my ideas could lose some audience members
because of my opinion of America. Due to Diversification, RCA records can reduce
their investment risk and as RCA is a conglomerate they dont need to secure funding
from elsewhere. They have more power than an independent, so they are able to film
in a good location to get the right shot, for example closing of a particular location to
the public.
My music video could cause a bit of controversy because of the President Donald
Conclusion Trump and the way in which I perceive America, but will be filming America as a
English student and will be showing what I see. Whether this be bad or good. As I am
showing America as I see it today and that Donald Trump is their current President,
which many people of America and around the world, disagree with. This could
therefore cause controversy as many refuse to believe he is the president. American
people may dislike the fact that his merchandise will be shown in my video. American
people may also dislike the way in which I perceive their country as America is
known as a global leader of the world, however we are often hearing how America
has problems with guns, drugs and homelessness. As I may be addressing these
issues in my production I could lose a audience. Linking the Uses and Gratification
theory to the Living in America track I would say it would fall under the surveillance
activity because we are using the media to show what is out there. As I live in the UK
I dont know what America is like so Im learning new things while shooting the video.