Research into InstitutionsSanam Harrinanan

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 FileThe 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.

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

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

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.

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.