Record Labels

Record labels are highly valued destinations for most artists as it is a way to expose their music to 'the world' and gain popularity hopefully leading to fame depending on the record label and their status. Record labels hold the rights to the artist, music and brand through contracts negotiated with the artists managers or the artists themselves. They; "coordinate the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing, promotion, and enforcement of copyright for sound recordings and music videos"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_label

Major Record Labels

The music Industry is dominated by four multi-national corporations. These corporations are referred to as "the Majors" and are usually backed by conglomerates with stakes in external industries including Film, TV and Electronics.

The four Majors are;

• Universal
• Sony Music
• Warner Brothers
• EMI

Major-Independents 

These record labels normally own, or license, a series of smaller subsidiary companies allowing them to sign multiple artists that appeal to different audiences.

The companies that are known as major-independents are;

• Columbia
• Island
• Syco
• RCA
• Virgin

Independents 

There is a huge variety of small companies in the music industry that concentrate on specific artists and produce to a niche audience.

• Propeller Records
• Photo Finish Records
• Death Row Records
• Kemado Records