This document provides information about record labels from Rumena Begum's perspective as she considers signing an artist. It discusses what record labels do, whether an artist would be suited to a major or independent label, which existing label would be the best fit (Universal Music Group), and copyright responsibilities. Rumena also outlines how she would apply what she's learned to her own hypothetical record label called "Muse Entertainment" and includes a letter asking permission from Universal Music Group to use one of their artist's songs for a school project.
2. 1. Research what record labels are and what they do and give me a short explanation.
A record label is a brand associated with marketing of music recordings and music videos
A record label is the company that:
● Coordinates the production, manufacture and distribution of music
● Markets and promotes the artist/song
● Enforces copyright protection of songs and music videos
● Conducts talent scouting and development of new artists
● Maintains contracts with recording artists and their managers.
3. 2. Decide whether your artist would be signed to a major or independent
record label and why?
My artist would be signed to a major record label because the genre of my choice is POP therefore it must
be by famous artists that are
signed to huge record labels. It is rare to find an artist that hasn't been signed to a big record label such as
Universal, unless if they’re
new into the music industry and had a huge hit for the first time.
Independant
Major
4. 3. What existing record label would your artist be most suited to?
They would most suit Universal record label as it includes artists from different countries as long as they’re
big in whichever region they’re from and more. Pop has a variety of artists in different places of the
world therefore this record label would be suited the best.
5. 4. Give a brief history of the record label you think your artist is best suited to. What are their origins? What other artists do
they have signed? Do they specialise in certain type of music or do they have a very broad genre base?
Universal Music Group
Its origins go back to the formation of the American branch of Decca Records in 1934.The
Decca Record Co. Ltd. of England spun American Decca off in 1939.MCA Inc. merged with
American Decca in 1962. The present organization was formed when its parent company
Seagram purchased PolyGram and merged it with Universal Music Group in 1998. However, the
name had first appeared in 1996 when MCA Music Entertainment Group was renamed Universal
Music Group.
There was a re-organisation in the label as in 2014, Universal Music announced the disbandment of Island Def Jam Music, one of four
operational umbrella groups within Universal Music. Here are some examples of artists that have been signed to this record label:
● Taylor Swift
● Lady Gaga
● Amy Winehouse
● Girls Generation (k-pop)
● ColdPlay
● Lorde
● APink (kpop)
● Elton John
● Michael Jackson
● Boyzone
● Cyndi Lauper
and the list goes on. As you can see, the artists are very different to one another. This shows that Universal Music Group has a wide
6. 5. What is copyright and how are the record labels responsible for this?
The correct definition to copyright is:
“The exclusive and assignable legal right, given to the originator for a fixed number of years, to print,
publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material.”
Record labels are responsible to have all rights reserved by the artists music. This is so no other artist or
audience can use this music without permission from the company itself otherwise these people
could be sued, therefore the company who own the music is entitled to a certain amount of money
(if sued). This is why when movies are made, they ask for permission for use to the record label
that owns that song, and most record labels would agree since it’s a method of marketing as the
movies is featuring their songs.
Copyright sign >
7. 6. What do you need to consider as you are using copyrighted music? What are you not allowed to
do with your music video? What can you do?
You should consider not to publish the video publicly, or make money from a
video if you’re using their music. Therefore, i can only keep it accessed to my
teacher and the examiner (for educational purposes) however I am not
allowed to upload this to gain views or make money from this.
You can also use their music if you have credited them so the viewers know
where the original music/ideas are from.
8. 7. How are you going to use what you have learned about record labels and copyright in your
productions? e.g. adding the logo to the digi-pack and advert. Copyright logos etc.
I will find the conventions of a record
label logo and try to create a logo
including those conventions. Most
record labels are quite simple with
little colours yet it’s still effective. This
is how i would make my record label
logo - simple and straightforward.
9. Task 2 - Creating my own Record Label
I present…
Muse Entertainment
10. Muse Entertainment
This record label is called Muse Entertainment as the creator of this record label is
myself in which i believe that i can create adventurous pieces of work. This would
be the same as the artists in my record label as Muse means a woman, or a force
personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. I had
been inspired by female pop stars and listen to music because of them therefore i
believed that this title was perfect for the record label of my own creation.
Most pop stars would probably sign to this record label as it is based around
artists around the world that are big stars. This is similar to Universal Music group
as they mostly focus on the pop genre however it includes a variety of pop idols.It
is very simple however i had followed the conventions of a record label logo s they
are very simple with very little variance in colours.
11. Task 3 - Letter to Universal Music Group
Universal Music Publishing
20 Fulham Broadway
London SW6 1AH
United Kingdom
Dear HR Directors of Universal Music Publishing,
I am writing to ask permission to use a certain song produced by one of your artist(s). This song has inspired me to produce
a music video based around this song so i could use it in my A2 college project. I believe that this song would help me
achieve the best i can as i have come up with many ideas from my own creative thoughts to produce a music video.
I understand that it may be taken as copyright if i do use your artist(s) song, however, this is the reason why i sending this
letter to ask for permission. Also, i would only use this for educational purposes and the only people who would see this are
my teachers and the examiners. This video would not be used in any way to make money or gain popularity from as it would
only be used for appropriate reasons.
Furthermore, i would credit the artist/composer of the song so the viewers whoever that may be will know where i had
gotten the song from, and its originality. I hope you understand this situation and allow me to use a song for my music
video.
Yours Faithfully
Rumena Begum.
