The Top 5 Major Electronic Music Labels
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Contents
In this blog post, we will be discussing the top 5 major electronic music labels. These labels have been chosen based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, their influence within the industry, their artist roster, and their A&R department.
Def Jam Recordings
History
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label focused on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group. In 2004, the label moved its operations from New York City to Los Angeles. The label has a long history of success in the music industry, dating back to its founding in the 1980s by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. The label has been home to some of the biggest names in hip hop and urban music, including Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Method Man, Nas, Ghostface Killah, and Redman. In recent years, the label has also expanded its reach into electronic music, signing artists like Skrillex and Flume.
Notable Artists
Some notable artists that have released music through Def Jam Recordings include Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna, Rick Ross, and Ludacris.
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment is an American multinational entertainment company that is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The company was founded in 1929 as American Record Corporation and renamed as Columbia Recording Corporation in 1938, following its merger with the British company Odeon Records. In 1965, the company was renamed again to CBS Records, Inc. after Columbia Broadcasting System. In 1986, Sony Corporation bought the company from CBS and renamed it as Sony Music Entertainment.
History
Sony Music Entertainment is one of the “Big Three” record companies, along with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. It is a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony.
The company was founded in 1929 as American Record Corporation and renamed Columbia Recording Corporation in 1938. In 1966, the company was acquired by CBS, which was subsequently merged with Sony in 1987 to form Sony Music Entertainment.
The company’s holdings include Columbia Records, Epic Records, RCA Records, and other labels. It also has a joint venture with Universal Music Group called The Orchard, which handles Sony’s independent label interests.
Notable Artists
Sony Music Entertainment is home to some of the biggest names in electronic music, including Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Avicii, and more. These artists have helped to shape the sound of electronic music over the past few decades, and their influence can still be felt today. With a roster of such diverse and iconic artists, it’s no wonder that Sony Music Entertainment is one of the top five major electronic music labels.
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American-French global music corporation that is the largest of the “Big Three” record companies by its market share. UMG’s global corporate headquarters are located in Santa Monica, California. It is considered one of the “Big Four” majorlabel groups, along with Sony Music, Warner Music Group, and EMI.
History
UMG’s history dates back to the founding of the American branch of Decca Records in 1934. The label was created as a subsidiary of British company Decca, which itself was in the process of merging with another British company, Electric and Musical Industries (EMI). The American branch of Decca was headed by American entrepreneur Edward Lewis, who oversaw the label’s success in the United States for nearly four decades.
In 2013, UMG merged with French electronics giant Vivendi to form Universal Music Group. Vivendi had already owned a number of music-related assets, including Canal+ and dictate music publisher Havas. The merger made UMG one of the “big three” major labels alongside Sony Music and Warner Music Group.
UMG’s labels include some of the most successful and well-known in the music industry, such as Interscope, Def Jam, Geffen, and Capitol. The label is also home to a number of renowned artists, including Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and Taylor Swift.
Notable Artists
Some of the most notable artists under UMG’s umbrella include:
-Lady Gaga
-Justin Bieber
– Kendrick Lamar
– Taylor Swift
– Drake
UMG also represents a number of iconic music catalogue brands, including:
-Virgin Records
-Island Records
-Def Jam Recordings
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. The company is home to some of the most successful record labels in the world, including Atlantic, Elektra, and Rhino. Warner Music Group also has a large catalog of artists under its umbrella, including Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Metallica.
History
Warner Music Group (WMG) is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the “big three” recording companies and a member of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), along with Sony Music and Universal Music Group (UMG). WMG also owns Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world’s largest music publishers.
In 2016, it merged with UMG as part of a $3.3 billion deal to purchase Parlophone Label Group, becoming the world’s largest recorded music company in the process. WMG remains the smallest of the three major labels, behind UMG and Sony.
The history of Warner Music Group can be traced back to 1958, when Warner Bros. Records was founded by Aaron and Lionel Warner. The company was later bought by Kinney National Company in 1967 and renamed Warner- Elektra-Atlantic (WEA) in 1970. In 1972, WEA formed a joint venture with Atlantic Records, which led to the formation of WEA International in 1974.
In 1979, Kinney National was taken over by Gulf+Western and renamed Warner Communications. Three years later, Gulf+Western divested itself of Warner Communications’ non-entertainment assets and renamed itself as Paramount Communications (now ViacomCBS).
In 1990, Time Warner Inc. was formed after the merger of Time Inc. and Warner Communications. In 1992, WEA International was merged into Time Warner’s music division, which also included Elektra Records and Atlantic Records. In 2004, Time Warner spun off its music division into a separate company called AOL Time Warner (now Time Warner Inc.), which then merged with Bertelsmann’s media assets in 2003 to form Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG).
In 2011, AOL sold its stake in BMG to Sony Corporation for $1 billion; BMG then changed its name back to Bertelsmann Music Group. In 2018, BMG was sold to Vineyard Entertainment for an undisclosed sum.
In 2004, AOL Time Warner spun off its music division into a separate company calledWarner Music Group(WMG), which then merged with Bertelsmann’s media assets in 2003 to formBertelsmann Music Group(BMG). In 2011, AOL sold its stake in BMG to Sony Corporation for $1 billion; BMG then changed its name back toBertelsmann Music Group(BMG). In 2018, BMG was sold to Vineyard Entertainment for an undisclosed sum.
Notable Artists
Since it’s inception in 1972, Warner Music Group has been home to some of the biggest names in the music industry. From rock and roll legends like Led Zeppelin, to pop superstars like Madonna, Warner Music has long been a powerhouse in the music world. In recent years, the label has also made a big push into electronic music, signing some of the biggest names in the genre. Here are 5 of the biggest electronic music artists signed to Warner Music Group.
– Skrillex: One of the most popular and successful DJs in the world, Skrillex got his start with the dubstep group From First To Last before going solo and becoming one of the leading figures in EDM. Skrillex has won 8 Grammy Awards and is one of the most popular DJs on streaming service Spotify.
– David Guetta: A French DJ and producer, Guetta is one of the pioneers of electronic dance music. His 2010 album “One Love” was a massive success, spawning 4 number one singles on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Guetta has won 2 Grammy Awards and was named “DJ Of The Year” by DJ Magazine in 2011.
– Calvin Harris: A Scottish DJ, producer, and singer-songwriter, Harris is one of the most successful electronic artists in the world. His 2014 album “Motion” debuted at number 1 on Billboard’s US Dance/Electronic Albums chart and spawned 3 top 10 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Harris has won 11 MTV Video Music Awards and was named “EDM Artist Of The Year” at the 2015 American Music Awards.
– Diplo: An American DJ, producer, and songwriter, Diplo is best known as a member of Major Lazer, a dancehall/electronic group that he founded with fellow DJ Jillionaire. Diplo has also worked with a wide range of other artists, including Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Snoop Dogg, and Usher. He has won 2 Grammy Awards and was named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” in 2012.
– Deadmau5: A Canadian DJ and producer who first gained popularity with his 2006 single “Fml,” Deadmau5 (real name Joel Zimmerman) is one of the most successful electronic artists in recent years. His 2008 album “Random Album Title” debuted at number 1 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums chart and earned him a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for his single “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff.”
EDM Music Labels
In the world of electronic music, there are a few things that are constant: the ever-changing landscape, the incessant need to stay ahead of the curve, and the importance of having a good label backing you. In this rapidly-growing and ever-evolving industry, it’s more important than ever to have a supportive and innovative team behind you to help push your career to new heights. So, without further ado, here are the top 5 major electronic music labels.
Notable Artists
Major electronic music labels are responsible for signing and promoting the biggest and best EDM artists in the world. From Skrillex to David Guetta, these are the names that you’re likely to see headlining the biggest festivals and clubs around. If you’re a fan of electronic dance music, then you’ll definitely want to check out these five major labels.
1. Universal Music Group: Universal is one of the biggest names in the music industry, and their electronic dance music division is home to some of the biggest DJs in the world. Notable artists signed to Universal include Skrillex, deadmau5, Steve Aoki, and Calvin Harris.
2. Sony Music Entertainment: Sony is another major player in the music industry, and their electronic dance music division boasts an impressive roster of artists. Notable DJs signed to Sony include Afrojack, Avicii, Tiƫsto, and Zeds Dead.
3. Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group is another major player in the music industry, with a strong focus on electronic dance music. Notable artists signed to Warner include Benny Benassi, Knife Party, Porter Robinson, and Above & Beyond.
4. Dim Mak Records: Dim Mak is an independent record label that has been responsible for launching the careers of some of the biggest names in EDM. Notable artists signed to Dim Mak include Skrillex, Borgore, Steve Aoki, and Zeds Dead.
5. Monstercat: Monstercat is an independent record label that specializes in releasing Electronic Dance Music. Notable artists signed to Monstercat include Pegboard Nerds, Seven Lions, and Tristam.