The Top Music Companies Who Produce Reggae
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Looking for the top music companies that produce reggae hits? Look no further than this list of the best of the best. From VP Records to Greensleeves, these are the labels that know how to get those reggae vibes going.
The Big Three
The top three music companies who produce reggae are VP Records, Greensleeves Records, and Island Records. Each company has released countless reggae albums, both by well-known artists and up-and-comers. Reggae music has been steadily gaining popularity in the United States and these companies have been at the forefront of the genre’s growth.
Universal Music Group
The Universal Music Group is a large music corporation that consists of many different record labels. These include A&M Records, Geffen Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, and many more. UMG also has a large presence in the reggae genre with their record label, VP Records. VP Records was founded in 1979 and has since then become one of the leading reggae record labels in the world. They have worked with some of the biggest names in reggae including Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, and Elephant Man.
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment is one of the “big three” music companies in the world, along with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. Based in New York City, Sony Music Entertainment is home to a number of iconic labels, including Columbia Records, Epic Records, and RCA Records. Sony Music Entertainment also has a joint venture with The Orchard, which is one of the leading independent music distributors.
Some of the biggest reggae artists in the world are signed to Sony Music Entertainment labels, including Shaggy, Sean Paul, and Ziggy Marley. Sony Music Entertainment’s reggae catalog also includes a number of classic albums, such as Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Legend and Burning Spear’s Marcus Garvey.
Warner Music Group
The Big Three refers to the three largest music companies in the world who produce Reggae music – Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group. Each company has a vast array of artists under their respective labels.
Sony Music Entertainment is the second largest music company in the world and is home to artists such as Sean Paul, Damian Marley, and Ziggy Marley. Universal Music Group is the largest music company in the world and includes artists such as Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, and Beenie Man under their umbrella. Warner Music Group is the third largest music company in the world and Reggae artists such as Beres Hammond and Freddie McGregor are produced under their label.
Reggae music has become more mainstream in recent years with the rise of Dancehall Reggae. Artists such as Drake, Rihanna, and Justin Bieber have all incorporated Reggae elements into their chart-topping hits. As a result, the genre has seen a surge in popularity and these three companies are at the forefront of producing some of today’s most popular Reggae artist.
The Independents
Reggae—the musical style, not the genre—has been around for nearly 50 years and has been produced by some of the biggest names in music. But what about the independents? Who are the top music companies who produce quality reggae music?
VP Records
VP Records is a Jamaican-American record label specializing in reggae and dancehall music. Founded in 1979 by Vivian Carter and Patricia Schirin, VP is one of the world’s largest independent record labels. The label is also home to some of reggae’s most celebrated artists, including Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Capleton, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Morgan Heritage, Sean Paul, and Shaggy.
Greensleeves Records
Founded in 1979, Greensleeves is one of the longest-running reggae record labels still in operation today. Based in the UK, Greensleeves has released music by some of the most iconic names in Jamaican music, including Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, and Capleton. Greensleeves also has its own sub-label, Easy Star Records, which specializes in releasing reggae versions of popular albums by mainstream artists (such as Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” and The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”).
Island Records
Island Records is a Jamaican-American record label that was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell. It is best known for releases by reggae and dub artists such as Bob Marley, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Augustus Pablo. Island Records has also released records by prominent rock, pop, and hip-hop artists such as U2, Amy Winehouse, Grace Jones, and Björk.
The Newcomers
Reggae music has been around for decades and has been steadily growing in popularity. The genre has recently seen a surge in popularity, with more and more people becoming interested in the style. This has led to a number of new companies popping up that are specializing in producing reggae music.
BMG
BMG is a multinational music company that was founded in 2008. The company is based in Berlin, Germany, and has offices in many countries around the world. BMG is one of the largest music companies in the world, with a catalogue of over two million songs. The company has a strong focus on reggae music, and has signed many important reggae artists over the years. These include Damian Marley, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Ziggy Marley.
Roc Nation
Roc Nation is an American entertainment company founded by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter in 2008. The company has offices in New York City, London, and Los Angeles. The company also has a music publishing division called Roc Nation Publishing, which includes Tamsi Newhouse and veteran music executive Desmond Child. Roc Nation is home to a number of artists including Rihanna, J. Cole, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Normani, cordae and Saweetie.
Roc Nation’s president is Jay Brown and its co-founder is Jay-Z. Other shareholders in the company include Live Nation Entertainment and the Abu Dhabi Media Company.
Reggae on the Rise
According to a recent study, reggae is one of the top five most streamed genres of music. This is a huge accomplishment for a genre that is often considered niche. The report indicated that between the years 2015 and 2020, there was a surge in popularity for reggae, with more people streaming it than ever before.
The Grammys
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, “Do the Reggay” was the first popular song to use the word “reggae”, effectively naming the genre and introducing it to a global audience. While sometimes used in a broad sense to refer to all types of popular Jamaican dance music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.
Reggae is strongly influenced by African-American music, especially R&B, as well as the indigenous styles of mento and calypso. It is also characterized by a syncopated offbeat or staccato section. The style is often led by electric guitar and saxophone backed by bass, drums, and keyboards.
The Billboard charts
In recent years, reggae has been on the rise in the Billboard charts. Here are the top music companies that produce reggae:
1) VP Records
2) Greensleeves Records
3) Island Records
4) Atlantic Records
5) Sony Music Entertainment
Reggae Festivals
Reggae on the Rise is a unique concert series that celebrates the best in new and upcoming reggae music. The concert series is produced by some of the top music companies in the world, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Island Records.
Reggae on the Rise features a diverse lineup of artists from all over the world, including Jamaica, England, Africa, and the United States. The concert series showcases the many different styles of reggae music, from roots and dub to dancehall and R&B.
Reggae on the Rise is an excellent way to discover new reggae music and support the artists who are keeping this genre alive and thriving. The concert series takes place in various cities throughout the United States, so be sure to check out the schedule to see if it is coming to a city near you.
