Record Labels!

Columbia and Island – Two labels associated with our genre.

Island RecordsIsland Records was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell and Graeme Goodall in Jamaica. It was based here in the UK for many years, but now is owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a division of The Island Def Jam Music Group in America.Island had a key influence on the progressive music scene of the UK in the early 1970s, and in the mid 70s, Island ran its own record pressing plant! Unfortunately there were sometimes problems with the quality of the records they were making, as many records were defective and had to be returned.

They carried on to distribute their records in this way ensuring that the Island brand still dominated releases, and therefore helped prevent the brand from becoming marginalised, but regardless to this Island struggled as a business in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Bob Marley's 1981 death was detrimental to the company, while rock band U2, (signed to Island in March 1980), was growing in popularity, but had not yet reached the international superstar status that was to come.

Island then used their label to finance a new film production and distribution company, Island Alive, in 1983 but got into massive debts because of its unsuccessfulness which for they then could not afford to pay £5 million it owed to U2 in royalties for their The Joshua Tree album.

In July 1989, Blackwell sold Island Records and Island Music to PolyGram UK Group for £272 million, and from this point on, Island was no longer an independent company.Then in 1998 all of the Polygram and associated labels were purchased by Seagram's, the various labels now asserting the imprint under the umbrella of Universal Music Group.

Island Records and our genre!Artists under Island Records that are similar to our genre are:

Jessie WareAluna George

DisclosureAvicci

DJ Shadow

As two of the main artists we are researching about are under Island’s label it made sense to research them - Jessie Ware and Aluna George. The way Island distribute their music is by online and physical sales, although to ‘sell’ these artists even further they use various advertising techniques such as merchandise, websites, adverts on TV, radio and in print, and also various signings and gigs to get the artists noticed. Within our genre many of the artists play small gigs and a few large festivals – the more they play, the more Island earn, as audience members then go and download or purchase the artists’ music.Other branches of the Island brand are, Island TV, Island Store, Island 50. Their website also advertises all the artists under their record label, and the gigs their artists are playing, as well as new releases.

Island’s Website – Clearly sells all the ‘things’ they do, such as IslandTV but also works hard to advertise their signed artists. It’s also very modern and connotes the artists they’ve signed, perhaps indicating that they are aiming their products are the younger audiences.

Columbia

Columbia Records is a premier recording label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment, working under the Columbia Music Group. Columbia is the oldest brand name in pre-recorded sound, being the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders, starting in 1888.

A century and a quarter later, Columbia withstands as the oldest label in the recording industry. Columbia’s story involves the entire history of the American recording industry and its impact on modern life. With a catalogue of unique artists ranging from Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand through to Bob Dylan and Adele.

It is one of Sony Music's three record labels with the other two being Epic Records and RCA Records.

Columbia and our genre!Columbia has signed artists such as:

Katy BCalvin HarrisLittle Nikki

That all produce music similar to our genre – with Katy B being our main influence and inspiration for our music video. Again like Island, Columbia distribute music through physical and downloadable music copies, although they distribute through their parent company Sony instead. On Columbia’s UK website, a huge list of their current artists are featured, and when clicked links to the artist’s Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Sound cloud and website are available. Along with their ITunes link – selling point!Whereas on the Columbia.com website there are lots of links advertising each artist, and even a music bar at the top that plays Columbia signed singers and bands current songs.