This is a short presentation I have created to use in my A2 media studies blog.

1. The
Music Industry

2. Ownership
So who owns the music industry..?
•Mainstream music is owned by large
organisations, known as conglomerates.
•5 main US conglomerates who control 95% of
all the world’s media and information
distribution.
Until the early 1990s, there were 6 major labels
that owned music and artists. In the late 1990s,
this turned into 5; it then became ‘The Big 4’ in
2004.
Now, in 2012, there’s 3 major global recording
labels...

3. The Big 3
Warner Music, Universal and Sony
are currently the biggest and most
influential music owners. All of these
major conglomerates also own many
subsidiary groups, which means they
basically own everything. They
usually buy and sell some of the
smaller groups within themselves.

4. Independent Record Labels
Independent record labels are much
smaller organisations that operate
independently to mainstream labels.
This means the videos they produce will
have a much lower production value than
videos produced by major labels.
Rough Trade Records, which was founded in
1978, is a independent UK label that
initially began as a record shop.

5. Mainstream Audience
Their choice of pop
Since the conglomerates control music may be closely
most of the mainstream and related to their social
popular artists, it means they cater life, indicating that
for the mainstream audience too. they would be
This huge group of the majority outgoing type of
audience are the ones that listen to people and often
pop music; these are usually materialistic with the
people that are between the ages need to be up-to-date
of 12 and 25. with all the latest
trends and celebrity
news.

6. Independent labels
have artists that are
Audience
independent and the
music they release is
for niche genres and
aimed at specific
and usually smaller
audiences.
These artists may not
receive as much
media exposure,
which is why they
sometimes have to
rely on promoting
themselves through
social media.

7. Music in 2012

8. So what’s happening with music now..?
There has been a significant drop in the
number CDs sold over the last few years.
Year Revenue in album sales
2008 £ 428million
2009 £366million
2010 £319million

9. Why..?
The main reason for the downfall of CDs is the
internet. Whether it is digital downloads
(which may be legal or illegal) or the rise of
YouTube (and the introduction of VeVo, which
is the artists’ own channel), the music industry
has almost completely gone online.
The internet has fast evolved into the
fundamental way of addressing the fans due
to shifts in consumer behaviour. Whether the
industry like it or not, we as the audience are
far active in our consumption than ever
before.

10. Power of social media The importance of
social media in the
modern media cannot
be emphasised
enough.
Above, you see the official Twitter page of
Eminem, one of the most successful artists of
all time. At a glance, you’ll notice his 12 and
The above picture is a still from the a half MILLION followers! This means that it
website of British group Florence and
is much easier for artists to promote any
the Machine. The ‘Like’ and ‘Tweet’
buttons have become unavoidable on upcoming releases of singles, videos, tours,
all websites; this means that albums etc. to a global audience just by
consumers are constantly spreading typing a few words.
information and raising the profile of Social media also allows interaction between
musicians from any site they’re on, the artists and their fans.
whether it is an official site or a Further, whether it is eating an ice cream or
news/gossip site. releasing a new single, it keeps the fans
constantly up to date with everything their
favourite artist is doing.

11. Illegal access to music...
Aside from the thousands of
sites worldwide that are
dedicated in providing illegal
access to fans, YouTube is
unfortunately also a place for
downloaders. Fans use YouTube
to convert the music videos they
like into MP3 files, ready for
their iPods and mobile phones.

12. Industry reaction: combating illegal
downloads
YouTube has created ‘Vevo’, which is a
feature on the site that basically iTunes (of Apple) and
provides artists with their own AmazonMP3 allow the
channel on the site. They’ve made public to legally PAY and
videos from Vevo undownloadable download high quality
and instead they advertise iTunes music, ensuring profits
links to legally download those songs. for the site as well as the
artist and their recording
label.

13. The End