The music industry involves record labels that produce, market, and distribute music. They sign artists to contracts and oversee the recording process. Major record labels include Universal, Sony, Warner, and EMI. Record labels have A&R departments that scout new talent, oversee recordings, and assist with promotion. The typical process involves A&R finding an artist, signing a contract, employing producers and musicians to record songs, producing music videos, and marketing and distributing the album globally. Artists, songwriters, and record labels share ownership and royalties from music sales and streams.

1. Music Industries
L/O: to get an introduction into the music industry before studying the
form

2. The music industry?
Discuss the following:
Who makes money and
how?

3. What does a record label do?
• A record label is essentially a brand or trademark.
• They are often responsible for the production, manufacture, distribution,
marketing and promotion of albums.
• The enforce copyright laws.
• They conduct scouting and development of artists.
• They maintain contracts with recording artists and their managers.
The 4 major record labels are:
They are the parent companies of
many small labels, including:
• SyCo Music
• Island Records
• Atlantic
• Epic
• Aftermath
• Cash money Billionaire
and many more…

4. Media Ownership
Universal is the largest media owner of the
music industry.
Independent labels are smaller and often
focused on more alternative genres.
An example:
Gingerbread Man Records,
Ed Sheeran’s record label.
Owned by bigger brand
Atlantis. (subsidiary)

5. What do A&R people do?
The role of A&R has three main responsibilities:
• Finding talent
• Overseeing the recording process
• Assisting with marketing and promotion
As you can imagine, going to clubs, scouting new talent, chatting
regularly with recording studios, superstar producers, and major stars,
makes this one of the most sought after jobs in the recording industry.
However, what shows/technologies have impacted on this?
A&R stands for Artists and Repertoire. This is the division of a record label that is
responsible for talent scouting and the artistic and commercial development of
the recording artist. It also acts as a liaison between the artist and the record
label.
I love my job.

6. The song production process:
• Put them in the right order!

7. The song production process:
• A&R scouts find an artist
• A contract is signed
• An album producer is at the centre of the process
• Marketing may begin well in advance
• Team of songwriters produce songs
• Backing vocal artists are sourced and recorded
• Label heads oversee production and manage budgets
• Session musicians are employed, samples recorded
• The star records their vocals
• Music videos are produced
• The album is streamed or tracks given away
• The album is marketed and distributed globally

8. Who makes money?
The contract will dictate the percentage of ownership of any profit made from a
single song or album sale.
• Typically a superstar royalty rate is 20%
• Apple will take 30% of an album sale through Apple music
• Songwriters earn royalties when a song is played on the radio/adverts etc
• Artists earn money from touring ticket sales and album sales
Discuss:
Who actually OWNS a song?
Who is responsible for any issues that might arise?
Is the star to blame?

9. Independent extension work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBBi8j3KlYM
Watch this BBC doc all about EMI