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chuck norris · 04.29.2007, 05:33 AM

A scary text I found on wikipedia about today's music industry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_music_market
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_label
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Music_Group

70% of all music on earth is owned by four big music groups: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI. It could become three, when EMI and Warner decide to fuse.

These multinationals buy radio and airplay time. Independent labels don't get a chance to get airplay.

A lot of the famous labels are now part of the corporate structure: Island Records (U2), Geffen (SY, Nirvana, Whitesnake) , Colombia (Dylan), Arista, RCA, etc. are all part of the big four.

Even some of the "independent" labels have become corporate: Rough Trade (Smiths) in the UK went bankrupt, and is now part of a bigger label. Creation Records (Oasis) is no longer independent. Sub Pop (Nirvana, Shins) is 49% owned by the Warner Group.

SST Records (SY, Black Flag, Meat Puppets) and Sanctuary (Morrissey, Lou Reed) are still independent, as far as I know.

I think its a bad thing that these big corporations rule our music scene. Bands like The Strokes, The Shins, Belle & Sebastian are not as independent as I thought they were.

Even the dutch music scene (I am from Holland) is ruled by the big four. Blof, Di-rect and Bassie en Adriaan are all signed to EMI. Other bands don't stand a chance...

C.N.

04.29.2007, 05:33 AM	#1
chuck norris bad moon rising Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 141	A scary text I found on wikipedia about today's music industry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_music_market http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_label http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Music_Group 70% of all music on earth is owned by four big music groups: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI. It could become three, when EMI and Warner decide to fuse. These multinationals buy radio and airplay time. Independent labels don't get a chance to get airplay. A lot of the famous labels are now part of the corporate structure: Island Records (U2), Geffen (SY, Nirvana, Whitesnake) , Colombia (Dylan), Arista, RCA, etc. are all part of the big four. Even some of the "independent" labels have become corporate: Rough Trade (Smiths) in the UK went bankrupt, and is now part of a bigger label. Creation Records (Oasis) is no longer independent. Sub Pop (Nirvana, Shins) is 49% owned by the Warner Group. SST Records (SY, Black Flag, Meat Puppets) and Sanctuary (Morrissey, Lou Reed) are still independent, as far as I know. I think its a bad thing that these big corporations rule our music scene. Bands like The Strokes, The Shins, Belle & Sebastian are not as independent as I thought they were. Even the dutch music scene (I am from Holland) is ruled by the big four. Blof, Di-rect and Bassie en Adriaan are all signed to EMI. Other bands don't stand a chance... C.N.
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