by Alex Cosper (7/20/13) At one as late as 1996 there were six major record labels. But after waves of consolidation and corporate downsizing triggered by a decline in music sales starting in 1999, there were only three major labels by 2013. Those labels are Universal, Sony and Warner. EMI still appears in 2012 industry statistics, but it was absored by two of the big three, Universal and Sony. In 2012 Universal Music Group had 32 percent market share of total albums, according to Nielsen data published in Billboard. Sony Music Entertainment came in second with 30 percent, Warner Music Group came in third with 19 percent and EMI only had 7 percent. The remaining 11 percent was divided among other labels. Major labels own, control or distribute many other smaller labels. Below are popular selling artists at each of the major labels. Universal Music Group Jay-Z (Def Jam) Lady Gaga (Def Jam) Justin Bieber (Island) Luke Bryan (Capitol Nashville) Rihanna (Def Jam) Katy Perry (Virgin) Phillip Phillips (Interscope) LMFAO (Cherry Tree) Lionel Richie (Mercury Nashville) Jason Aldean (Capitol Nashville) Mumford & Sons (Island) Maroon5 (A&M Octone) Of Monsters and Men (Universal Republic) Gotye (Universal Republic) Kelly Clarkson (RCA) Nicki Minaj (Cash Money) Carly Rae Jepsen (Maple Music) Alabama Shakes (ATO) Sony Music Entertainment Adele (Columbia) Beyonce (Columbia) One Direction (Syco/Columbia) Carrie Underwood (Arista Nashville) Pink (LaFace) Kenny Chesney (Blue Chair/Columbia) Ke$ha (RCA) Warner Music Group Bruno Mars (Atlantic) Flo Rida (Atlantic) Fun. (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic) Wiz Khalifa (Rostrum) © Playlist Research. All rights reserved. |