North American Music Industry

The North American Music industry is divided up as so

EMI Group: EMI Group is the fourth largest record label representing 10% of the market. Artists on this label include; Nat King Cole, The Band, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, Coldplay, Gorrillaz, Iron Maiden, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Radiohead. EMI is based in London, England.

Warner Music Group: Warner Music Group is the third largest music label representing 15% of the market. Key artists of this label include; Madonna, Alanis Morissette, My Chemical Romance, Michael Buble, James Blunt, Fleetwood Mac, Green Day, Doobie Brothers, Guns and Roses, Jay-Z, Third Eye Blind, Frank Sinatra and ZZ Top. Warner Music Group is based in the United States.

Sony BMG Music Entertainment: Sony BMG is the second largest record label representing 26% of the market. Artists on this label include; Kings Of Leon, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Micheal Jackson, Foo Fighters, Roy Orbison and The Clash. Sony BMG is based in Japan.

Universal Music Group: Universal Music is the largest record label representing 38% of the market. Artists include; Lady GaGa, Black Eyed Peas, Duffy, Blink 182, BB King, Johnny Cash, Sublime, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Mariah Carey, Tupac, Bob Marley, Eminem, Elton John, Dire Straits and Nine Inch Nails, to name only a few. Universal Music Group is headquartered in New York City, and owned by French media conglomerate Vivendi.


These four massive companies, all of them having subsidiaries for niche markets and different areas represent about 82 percent of all contractual recorded music you hear, the other 18 percent is represented by a large multitude of indie labels. I think these huge record companies have reached a capacity to manufacture or produce talent, many of their artists are supremely talented, don't get me wrong, but I think they push projects that sell based on this formula rather than talent. As with most companies they are profit oriented and the more sales they have the better they do. These four major record labels have such a power and understanding within the music industry that they can artificially create what they think will sell, and not based on artistic integrity. For instance,

Warning, these songs may be terrible or catchy as hell


1. Miley Cyrus, Party in the USA



Start off with this overly catchy tune with 100 million views on Youtube. This song has replaced actual lyrics with catchy phrases and words that people like, "Party", "USA", "Hands Up", "DJ Plays My Song", And the hammer of "and the Britney song was on', Overlayed on a backtrack with an infectious hook and guitar track, loved by millions and millions of North American teenage girls in a town near you. Take a good looking 17 year old girl who is already adored in droves from her highly successful Disney Show and you have a major hit on your hands. Songwriting credits go to Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, A songwriter and record producer, his other collaborations and songwriting has been used for artists like Katy Perry, Flo-rida Britney Spears, Paris Hilton And My next victim Ke$ha.


2. Ke$ha, Tik Tok



This Next one is another collaboration with songwriter and producer Lukasz Gottwald, Who obviously has made a name for himself in terrible music, in my opinion. Tik Tok celebrates the party lifestyle, and who doesn't like a good party, just do it without a bubblegum anthem and do it with some integrity. Unfourtuanetly a couple name drops and late night talk show appearances later this song is a big hit based on nothing in particular other than some record label excecs who know how to get the ball rolling with some good placements and timing that can really sell this one.

3. Lady Gaga- Disco Stick



This song is self explanatorily terrible i really dont have to say to much, yet Lady Gaga Is a massive commercial sucess, catchy song good looking girl, big seller.

Few Others Could be

Justin Bieber- one time

Anything made or sang by anyone with the name Jonas or brother attached to it


End her off with an example of something proper and legit,


End of it might Get Loud



Ana Free, Walking In Memphis