The Big Four

(The music industry’s major company players)

Concentrated Interests

• The music industry traditionally dominated by a few major companies.

• Due to cooperate takeovers, power has become concentrated with four major companies dominating .

• These companies are part of a larger conglomerates, which is a huge group of international companies that has interests in many fields e.g Sony.

• In 2008 the industry was worth aprrox $30 billion

Example of a conglomerate in Music.

Universal Music GroupsMCA RecordsPolygramIsland/Def JamDecca RecordsUniversal RecordsInterscope recordsRising Tide

Universal Music Group (BIG 1)

• 35.12% market share• Label Includes: Geffen

Records, Island Def Jam, Motown Records, Verve Music Group, Decca Music Group.

• Artists include: Gwen Stefani, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix, Kanye West, Shania Twain.

Sony Music (BIG 2)

• 22.79% market share.• Labels Include: Arista

Records, Columbia Records, Jive Records, RCA Records

• Artist Includes: Alicia Keys, Usher, Chris Brown, AC/DC, Leona Lewis

Warner Music (BIG 3)

• 21.12% market share.• Labels Include: Atlantic

Records, Warner Bros Records.

• Artists Include: R.E.M, Green Day, Eric Clapton, Gnarls Barkley.

EMI (Big 4)

• 8.35% market share.• Labels Include:

Capitol Records, Virgin, Blue Note.

• Artists Include: Coldplay, Katy Perry, The Rolling Stones, Lenny Kravitz.