What is an independent record company?
An independent record company is a music company that financially depends on itself to promote an artist without funding from other organisations (sponsors,marketing deals).
What is a Major record company?
A major record company is highly promoted through mainstream acts and affiliated marketing companies through the technique of using synergy (major label's artist music is featured in movies,adverts,games and technology).They usually receive funding from a range of organisations because of their popularity. The artist's signed on their labels receive a budget which helps pay for an array of things such as their tours,studio recording sessions,stylists ,playing their songs on commercial radio and music video shoots.
The advantages of being an independent artist:
- Able to convey their own individual image,style.
- Most of their sale profit goes to artist in comparison to a major label artist where profit goes to sponsors
- no royalty fees
- Able to be more creatively free in their musical art form such as writing their own lyrics,producing their own beats.
- no binding contracts ;able to go into other business ventures without restrictions .
- can still promote through use of social websites
The disadvantages of being an independent artist:
- Less mass appeal
- Limited funds to promote the artist
- Lack of touring opportunities because of the lack of companies links to concert promoters
The advantages of being a Major artist:
- Huge exposure through media presence-TV,talk-shows,radio and magazines
- more funding to tour,produce,style the artist and have a song writing team for the artist
- Wider fan base
- Marketing sponsors
- Huge budget
The disadvantages of being a major artist:
- Less creative control
- Music company and songwriters take royalties from profit made from singles,album sales and tours.
- Most major label artist cannot leave their company until the remaining time because of the legal binding contract.
Typical Major label music videos:
- Use of green screen room
- specialist effects in the music video
- dance crew
- props
- brand sponsors such as "beats" headphones included in the video
- multiple shots
- continuous artist costume changes
Typical independent label artist music videos:
- Minimal cast usually just the artist in the video
- less special effects
- less "glamourous"
- Artist playing an instrument
