record company research

The record company is the behind the scenes force of the music industry, controlling the production, distribution and promotion of music.

One of the most mainstream and succssesful production companies is Warner music Group (based in New York). A division of mass media company Warner Bros, it was founded in the late fifties when one of Warner's contracted actors scored a hit record for Dot Records, owned by Warner's rival company Paramount. Scince it was founded, WMG has become one of the most successful music production companies in the world and curently has a net worth of $2.7 billion and owns a lot of more specific record companies.

One of Warner's divisions is Roadrunner Records, founded in 1980 in the Netherlands. At first, Roadrunner were responsible for exporting North American metal records to Europe. In 1986, they opened thier US headquarters in New York and have since opened up offices in the UK, Germany, Japan, France, Denmark, Austrailia and Canada. Roadrunner still focus primaraly on the various sub genres of Heavy Metal. Artists currently signed to them include: Slipknot, Stone Sour, Machene Head and Lamb of God.

 

One of the more independant labels is Century media, founded in 1988 by Robert Kampf in Dortmund, Germany. The label focus on worldwide, independant heavy metal acts, including Lacuna Coil, Suicide Silence and Arch Enemy.

 

 

Warp Records was formed in Sheffield in 1989 and produced pioneering British Electronic music. Thier most famous artist is Aphex Twin. They are now based in London