Record Label - Major Labels

Major Labels

Major labels 1988–1998 (Big Six)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony Music
4. BMG Music
5. Universal Music Group
6. Polygram

Major labels 1998–2004 (Big Five)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony Music
4. BMG Music
5. Universal Music Group

Major labels 2004–2008 (Big Four)

1. Universal Music Group
2. Sony BMG
3. Warner Music Group
4. EMI

Major labels 2008–2012 (Big Four)

1. Universal Music Group
2. Sony Music Entertainment
3. Warner Music Group
4. EMI

Major labels since 2012 (Big Three)

1. Universal Music Group
2. Sony Music Entertainment
3. Warner Music Group

Record labels are often under the control of a corporate umbrella organization called a "music group". A music group is typically owned by an international conglomerate "holding company", which often has non-music divisions as well. A music group controls and consists of music publishing companies, record (sound recording) manufacturers, record distributors, and record labels. As of 2007, the "big four" music groups control about 70% of the world music market, and about 80% of the United States music market.Record companies (manufacturers, distributors, and labels) may also comprise a "record group" which is, in turn, controlled by a music group. The constituent companies in a music group or record group are sometimes marketed as being "divisions" of the group.