Existing Record Label Company Research

Matt Aldridge

Bad Boy Records

Bad Boy Records were founded in 1993 by none other than Sean “Diddy” Combs who is otherwise known as “P Diddy”. The rapper/producer/entrepreneur started the record label after being fired from Uptown Records.

The label promotes hip hop and rap artists such as Biggie Smalls, French Montana and Puff Daddy himself.

Biggie Smalls and Puff Daddy

Interscope Records

Interscope Records is a record label that was functions as a division of Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1989 by Jimmy Lovine originally as a hip hop label.

Despite the original focus being on hip hop and urban music, the label expanded in the mid 90’s and it began to sign artist’s such as Marilyn Manson and Limp Bizkit.

Currently artist’s such as Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Madonna, Dr. Dre and U2 are signed up to the record label.

Dr. Dre & Eminem

Def Jam Recordings

Def Jam Recordings is a record label that was founded in 1983 by Rick Rubin that focused predominantly on hip hop and urban music, it is also owned by Universal Music Group.

The first single to be released with a Def Jam logo on it was T La Rock and Jazzy Jay’s “It’s Yours”.

Current artists include Iggy Azalea, Kanye West, Nas and Frank Ocean.

Kanye West

Frank Ocean

Geffen Records

Geffen Records is a record label that was founded in 1980 by the music industry businessman David Geffen.

The label’s fist signee was Donna Summer, whose gold-selling album The Wanderer became the label’s first ever release in 1980.

Famous artist’s who have recorded under Geffen Records include John Lennon, Elton John, Cher, Blink-182 and Aerosmith.

Aerosmith