Choosing A Record Label!

Georgina Barker

Georgina Barker

Now that I have researched some R&B artists and found numerous Record labels, I am going to be looking into them in more detail in order to find the ideal company to sign my artist. I need to bare in mind that in real life the artist who sings my track is not very well known, in that respect she wouldn’t be thrown straight into a major record label. Her music would need to be recognised first.

Georgina Barker

I first came across Def Jam recordings whilst researching artist ‘Rhianna’. Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of Island Def Jam Motown Music Group.

Although Rhianna’s music includes the R&B genre, Def Jam Recordings do not seem to sign R&B artists. Even though my track does have an element of Hip Hop, I don’t think that this record company is a suitable match for my artist!

Georgina Barker

I came across Epic Records whilst researching R&B artist Jennifer Lopez. This is also an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment, which operates under the umbrella of the Epic Label Group. Though it was originally conceived as a Jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres.Epic Records

appear to sign a lot more R&B artists than Def Jam Recordings. However they all seem to be very well known artists which shows that this is a major record company. I feel that my artist needs to start off somewhere small, and work her way up!

Georgina Barker

Jennifer Lopez is also signed by Island Records. Island Records was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group. The label now operates as a division of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the United States (where it is now a largely rock-oriented label) and as a standalone label in the United Kingdom (also known as Island Records Group or Universal Island).

Whilst looking to see if I could find any other relevant R&B artists singed by this label, I noticed that on the drop down menu there wasn’t a choice for R&B artists. Jennifer Lopez must be signed to this label due to her other music style of Pop.

Georgina Barker

Another Record company that Rhianna is signed by is Roc Nation. Roc Nation is an American management, music publishing and entertainment company founded by Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter.Jay-Z, who is an artist himself, founded this

Record Company. As a result, all of the artists who have been signed and managed e.g. Willow Smith (Will Smith’s daughter) are already accomplished and well known!This label does sign R&B artists, and could be a good match for the artist of my track, yet I am still on the look out for a smaller Record Company which signs artists (who are now well accomplished) from the beginning of their career journey. Alexis Jordan is an R&B artist that I have taken a lot of inspiration from for my music video, knowing that she is signed by this company could show potential for my artist if I am going to create something similar to her work.

Georgina Barker

I came across J Records whilst researching R&B artist Leona Lewis. Again, J records is an American label owned and operated by Sony Music entertainment, and is distributed through the RCA music group. The company signs many female R&B artists, similar to the artist who sings my track, therefore this could be a great option! It is also owned and distributed by bigger companies, meaning it is not a major Record Label. This is the kind of thing I have been looking for!

Georgina Barker

The final Record Company I have come across is SRP music group. I found this Label through Rhianna. This music group has only signed six artists all together, and all their music contains the style of R&B or Pop!

This company looks really promising! Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers have worked together for over 20 years, writing and producing songs for several famous artists such as Christina Aguilera. In 2009 they decided to start their own Record company, promoting new artists into the scene! I feel that this Company would be prefect to sign my artist, not only because the current signed artists are of the same musical style, but also because of the general idea of introducing fresh artists and getting them recognised! Clearly, this has worked for Rhianna!

Georgina Barker

I feel that SRP Records would be the best record company to sign the artist of my track. The artists currently signed to the label all share the same musical style to my artist, which shows that Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers are partial to taking on R&B artists. I believe that if my artist was signed by this company she would become an accomplished and recognised artist!