BPI

. In 2008, a startling 40 billion unauthorised files were traded illegally online meaning that hundreds of thousands of performers, song writers, musicians, producers, A&R scouts and everyone else involved in creating the music, didn't get paid for their work.

It has become a common argument that the big stars and the big record companies can ‘afford’ to lose out on sales to file-sharing. This, however, is far from the reality. The profits generated by the big artists are reinvested by record companies into new talent (around 23% of their profits go straight back into new artists).

If fewer artists are being invested in, there is less work for everyone in this chain.

Most of all it affects the new artists coming through, meaning there are fewer opportunities for them to be discovered, invested in and nurtured. 

 

Music remains one of the UK’s strongest and proudest exports and is absolutely key to the culture of the nation. Music is woven into the very fabric of our country; it is the most accessible and most emotionally-powerful art form that we have. Music creates communities and gives likeminded people something to congregate around.

 

Often it is only when something is taken away from us that we realise how important it is to us. And without resorting to overstatement and shock tactics, this is a real risk that the music of tomorrow has to face. 

 

There are a multitude of services that give you access to music for free and, crucially, ensure that the artists get paid. From the ad-funded download and streaming services to the sites of the artists themselves and permanent download sites, there are many ways for you to access music for free in a way that does not damage the people who actually create that music and ensures that they can continue to make music for many years to come.

Two case studies on artists in universal who used syngetic marketing and one who used secondry lisencing to promote albums

http://www.tellyads.com/show_movie.php?filename=TA5069

This video is a clip of a Pepsi Max advert using The black eyed peas, which are signed to Universal. The name of the song used in this advert is called 'More' which is believed to have been written exclusively for the advert. By using The Black Eyed Peas in the advert not only does it attract a wide audience to drink it as they are so popular, it also advertises The band and the music they create.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1405094169/

Christina Aguilera is also signed to Universal Music. In her recent film Burlesque, she sings throughout and so the movie soundtrack will most likely be released as a seperate CD, creating a great profit for Universal, or it will advertise Christina's musical talent and will therefore release new music.

Elton john, who is signed to A&M/Octone- a subsidery of Universal music is th original singer of 'Your song'. However, recent artist Ellie Goulding has had to buy the right to use this song and her version has been used in a John Lewis advert, creating money for Elton John and therefore Universal Music.
http://www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=666

Record Labels

What does a record label do?
Record companies are the main investors, and developers of, musical talent in the UK and globally. Record labels enable artists, through advances and marketing/sales support, to treat music making as a full-time career. They explot the arists' recordings comercially and collect and pay the resulting royalties on their behalf. Labels traditionally pay for the recording and mixing of albums (with this money being recouped through the sale nad wider exploitation of those recordings) and they often underwrite new acts' touring costs to help raise their profile and sales. On top of manufacturing and distributing the records they provide an essential promotional and marketing role. This includes developing and executing ad and marketing campaigns as well as promoting an plugging the acts to media. Labels can also seek out other ways for the recordings t obe exploited, such as being used in movies and adverts, and license rights to global parties in different markets. THIS IS WHY AN ARTIST MIGHT WANT TO BE SIGNED TO A RECORD LABEL. (question3)

Give four examples of services a record label might provide for an artist.
- They exploit the the artists' recordings commercially and collect and pay the resulting royalties on their behalf.
- Traditionally pay for the recording and mixing of albums.
- Provide an essential promotional and marketing role, this includes developing and executing ad and marketing campaigns as well as promoting and plugging the acts to media.
- Seek out other ways for the recordings to be exploited, such as being used in movies and adverts, and license rights to global parties in different markets.

Give four examples of ways in which record labels make money (these are known as revenue streams).
- They often underwrite new acts' touring costs to help raise their profits and sales.
- Promotion and marketing
- Negotiating the best deals with bricks and motar retailers and a huge variety of digital partners.
- Tours and live shows

Name the 'big four' record labels (also known as the 'majors')
-BMG/ Sony
-Universal
-EMI
-Warner

The British Music Industry