A Guide To The Music Industry

A Guide to the Music Industry

Section 1
Define major institutions
These are the most important companies in the music industry and dominate music production. The can consist of many sub-companies that specialize in certain genres etc... However combined make one vast company that has ultimate control over the music industry i.e. Sony
Define minor institutions
These are less established music companies that focus on more independent music known as indie. The audience for these companies will be niche compared to the mass appeal that major institutions have.
In the music industry currently minor companies are being bought up by Major companies resulting in them lacking a USP as major companies such as Sony are able to provide independent music as well as mainstream

Section 2
Our chosen institution – Drowned in Sound

What media/companies does it own? Is this significant?

Drowned in sound do not own any companies but however a percentage of the companies website and record label are owned by Silentway LTD. Silentway LTD. Is an independent management company who directed the likes of:
Simply Red, Stina nordenstam and Brett Anderson. The experience of managing these artists provides a significant help point for the company.

In 2007 Drowned in Sound joined a partnership with BSkyB called the quietus group this meant

it was now assigned to a major corporation rather than remaining truly independent.

However in 2008 the partnership ended with mutual agreement and DiS were back to being an independent record label.

As well as being a record label first and foremost drowned in sound is an online music magazine

launched by Sean Adams in 2000 to keep people up to speed on all their musical know-how. 

Does it have a production and distribution element?

The company has many different ways to distribute their music for example they have festivals

and gigs to promote new bands and artists and also maximize the knowledge of the record label.

DiS also has a website based fan club that allows the word of new music to be spread quickly and

effectively by loyal fans of indie music, through discussion forums etc…

What do you notice about the genre of music?

The genre of music has an Indie vibe where the artists shown are all laidback. Indie genre is very

versatile and this is shown by the range of artists signed to them the genres range from rock to

pop and bands to solos

The website in itself also has an alternative feel as it is colored with bright pinks and bold blacks

and encourages a strong sense of community belonging and identity through their blog and

discussion pages which is important within the indie genre.

The type of music highlighted the most is low key festival music where again in this environment

the theme of community spirit runs high. Instruments are given high regard in the indie genre to

show individuality mainly guitars and pianos are used.

Would they be a suitable organization to work with for this project?

 Drowned in sound have the ability to be our record label successfully due to their past artists/bands that are signed to them. All of the artists/bands have similar audiences to our target demographics and therefore experience of how to attract them effectively is already guaranteed.

 DiS briefly joined up with Sky in a partnership this shows that DiS have also had experience in working with bigger companies so knows some details about the mainstream processes. DiS are now back to being a fully independent record label and therefore if we were in the real music world it would be cheaper to be supported by them and then more funding can go into more important things.

DiS have a small amount of assigned artists in comparison to other major industries which gives them more time to focus individually on artists.

The website merges together a Blog which has its own community that can promote us and takes the form of an online magazine that promotes bands and festivals etc…