Music Industry Case Study’s –Major and Independent

Labels.Holly Taylor

Major Labels – Asylum, Atlantic and Elektra – Ed Sheeran

• Ed Sheeran began began making and recording music in 2005, and then went on to releasing his first independent EP, The Orange Room EP

• In 2009, he released another EP, You Need me. And then again another critically acclaimed EP Loose Change.

• In April 2010, Sheeran bought a ticket to Los Angeles. He played open mic nights all over the city, before he was spotted on the The Foxxholea comedy channel on the Radio, hosted by Jamie Foxx, he was so impressed with Sheeran that he offered him usage of a home and a recording studio.

• Sheeran’s fan-base began to grow massively, gaining credit from The Independent Newspaper, Celebrities such as Elton John and Rio Ferdinand.

• Furthermore Two new EP’s were released in 2010, and one more in 2011.This EP, gained Sheeran major mainstream attention due to it reaching number 2 in the iTunes chart without any promotion or label.

• Later that month, Sheeran was signed to Asylum/Atlantic Records (owned by Warner Bro’s Music)

• Other artists signed to Asylum/Atlantic Records include; Bruno Mars, Queen and Marina and The Diamonds.

Independent Label; XL Recordings –Adele

• In 2006, Adele signed to the British independent record label XL Recordings after they found her through myspace. Adele won the BRIT award of Critics choice of number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008. Later of fulfilling this role, her debut album 19 went straight to number one and sold millions of copies.

• In 2008 after new found fame and sales, Adele then signed a joint deal with Columbia Records (under the ownership of Sony Music) and XL Recordings, in order to help build her profile and sales in America.

• Other artists signed with XL recordings include; The xx, M.I.A and Vampire Weekend.