As I showed you in part one, there are BIG THREE names which control the market by a way or another in the entertainment business: Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group. In this list, I’ll talk about big record labels – both independent and international – that has huge impact on the market. How? Let’s get into that…
The company is based in Austria and mainly focuses on hard rock and heavy metal with original focus on the extreme metal market. Some of the bands beneath their shelter are; Coal Chamber, Candlemass, Delain, Draconian, Iron Fire, Powerwolf, Tiamat, Tristania, Van Canto, Xandria among others.
2. SPV GmbH
The company was founded in the mid-80s in Germany and has worked with many huge names, such as; Sepultura, Accept, Rhapsody of Fire, Sodom, Angra, Saxon, Moonspell, Kamelot, Iced Earth, Helloween, Doro, Motorhead, Whitesnake, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Blackmore’s Night and Type O Negative.
It’s one of the biggest American independent record labels. Megaforce was founded in 1982, since then they worked with bands like; Metallica, Overkill, Anthrax, Testament, Ministry, Danzig, Manowar and Skid Row. They also worked with non-metal bands like Björk and The Black Crowes.
The multinational group of music companies owns many successful labels as well as working with very successful artists. Just by checking their huge list, I liked their variety, they work with; Amy Lee, Anastacia, Backstreet Boys, Billy Idol, Blondie, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Iggy Pop, Iron Maiden, Janet Jackson, Jean Michel Jarre, Jethro Tull, John Legend, Kings of Leon, ZZ Top, G4 among others.
5. AFM Records
On a personal level; I am in love with AFM. The company is based in Germany and was founded in the mid-90s. They are more into hard rock, heavy, industrial, thrash, progressive and power metal. The company worked with bands like; Annihilator, Avantasia, Circle II Circle, Doro, Dragonlord, Destruction, Edguy, Evergrey, Iron Mask, Fear Factory, Jon Oliva’s Pain and Theatre of Tragedy.
6. CMH Records
CMH is based in Los Angeles and was founded in 1975. Since then they work with rock, country and bluegrass music. Not only that, but they also have Vitamin Records, Rockabye Baby!, Dwell Records among others under their umbrella. So, don’t be too surprised when you find David Lee Roth and Mayhem in the same sentence!
MB is one of the most famous American independent record labels in the States, they also have regional offices in Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The company is more into heavy and extreme genres; from their current artists you’ll find; King Diamond, Six Feet Under, Týr, Mercyful Fate, Pentagram, Whitechapel, Hate Eternal, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Behemoth and Bolt Thrower.
70% of the world music market is controlled by the BIG THREE as for (manufacturers, distributors, and labels). When you connect it with my recent audio/music tycoon manufacturers and producers lists, then you will get the bigger picture.
Leading image: Nora Kamal
Written by: Mena Ezzat
Edited by: NJ Bakr
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