The music industry is the business of music. Although it encompasses the activity of many music-related businesses and organizations, it is currently dominated by the "big four" record groups, also known as "the major labels"/"the majors" — Sony BMG, EMI, Universal and Warner — each of which consists of many smaller companies and labels serving different regions and markets.
When the term music industry is used in a narrow sense, it refers only to the businesses and organizations that record, produce, publish, distribute, and market recorded music (e.g., music publishers, recording industry, record production companies).
The music industry is made up of various elements, including:
- Musicians
- Musicians' Unions
- Composers and songwriters
- Publishers
- Writers' copyright collectives and performance rights organization like ASCAP and BMI and SOCAN
- Record producers
- Record labels
- Record distributors
- A&R
- Royalties
- Business managers
- Band managers
- Tour promoters
- Bookers
(click here to enter the Music Business & Management program page)
At Stylus College, our Music Business & Management program uses a unique and exclusive combination of theory and on the job training to prepare students to enter the music industry in any of the above areas. |
