Major Record Label V s Independent Record Label

4AD  As one fourth of the Beggars Group, 4AD is a British independent record label that was started by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent in It was initially created to serve as a "testing ground" for parent company Beggars Banque Records. The idea was that new acts would spend at least one year with 4AD, and if they achieved a certain level of succss during that period, they would then "graduate up" to Beggars Banquet. Only one group actually followed that program.  In the mid '80s the label focused mostly on underground Amercian rock acts. These bands would include the likes of Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, and The Pixies. Since that time, 4AD has evolved to represent a variety of acts from a mixed bag of genres. The current roster includes Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Blood Diamonds, Bon Iver, David Byrne & St. Vincent, Grimes, Purity Ring, SpaceGhostPurrp, The National, and Twin Shadow.

4AD Promotional Campaigns  The current roster includes Ariel Pink, Atlas Sound, Beirut, Bon Iver, Camera Obscura, D.D Dumbo, Daughter, Deerhunter, Efterklang, Future Islands, Gang Gang Dance, Grimes, Holly Herndon, Indians, Iron & Wine, Merchandise, The National, Pixx, Purity Ring, Scott Walker, SOHN, Tune-Yards and U.S. Girls.

Sony Music Entertainment  Sony Music Entertainment (Sony Music or SME) is an American music corporation managed and operated by Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Corporation. In 1929, the enterprise was founded as American Record Corporation then, in 1938, was renamed Columbia Recording Corporation, following ARC's acquisition by CBS. In 1966, the company was reorganized to become CBS Records. In 1987, Sony Corporation of Japan bought the company, and in 1991, renamed it SME. It is the world's second largest music company, after Universal Music Group.  In 2004, SME and Bertelsmann Music Group merged as Sony BMG Music Entertainment. When Sony acquired BMG's half of the conglomerate in 2008, Sony BMG reverted to the SME name. The buyout led to the dissolution of BMG, which then relaunched as BMG Rights Management. Out of the "Big Three" record companies, with Universal Music Group being the largest and Warner Music Group, SME is middle- sized.

Sony Music Entertainment Promotional Campaigns  Calvin Harris signed contracts with Three Six Zero Group (management), EMI (publishing) and Sony Music Entertainment in 2006 after he had been discovered on the social networking website Myspace. Harris rose to widespread international prominence in 2012 with the release of his third studio album, 18 Months. Topping the UK charts, the album became his first to chart on the Billboard 200 in the US, reaching number 19.

Comparison  In conclusion, although both companies are very successful, you can tell, just by looking at the artists signed to each company, which is more well known. This also means that smaller record companies cannot grow, due to this fact. If a small artist becomes more well known, it is likely a bigger conglomerate will offer that artist a better contract. This means that the smaller companies don’t gain an increase in recognition.