The Richest Record Labels In The World, Ranked

Music is a big industry generating billions of dollars in revenue annually. Artists worldwide use Record Labels to record, market and sell their music. Record labels have the right to promote, distribute and manage brands and artists. They enforce the copyright laws of songs produced through their company. Under the terms of their contract, they are responsible for generating positive media attention for the artist.

Most musicians work through Record labels because they know they will be able to reach more audiences. Record labels scout for musicians to record through them every day. The world’s most prosperous record labels are home to some of the most successful and well-known musicians. Many of these labels have reached wide recognition and have grossed billions of dollars. Record companies also help artists sell their merchandise through retailers globally and other media outlets. According to annual revenue, the following record labels are the richest in the world.

9 RCA Records – $40 million

 

RCA Records was established in 1900, making it the second-oldest record company. RCA records derive its name from Radio Corporation of America. RCA is now a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. RCA Records takes pride in offering all types of music, including pop, classical, afrobeat, and blues. Some famous people who have worked with RCA include Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Elvis Presley, David Bowie, Britney Spears and Buddy Guy. It is estimated to generate revenue of $40 million annually.

RELATED: The 10 Richest Afrobeat Artists In The World

8 Columbia Records-$100 million

 

 

 

Columbia record is one the oldest record company in the music industry. The company’s headquarter is situated in New York City, USA. Columbia Records started on January 15, 1889, as the label company. It was known as Connecticut’s Columbia Gramophone Company at the time. Sony later bought the company in 1989 for $3.4 billion to penetrate the Asian music industry. Some famous artists under Columbia Records include Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, Adele and James Taylor. It has estimated Revenue of $ 100 million annually.

7 Atlantic Records- $ 200 Million

 

Atlantic Records is another record label established in the music industry. Atlantic Records was founded in 1974 by two Turkish brothers residing in America, Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun. The two brothers were great jazz, rhythm and blues fans. In 1974 Atlantic Records became a subsidiary of Warner Music Group which made them expand their genre to hip hop and rock & roll. Atlantic Records headquarters are in New York City, USA. Some artists who have worked with Atlantic Records include Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Wiz Khalifa, Ed Sheeran and Led Zeppelin. Atlantic Records is estimated to generate $ 200 Million in revenue.

6 Capitol Music Group- $500 million

 

 

Capitol Music Group was formed in 2007 by merging Virgins Record and Capital Records. Capitol Records is a record label founded in 1942 by Glenn E. Wallichs, Jonny Mercer and Buddy DeSylva. They were successful because they could sign some notable musicians like Nat King, Billie Holiday and Bing Crosby. Universal Music Group distributes the Capitol Music Group labels. Its headquarters is in California, USA. Some famous artists under their name include 50 Cent, Katy Perry and Steve Barnett. It is estimated to generate $500 million in revenue.

5 Interscope Records-$600 million

 

 

In 1990, Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field established Interscope Records. The label company headquarters are in Santa Monica, California. Universal Music Group owns it. The company label has had its share of criticism and controversies because of its association with hardcore rappers. Eminem, Lady Gaga, Blackpink, Dr Dre, and OneRepublic are just a few of the well-known artists who have worked with Interscope Records. It is estimated to generate $600 million in revenue.

RELATED: Blackpink Breaks The Record As First All-Female Kpop Group To Debut At No. 1 On Billboard

4 BMG Rights Management-$748 million

 

 

BMG is another major music industry company specializing in publishing and music label. BMG has also invested in synch, books and films. The company started in 1985 following its merger with RCA Records and later went through a series of buyouts. The current BMG was launched in 2008 and regained its independence from Sony. The Bertelsmann Music Group Germany solely owns BMG. Since then, BMG has opened branches in Asia, the U.S., Europe and Latin America. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany. Some artists who have recorded their music with BMG include Craig David, Cypress Hill, Dido, Fergie and Lenny Kravitz, among many others. It is estimated to generate $748 million in revenue.

3 Warner Music Group-$6 Billion

 

 

Warner Music Group (WMG) is an American multinational business created by Warner Bros. in 1958. It is present in over 50 countries throughout the world. Atlantic Records and Warner Bros Records are two of Warner Music Group’s flagship labels. Among the many great artists who have recorded their music with Warner Music Group are Madonna, Joni Mitchell, Prince, and KCI. Annual revenue is estimated to be $6 Billion.

2 Universal Music Publishing Group-$9.4 billion

 

 

The largest and the richest record label, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMG), controls more than 95% of the global music market and has locations in more than 60 nations. UGM started in 1992 after a merger of MCA and Decca records. UGM has smaller label companies involved in publishing, audiovisual media and merchandising. Lady Gaga and The Beatles are well-known artists who collaborated with Universal Music Publishing Group on albums. Annual revenue is estimated to be over $9.4 billion.

1 Sony Music Entertainment-$9.12 billion

 

 

Sony Music Entertainment is an American music company founded in 1929; initially, it was called American Record Corporation. The company’s headquarters are in New York, U.S. Sony takes pride in having over 200 hundred artists under contract. Sony Group Corporation solely owns Sony Music. Through the years, Sony has acquired several record labels like RCA Records, Arista Records, Columbia Records, Columbia Nashville, and Legacy Recordings, among others. It has offices in over 40 countries. Some well-known musicians who have released their music through Sony Music include Bob Dylan, Pink, the Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson, and Pink. Annual revenue is estimated to be over $ 9.12 billion.

READ NEXT: Beyonce Rented A Luxury Dubai Penthouse For $100,000 Per Night

Source: Musician Wave, Audio Captain,Gemtracks

Source: Read Full Article