The Music Industry

The Big Four record labels

• Sony BMG 
• Britney Spears
• Justin Timberlake
• The Fray
  
• Universal Music Group
• 50 Cent
• U2
• Kanye West
  
• EMI
• The Beatles
• Pink Floyd
• Pet Shop Boys
  
• Warner Music Group
• The Kinks
• Madonna
• Oasis
  

These four major record labels make up around 75% of the music market or more, depending on the year.

US Music Market Shares, 2005, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

However, not every artist is signed to the central label. Each on the big fours have their own subsidiary labels; these subsidiary labels often sign their own artists and make most of their own financial decisions, however they are answerable to the 'main' company, who gives them their overall budget. 

"In essence, a Big Four label is a corporation that manages several smaller businesses." {Heather McDonald}