58-946: Unified Music Group (officially stylized as UNIFIED) is an independently owned and Australian-based music company founded in 2011. The group has offices in Melbourne , Sydney , Los Angeles , and Nashville . UNIFIED Music Group manages the record label UNFD , the merchandise store 24Hundred, and music festivals such as UNIFY—A Heavy Music Festival and The Hills Are Alive. The artist management division represents talents including Vance Joy , Violent Soho , and The Amity Affliction . As of March 2018, UNIFIED's labels—UNFD, ONETWO, NLV Records, Exist. Recordings, THAA Records, and DOMESTIC LA LA—are distributed globally through Sony Music Australia . UNIFIED Music Group has four divisions that oversee various artists and music services. UNIFIED owns and operates five record labels: UNFD , ONETWO, Domestic La La, NLV Records and Exist. Recordings. The label
116-551: A "record group" which is, in turn, controlled by a music group. The constituent companies in a music group or record group are sometimes marketed as being "divisions" of the group. From 1929 to 1998, there were six major record labels, known as the Big Six: PolyGram was merged into Universal Music Group (UMG) in 1999, leaving the remaining record labels to be known as the Big Five. In 2004, Sony and BMG agreed to
174-405: A 50% profit-share agreement, aka 50–50 deal, not uncommon. In addition, independent labels are often artist-owned (although not always), with a stated intent often being to control the quality of the artist's output. Independent labels usually do not enjoy the resources available to the "big three" and as such will often lag behind them in market shares. However, frequently independent artists manage
232-562: A US Senate committee, that the Byrds never received any of the royalties they had been promised for their biggest hits, " Mr. Tambourine Man " and " Turn! Turn!, Turn! ". A contract either provides for the artist to deliver completed recordings to the label, or for the label to undertake the recording with the artist. For artists without a recording history, the label is often involved in selecting producers, recording studios , additional musicians, and songs to be recorded, and may supervise
290-479: A bigger company. If this is the case it can sometimes give the artist greater freedom than if they were signed directly to the big label. There are many examples of this kind of label, such as Nothing Records , owned by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails ; and Morning Records, owned by the Cooper Temple Clause , who were releasing EPs for years before the company was bought by RCA . If an artist and
348-408: A conventional cash advance to sign the artist, who would receive a royalty for sales after expenses were recouped. With the release of the artist's first album, however, the label has an option to pay an additional $ 200,000 in exchange for 30 percent of the net income from all touring, merchandise, endorsements, and fan-club fees. Atlantic would also have the right to approve the act's tour schedule, and
406-571: A deal with a proper label. In 2002, ArtistShare was founded as the Internet's first record label where the releases were directly funded by the artist's fans. Deez Nuts (band) Deez Nuts are an Australian band that formed in Melbourne in 2007. Equally influenced by hardcore punk and hip hop , the band currently consists of vocalist JJ Peters, guitarist Matt Rogers a.k.a. Real Bad, and drummer Alex Salinger. The band has released one EP and six studio albums. Deez Nuts started after
464-425: A few shows around Melbourne , and after such a positive response, Peters entered the studio again to finish recording Deez Nuts' first public release, an EP titled, Rep Your Hood which was also recorded with Peters performing everything. Shortly after the release, Deez Nuts embarked on their first tour of Australia during October 2007, the infamous Drunk and Disorderly Tour , with friends The Amity Affliction and
522-485: A full-time touring company with Live Nation Australia , UNIFY Presents. Since its inception, this division has run large-scale Australian tours such as Bring Me the Horizon 's 2016/2017 tour, Architects ' 2017 tour, A Day To Remember 's Bad Vibes Tour, Enter Shikari 's Redshift Tour, Northlane and In Hearts Wake 's Equinox Tour, and more. In 2017, UNIFIED Music Group joined Live Nation and Secret Sounds to promote
580-621: A joint venture and merged their recorded music division to create the Sony BMG label (which would be renamed Sony Music Entertainment after a 2008 merger); BMG kept its music publishing division separate from Sony BMG and later sold BMG Music Publishing to UMG. In 2007, the remaining record labels—then known as the Big Four—controlled about 70% of the world music market , and about 80% of the United States music market. In 2012,
638-476: A label want to work together, whether an artist has contacted a label directly, usually by sending their team a demo, or the Artists & Repertoire team of the label has scouted the artist and reached out directly, they will usually enter in to a contractual relationship. A label typically enters into an exclusive recording contract with an artist to market the artist's recordings in return for royalties on
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#1732800992705696-462: A large international media group , or somewhere in between. The Association of Independent Music (AIM) defines a 'major' as "a multinational company which (together with the companies in its group) has more than 5% of the world market(s) for the sale of records or music videos." As of 2012 , there are only three labels that can be referred to as "major labels": Universal Music Group , Sony Music , and Warner Music Group . In 2014, AIM estimated that
754-605: A return by recording for a much smaller production cost of a typical big label release. Sometimes they are able to recoup their initial advance even with much lower sales numbers. On occasion, established artists, once their record contract has finished, move to an independent label. This often gives the combined advantage of name recognition and more control over one's music along with a larger portion of royalty profits. Artists such as Dolly Parton , Aimee Mann , Prince , Public Enemy , among others, have done this. Historically, companies started in this manner have been re-absorbed into
812-523: A string of Australian shows, Deez Nuts returned to Europe to tour with English hardcore band Your Demise . During this tour, Deez Nuts organised a few headline shows in England, which received positive reviews and crowd reaction. The band immediately headed to the U.S. for a tour with American hardcore act Ligeia . Upon arrival in the country, the band was denied entry as a result of misinformation with their paperwork, and were sent back to Australia. During
870-544: Is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos , or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture , distribution , marketing, promotion, and enforcement of copyright for sound recordings and music videos, while also conducting talent scouting and development of new artists , artist financing and maintaining contracts with recording artists and their managers. The term "record label" derives from
928-422: Is home to artists such as Northlane , Hellions , Hands Like Houses , Tonight Alive, and In Hearts Wake . As well as overseas artists Architects , Beartooth , Hacktivist and Crossfaith , amongst others. ONETWO, launched in 2013, was formed as a collaboration between hip-hop artist Illy and UNIFIED. ONETWO boasts an all-Australian roster of artists including Allday , Citizen Kay and Kuren . NLV Records
986-454: Is often marketed as a "unit" or "division" of the parent label, though in most cases, they operate as pseudonym for it and do not exist as a distinct business operation or separate business structure (although trademarks are sometimes registered). A record label may give a musical act an imprint as part of their branding, while other imprints serve to house other activities, such as side ventures of that label. Music collectors often use
1044-684: Is owned by Sony Group Corporation ). Record labels and music publishers that are not under the control of the big three are generally considered to be independent ( indie ), even if they are large corporations with complex structures. The term indie label is sometimes used to refer to only those independent labels that adhere to independent criteria of corporate structure and size, and some consider an indie label to be almost any label that releases non-mainstream music, regardless of its corporate structure. Independent labels are often considered more artist-friendly. Though they may have less sales power, indie labels typically offer larger artist royalty with
1102-463: The free software and open source movements and the success of Linux . In the mid-2000s, some music publishing companies began undertaking the work traditionally done by labels. The publisher Sony/ATV Music, for example, leveraged its connections within the Sony family to produce, record, distribute, and promote Elliott Yamin 's debut album under a dormant Sony-owned imprint , rather than waiting for
1160-510: The "parent" of any sublabels. Vanity labels are labels that bear an imprint that gives the impression of an artist's ownership or control, but in fact represent a standard artist/label relationship. In such an arrangement, the artist will control nothing more than the usage of the name on the label, but may enjoy a greater say in the packaging of their work. An example of such a label is the Neutron label owned by ABC while at Phonogram Inc. in
1218-890: The Australian live scene in December on the Schools Out for Summer Tour with American band The Ghost Inside, Australian bands Mark My Words and Mourning Tide, and Peters' Grips & Tonic project. Deez Nuts released their second studio album, This One's for You , on 21 May 2010 (in Australia). It was recorded by Roman Koester of the Red Shore at Complex Studios in April 2010, and frontman Peters stated that it only took him two weeks to write. The album features appearances by several guest vocalists, including Oli Sykes of Bring Me
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#17328009927051276-678: The Daylight Curse. After a short break, the band then set out on an Australian Boys of Summer Tour in January 2008 with Silverstein , alongside Set Your Goals , the Amity Affliction and Capeside. The tour was a huge success for the band, who were growing bigger within the Australian hardcore community. Shortly after the Boys of Summer Tour , Peters began writing the next release for the band. Peters placed Deez Nuts on hold for
1334-492: The Horizon along with friends the Red Shore and Ignominious Incarceration . During this tour of Europe, Deez Nuts' first album, Stay True , was released on 4 October 2008, in Australia by Stomp Entertainment. Once returning from Europe, Deez Nuts began planning a National Australian tour in support of Stay True' . The Stay True Tour took place from January to February 2009, supported by hip hop artist Louie Knuxx. After
1392-461: The Horizon on the song "If You Don't Know Now You Know". This One's for You was followed by Deez Nuts' third album, Bout It! , which was released in March 2013. Bout It! features guest appearances from a number of musicians and was produced by Shane Frisby (The Ghost Inside). It consists of 16 tracks, including the singles "Band of Brothers" and "Shot After Shot". In fall 2011, Deez Nuts went to
1450-504: The UK. At one point artist Lizzie Tear (under contract with ABC themselves) appeared on the imprint, but it was devoted almost entirely to ABC's offerings and is still used for their re-releases (though Phonogram owns the masters of all the work issued on the label). However, not all labels dedicated to particular artists are completely superficial in origin. Many artists, early in their careers, create their own labels which are later bought out by
1508-486: The United States to open up for Bring Me the Horizon . Parkway Drive , Architects , On Broken Wings and Of Legends all played on the tour. In March 2014, bassist Jon Green decided to leave Deez Nuts to focus on his personal life. He was replaced by Sean Kennedy, who is one of the original members of the band as well as a long time member of I Killed the Prom Queen alongside JJ Peters. Deez Nuts next album, Word
1566-546: The United States would typically bear a 4th & B'way logo and would state in the fine print, "4th & B'way™, an Island Records, Inc. company". Collectors discussing labels as brands would say that 4th & B'way is a sublabel or imprint of just "Island" or "Island Records". Similarly, collectors who choose to treat corporations and trademarks as equivalent might say 4th & B'way is an imprint and/or sublabel of both Island Records, Ltd. and that company's sublabel, Island Records, Inc. However, such definitions are complicated by
1624-407: The album will sell better if the artist complies with the label's desired requests or changes. At times, the record label's decisions are prudent ones from a commercial perspective, but these decisions may frustrate artists who feel that their art is being diminished or misrepresented by such actions. In other instances, record labels have shelved artists' albums with no intention of any promotion for
1682-411: The artist from their contract, leaving the artist in a state of limbo. Artists who have had disputes with their labels over ownership and control of their music have included Taylor Swift , Tinashe , Megan Thee Stallion , Kelly Clarkson , Thirty Seconds to Mars , Clipse , Ciara , JoJo , Michelle Branch , Kesha , Kanye West , Lupe Fiasco , Paul McCartney , and Johnny Cash . In
1740-415: The artist in question. Reasons for shelving can include the label deciding to focus its resources on other artists on its roster, or the label undergoing a restructure where the person that signed the artist and supports the artist's vision is no longer present to advocate for the artist. In extreme cases, record labels can prevent the release of an artist's music for years, while also declining to release
1798-425: The artist is established and has a loyal fan base. For that reason, labels now have to be more relaxed with the development of artists because longevity is the key to these types of pact. Several artists such as Paramore , Maino , and even Madonna have signed such types of deals. A look at an actual 360 deal offered by Atlantic Records to an artist shows a variation of the structure. Atlantic's document offers
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1856-484: The artists may be downloaded free of charge or for a fee that is paid via PayPal or other online payment system. Some of these labels also offer hard copy CDs in addition to direct download. Digital Labels are the latest version of a 'net' label. Whereas 'net' labels were started as a free site, digital labels represent more competition for the major record labels. The new century brought the phenomenon of open-source or open-content record labels. These are inspired by
1914-650: The circular label in the center of a vinyl record which prominently displays the manufacturer's name, along with other information. Within the mainstream music industry , recording artists have traditionally been reliant upon record labels to broaden their consumer base, market their albums, and promote their singles on streaming services, radio, and television. Record labels also provide publicists , who assist performers in gaining positive media coverage, and arrange for their merchandise to be available via stores and other media outlets. Record labels may be small, localized and " independent " ("indie"), or they may be part of
1972-768: The company launched The UNIFIED Grant. Announced by founder and CEO Jaddan Comerford in his BIGSOUND keynote speech, the UNIFIED Grant consists of five A$ 5,000 grants. The UNIFIED Grant aims to aid young individuals who want to work in music but don't play an instrument: photographers, producers, videographers, web developers, graphic designers, journalists, app builders, data analysts and others. UNIFIED Music Group's Merchandise Services division runs merchandise companies independently and in collaboration with Australian labels and companies. UNIFIED founded merchandise store 24Hundred in 2013, overseeing its development into an Australian online music merchandise store. In recent years,
2030-403: The company. Some independent labels become successful enough that major record companies negotiate contracts to either distribute music for the label or in some cases, purchase the label completely, to the point where it functions as an imprint or sublabel. A label used as a trademark or brand and not a company is called an imprint , a term used for a similar concept in publishing . An imprint
2088-400: The corporate mergers that occurred in 1989 (when Island was sold to PolyGram) and 1998 (when PolyGram merged with Universal). PolyGram held sublabels including Mercury, Island and Motown. Island remained registered as corporations in both the United States and UK , but control of its brands changed hands multiple times as new companies were formed, diminishing the corporation's distinction as
2146-567: The debut album of Deez Nuts. The Deez Nuts debut album was recorded by Roman Koester of the Red Shore at Complex Studios in August 2008. After the recording process, Deez Nuts embarked on a tour of Australia in September 2008, joined by I Killed the Prom Queen alumni Michael Crafter 's new band Confession. Then in October, Deez Nuts was invited to tour Europe with English deathcore act Bring Me
2204-406: The disbanding of Australian metalcore band I Killed the Prom Queen , of which JJ Peters was the drummer. After being heavily influenced by the hip hop and hardcore punk styles of music, Peters decided to start Deez Nuts. After he wrote a few songs he entered the studio to record the 2007 Deez Nuts demo performing all instruments and vocals. Acquiring live members, Peters and the band played
2262-491: The division has collaborated with other companies to create additional merchandise stores, including STL Tones, The Music Vault, The Vinyl Store and more. UNIFIED Music Group launched UNIFY - A Heavy Music Gathering in 2015. The festival, held in Tarwin Lower , Victoria, Australia, boasted a lineup in its first year of The Amity Affliction , Northlane . Also, Thy Art Is Murder , Deez Nuts and more. In subsequent years,
2320-416: The early days of the recording industry, recording labels were absolutely necessary for the success of any artist. The first goal of any new artist or band was to get signed to a contract as soon as possible. In the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, many artists were so desperate to sign a contract with a record company that they sometimes ended up signing agreements in which they sold the rights to their recordings to
2378-512: The end of their contract with EMI when their album In Rainbows was released as a " pay what you want " sales model as an online download, but they also returned to a label for a conventional release. Research shows that record labels still control most access to distribution. Computers and internet technology led to an increase in file sharing and direct-to-fan digital distribution, causing music sales to plummet in recent years. Labels and organizations have had to change their strategies and
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2436-460: The festival has grown in capacity and reputation. The 2018 instalment of the festival featuring Parkway Drive , Architects , and The Amity Affliction sold out in less than one week after the announcement. In 2015, UNIFIED opened its London office, marking its first international expansion. The office focuses on international operations, including a flagship online store and access to The Orchard’s global distribution net. In 2016, UNIFIED launched
2494-491: The first Australian instalment of Download Festival , taking place in Melbourne in March 2018. The lineup includes Korn , Prophets of Rage , Limp Bizkit , Mastodon , NOFX , Good Charlotte & more. In 2023, UNIFIED Music Group announced that UNIFY's future was "Not Certain". Music company [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] "Big Three" music labels A record label or record company
2552-572: The independent label owned and operated by UAM management client REMI, and 1825 Records, a collaboration with Atlantic Records and Matt Emsell. UNIFIED Music Group also runs a publishing service with Mushroom Publishing , formed in 2011. UNIFIED works to provide services for a number of artists, including Vance Joy , Illy , Northlane and many more. UNIFIED Music Group's current roster includes Vance Joy , Violent Soho , The Amity Affliction , Ocean Alley and many more artists. UNIFIED Artist Management's full roster can be found here . In 2016,
2610-620: The last tour, mainly because both bands had gained a larger fanbase because of recent album releases. At the after parties for the tour, Peters' new group Grips & Tonic played a string of shows, which received positive reviews. In September 2008, Deez Nuts headlined the Australian Sike Your Mind tour, playing alongside Miles Away , Antagonist A.D. , and in Trenches and Blkout. In October 2008, Deez Nuts returned to Europe with Swedish band Raised Fist , and returned to
2668-734: The major divisions of EMI were sold off separately by owner Citigroup : most of EMI's recorded music division was absorbed into UMG; EMI Music Publishing was absorbed into Sony/ATV Music Publishing; finally, EMI's Parlophone and Virgin Classics labels were absorbed into Warner Music Group (WMG) in July 2013. This left the so-called Big Three labels. In 2020 and 2021, both WMG and UMG had their IPO with WMG starting trading at Nasdaq and UMG starting trading at Euronext Amsterdam and leaving only Sony Music as wholly-owned subsidiary of an international conglomerate ( Sony Entertainment which in turn
2726-433: The major labels (two examples are American singer Frank Sinatra 's Reprise Records , which has been owned by Warner Music Group for some time now, and musician Herb Alpert 's A&M Records , now owned by Universal Music Group). Similarly, Madonna 's Maverick Records (started by Madonna with her manager and another partner) was to come under control of Warner Music when Madonna divested herself of controlling shares in
2784-537: The majors had a collective global market share of some 65–70%. Record labels are often under the control of a corporate umbrella organization called a "music group ". A music group is usually affiliated to an international conglomerate " holding company ", which often has non-music divisions as well. A music group controls and consists of music-publishing companies, record (sound recording) manufacturers, record distributors, and record labels. Record companies (manufacturers, distributors, and labels) may also constitute
2842-527: The months of May and June 2008, to focus on his commitment to the I Killed the Prom Queen farewell tour. I Killed the Prom Queen's Say Goodbye Tour took place in May and June 2008, with most shows selling out almost immediately. The supporting acts for the tour were Bring Me the Horizon , the Red Shore , the Ghost Inside and a local act from each city played at. After the tour, Peters continued writing for
2900-507: The output of recording sessions. For established artists, a label is usually less involved in the recording process. The relationship between record labels and artists can be a difficult one. Many artists have had conflicts with their labels over the type of sound or songs they want to make, which can result in the artist's artwork or titles being changed before release. Other artists have had their music prevented from release, or shelved. Record labels generally do this because they believe that
2958-548: The record label in perpetuity. Entertainment lawyers are usually employed by artists to discuss contract terms. Due to advancing technology such as the Internet , the role of labels is rapidly changing, as artists are able to freely distribute their own material through online radio , peer-to-peer file sharing such as BitTorrent , and other services, at little to no cost, but with correspondingly low financial returns. Established artists, such as Nine Inch Nails , whose career
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#17328009927053016-418: The salaries of certain tour and merchandise sales employees hired by the artist. In addition, the label also offers the artist a 30 percent cut of the label's album profits—if any—which represents an improvement from the typical industry royalty of 15 percent. With the Internet now being the dominant source for obtaining music, netlabels have emerged. Depending on the ideals of the net label, music files from
3074-419: The selling price of the recordings. Contracts may extend over short or long durations, and may or may not refer to specific recordings. Established, successful artists tend to be able to renegotiate their contracts to get terms more favorable to them, but Prince 's much-publicized 1994–1996 feud with Warner Bros. Records provides a strong counterexample, as does Roger McGuinn 's claim, made in July 2000 before
3132-400: The term sublabel to refer to either an imprint or a subordinate label company (such as those within a group). For example, in the 1980s and 1990s, 4th & B'way Records (pronounced as "Broadway") was a trademarked brand owned by Island Records Ltd. in the UK and by a subordinate branch, Island Records, Inc., in the United States. The center label on a 4th & Broadway record marketed in
3190-467: The time in between tours Peters spent back in Australia, he formed a hip hop/rap group called Grips & Tonic with New Zealand rapper Louie Knuxx. The group released a full-length album, Want Some, Get Some , which was released in June 2008. In June and July 2008, Deez Nuts toured Australia again on the second Drunk and Disorderly Tour with The Amity Affliction , this time playing much larger venues than
3248-433: The way they work with artists. New types of deals called "multiple rights" or "360" deals are being made with artists, where labels are given rights and percentages to artist's touring, merchandising, and endorsements . In exchange for these rights, labels usually give higher advance payments to artists, have more patience with artist development, and pay higher percentages of CD sales. These 360 deals are most effective when
3306-455: Was developed with major label backing, announced an end to their major label contracts, citing that the uncooperative nature of the recording industry with these new trends is hurting musicians, fans and the industry as a whole. However, Nine Inch Nails later returned to working with a major label, admitting that they needed the international marketing and promotional reach that a major label can provide. Radiohead also cited similar motives with
3364-517: Was founded by Australian artist Nina Las Vegas to become a go-to outlet for original and forward-thinking underground club music. Recordings were founded in 2017 by Australian artists, The Kite String Tangle and UNIFIED. They have since released music from its artists globally, including music from Lastlings , The Kite String Tangle and Golden Vessel. UNIFIED has provided label services in Australia for American label Hopeless Records for 11 years. UNIFIED also provides label services for House Of Beige,
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