Best Record Labels
Warner Records has signed very big artists like Madonna, Prince, Gorillaz, Paris Hilton, Metallica, Bebe Rexha. Their biggest male and female pop artist and the best selling male and female singer Prince and Madonna has settle the bar high for Warner and their ranking. I don't think UMG has seen such big artists like those two.
Everyone is missing one key aspect of record retail. Catelogue albums, albums that are more than a year old, account for 30% of a labels sales. This puts Warner Brothers at the top since their catalogue is so rich. If you through in their whole distrubution arm (WEA) Warner, Elektra, Atlantic, you have almost all of the great albums of the past 50 years, Albums that still sell every day...Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Metallica..WEA accounts for 30% of all record sales in the US mainly on their strength of their catelogue sales.
WarnerBros is the best. Sorry everyone else who thinks otherwise, but you can't really have too much of an argument. Just look: Green Day, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The White Stripes, Metallica, Muse, Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance and IYAZ. They have like every big name in music
Island/Def Jam has a very big record of Pop, Hip Hop/RnB acts like Kanye West, Jay Z, Janet Jackson, Lionel Richie, Big Sean, Jhene Aiko, Sisqo, Amerie, Rihanna Justin Bieber and Elton John. Island/Def Jam definitely hold it's place for the top 10 record label of all time.
Island Records and especially Chris Blackwell brought us some of the best music of all genres and popularized genres others wouldn't have.
Rihanna is signed to definitely Jam...
She is so Awesome...
And many others are from definitely Jam. Really, it is doinga great job in music industry..
Aftermath is considered to be the spiritual successor of the late West Coast label Death Row Records. Founded by Dr Dre after his departure from Death Row, he has signed legends like Eminem, 50 Cent, The Game, Busta Rhymes. Aftermath is still a strong label till now with Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak on their roaster.
50 cent, Eminem, and Dre are amazing they each have great qualities. Eminem is one if not the best of all time every album is different but are all amazing. Dre is one of the best producers of all time and he's been rapping for 30 years! Let's no forget that he discovered Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. 50s get rich or die trying was a major hit and he has more than 300 million dollars. Kendrick Lamar is also very promising
This record label has proven track record with all their artistes in regards to success... Dr.Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Eninem, Lady Gaga. Gwen Stefani, Elton John etc and most recently Jamaican dancehall female sensation who is gonna be the next Rihanna...Shenseea. She recently has her first hit with Tyga released.
Atlantic Records is known to be among top 3 of the most influential labels of all time. Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Phil Collins, AC/DC, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Wiz Khalifa, Sean Paul, David Guetta, Skrillex, Charlie Puth and Flo Rida were atlantic biggest hit makers.They all dominated the music industry at their time including the 2 legendary female rappers Lil Kim and Missy Elliott. They're also known to be the greatest rock and soul label of all time.
From Ray Charles to Aretha Franklin to Led Zeppelin to Wiz Khalifa, Atlantic Records is pretty much the dominant and most influential label of modern music (from all corners). And with Atlantic absorbing some of Parlophone's catalogue (because of WMG purchasing some of EMI) to be distributed in the US, the record label will become more influential than ever.
The moment Atlantic signed on Led Zeppelin, they became worthy of being in the top ten. There are some other good artists, but if not for Zep no one would even bother to sneeze at it.
Young Money has Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne, and etc. they are the label. They have the queen of rap which should put them higher on this list.
This record is so amazing and they have nothing but the greats in it.
I also want Young Money to sighn me up if they think I have a good voice am 14 years old and lives in germany. I love singing I sing all the time also sometimes at school it's my dream to work fo Young Money Label (YML)
Epic Records has signed legendary artists like Michael Jackson(The Biggest solo artist of all time) and they also hold the biggest catalogue from a solo artist. That alone increased the rank of Epic.
Natasha Bedingfield sure looked cute as a Epic Records artist. If you haven't listened to her songs, it could be a good idea. Also from the Epic Records catalog is the soundtrack to Aquamarine (the 2006 children's film).
Rihanna, Chris rene, Kanye west, Jay-z etc.
Cash money is one of the most productive record label at present, and yet comprises of artists that are the most selling artists in the hip hop industry. And is yet one of the record label with numerous members. Brian Williams aka Birdman is doing a really good job with this record label
This company has some of the best artists ever, but I still have to admit its not that big as definitely JAIDJMG. Seriously, I think they brag about it too much in every song they do.
Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Birdman, Drake, Tyga, what's to love? These rappers are so horrible it's a miracle that this record label even made in to the top 100.
Yo ain't nobody compare with Eminem in the Rap game. He is Legend and will remain as the king of rap forever! And I know he is doing good in his record label too. He is finding real talents and brought them out to the main stream. Every artist in shady records label know what they actually Rap about, they ain't spit like other artists do in other labels. Salute LEGEND!
The slim shady Eminem is the realest and is the best white rapper out there no scratch that he is the best rapper in the game and he will always be. And this is coming for a black person,most black rappers aren't happy with there own greed and dumbass success and are jealous of him,only because he speaks the truth and don't take no from people that will only be around you because of your fame. Eminem will always be my fave rapper.
This Label is flawless. Every single rapper is a true lyricist, just listen to their cypher. Not to mention they owned the Game from 99-06. Plus, they have 3 of the best selling Rappers ever.
Motown is among the best record labels of all time. With Artists like Marvin Gaye, Steevie Wonders, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Boyz II Men and many more, they proved that they deserve much respect among the big labels.
Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Jackson 5, Lionel Richie, Amos Milburn, The Supremes, 4 Tops or The Temptations ALL Motown! Theese legends are just a few of Motowns finest. The greatest soul singer al flock to Motown. Without it artists like Marvin gaye or stevie wonder or MJ would be nobodys. The face of music would be different, weaker. Motwon changed the direction of music, it improved the direction of music.
Some of the greatest r&b and soul musicians in history belong here. Love to hear some well written masterpieces they've made. Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, they're so good.
Interscope Records is known to be the biggest rap and alternative label of all time. With legendary rappers like Tupac, Dr Dre, 50 cent, Snoop Dogg, N.W.A, they've left a VERY BIG legendary status in the rap and hip/hop music. They're also known to produce great alternative artists like Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish.
This record label provides heaps of freedom for the artist and does not push them to do things that they don't want to do, they allow artist to express their work freely and have their own image. If you are ever offered a deal with Interscope Records, I advice that you say yes
Gives us some of the best alternative artists like Ryn Weaver and Lana Del Ray and Melanie Martinez. Definitely one of the more intimidating record labels.
Capitol Records has formed blockbusters like Katy Perry, Lewis Capaldi, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Pink Floyd, Maggie Rogers and many more. Capitol is among the top labels for pop and alternative music.
Coldplay, Pink Floyd are signed to Parlophone (some Pink Floyd albums are under Columbia in the US, if I'm not mistaken). Beyoncé is signed to Columbia, as is Bob Dylan. Though Capitol has significance in early jazz and pop/rock, there are barely any great artists signed to this label since 1980.
The Beatles are better than all these new artists you name. So is Pink Floyd. Only Bob Dylan and the Doors are close. Katy Perry, Hip hop, you've got to be kidding me.
This label consists real raw lyrical and flow ability. The artists on the label, hands down, put every other rapper out there to shame.
I need a sponsor I can publish my music on YouTube, SoundCloud and Apple Music but I don't have sponsors
Everyone in Strange makes great music. It should be higher up. Tech is the best along with Krizz, Ces Cru, Rittz, Stevie Stone, Murs, Brotha Lynch. Their music is better most music sounds the same. The guys at strange bring something different every album. ^S^
Hustle Gang music and its trap style have enabled a lot of other rappers to be viewed as artists by the masses. It continues to shake the whole game with new talents and unexpected competition that competes with the giants of the Hip Hop industry. In fact, they are the other giants in the Hip Hop game with the most recognized, admired, and listened to artists. DJ Drama's "Ghetto" featuring Caspper Nyovest increased Hustle Gang's viewership. B.O.B and T.I are the solid foundation that cements the growth of the label and its artists.
Cife Money Music is the new up and coming label in the industry from Georgia. Grand Hustle should've been at least top 5. Who better than the King himself.
It's one of the most growing record labels out there right now, many young rappers and legendary rappers like, young dro and B.O. B and killer mike and dj drama and of course the king himself T. I known as (TIP)
Columbia Records holds it's name with the record label who has the greatest vocalists of all time especially female artists like Beyonce, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Chloe X Halle, Adele even Rosalia. To be honest, I've always seen Columbia as an opera label because of these artists.
Here are just some names who have worked with Columbia. Adele, (in America) Louis Armstrong, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Cher, Celine Dion, Judy Garland, Marvin Gaye, Bette Midler, Katy Perry, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, and Barbra Streisand.
AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Aerosmith, David Bowie, HAIM, Adele, Foster the people, David Gilmour and much more great artists. Columbia has got people who will be considered great musicians in over 100 years!
Fueled by Ramen gave itself a solid reputation of one of the greatest band label of all time. With artists like Paramore, Panic at the disco, Gym Class Hero, Travis Baker and many more, Ramen
Panic! At the disco, Paramore, fun., Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heros, twenty one pilots, the academy is..., a rocket to the moon and many more
Greatest indy/alternative names in the business work here.
Universal has one of the biggest Artists in the game right now, they include Ariana, Drake, Nicki, Lil Wayne, The Weeknd, Post Malone, Demi Lovato & they signed with Taylor Swift. Their Artists are always on the top of the charts and doing so well. Plus, they bring Artists to work together & collaborate, Ariana & The Weeknd on "Love Me Harder", Ariana & Nicki on " Side to Side", "Bang Bang" & more, Nicki & Drake, & more!
They control like 28-29% of the music industry. Should be at the top of the list if we're honest.
This is the biggest label, its gains are always superior.
A record company for all metalheads. Whether you like soft metal or hard and rough metal. Summed up: A LOT of great metal bands in this label.
Best artists are in here.
Great labels when speaking of quality albuns. This record label is one of the best 5 around the World, I'd say.
Dream Theater, Megadeth, Machine Head, Opeth, Obituary, Annihilator, Fear Factory... A lot of great bands and excellent musicians.
I'm just curious to how a label can be #36 on a list with the following bands: Slayer, Hammerfall, Nightwish, Sabaton, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Kreator, Epica, Sonata Arctica, Soulfly, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Sepultura, Black Sabbath, Immortal, Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth, Blind Guardian, Motörhead, ACDC, Meshugga AND Metallica, to name a few. How is this not number one?
I love nuclear blast, they have a lot of the metal bands that are not giants, such as Metallica and slayer, but still pretty well known. Some examples are enslaved and sonata arctica.
Nuclear Blast should be WAY higher on this list. They have too many good artists, like Overkill and Anthrax.
Monstercat is a Canadian-based independent electronic dance music record label located in Vancouver, British Columbia. How is this not #1 on the list? Heck they made Crab Rave haha. This is the most interactive label when it comes to the fanbase. The CEO listens to the fanbase and has a Twitter. They've done more community events than any other labels on this list and are still one of the few major labels left that are independent. I can't wait to see what this label can get to in the next 10 years. The empire can't be stopped. Amazing signature artists the fanbase has known with the new debuts the label is picking up almost every week, we have no idea how big the community will be within even the next 2-3 years. All in all, I can at least say this is the most humble and honest label out of the options. Everyone be sure to subscribe to both of their channels on YouTube and turn on post notifications. Follow them on their Instagram and Twitter too. All hail Mike Darlington.
An amazing label with awesome artists that signs artists on a single track basis, meaning they can freely move between labels and brands. It has one of the most amazing communities surrounding it. How often do you see a community around the label itself?
En Vogue was one of those Elektra artists whom they fall under the Eastwest Records America sublabel.
No they don't help young artists, they are subject to the moods of Simon Cowell, they are under his thumb, the UK one bad label, a bunch of scared unprofessional.
Amazing label. The likes of Miley, elvis, bing, Justin timberlake, chris brown.
One day I would like to be signed here.
Quite frankly this should be in the top 10
Chris Brown and its not at top 3?! You guys gotta be kidding me. RCA is dominating Pop and RnB music out there. It has the best artists, definitely a top 3.