by Arandomanicomnerd November 15, 2025
Get the Label (Anicom) mug.Term used in connection with any of the five record companies that dominate the music industry.
Sony, Universal, BMG, EMI and Warner (and their innumerable subsidiaries) account for over 90% of the music sold in the United States and up to 80% globally. The majors are typically characterised as greedy, cynical, bandwagon-jumping and litigious (see also RIAA).
Not all artists signing to major labels suck, but the majority do fall into one of two categories:
(1) those plucked from obscurity, who are given some songs, handed over to a stylist and aggressively marketed
(2) those with previous careers and original material, who agree to remove all traces of innovation from their music, are rejected by their old fans as sellouts and are aggressively marketed.
Regardless of their popularity, most will be financially crippled by the label's dubious accounting and will be dropped the moment sales start to falter.
Sony, Universal, BMG, EMI and Warner (and their innumerable subsidiaries) account for over 90% of the music sold in the United States and up to 80% globally. The majors are typically characterised as greedy, cynical, bandwagon-jumping and litigious (see also RIAA).
Not all artists signing to major labels suck, but the majority do fall into one of two categories:
(1) those plucked from obscurity, who are given some songs, handed over to a stylist and aggressively marketed
(2) those with previous careers and original material, who agree to remove all traces of innovation from their music, are rejected by their old fans as sellouts and are aggressively marketed.
Regardless of their popularity, most will be financially crippled by the label's dubious accounting and will be dropped the moment sales start to falter.
by dullthud July 17, 2003
Get the major label mug.Related Words
label
• label whore
• Labelass
• Labelist
• LaBelle
• labeler
• label-peeler
• label war
• labeling
• labelism
A record label specializes in manufacturing, distributing and promoting audio and video recordings, on various formats.
Major record labels don't care about putting out 'great music'. They only care about making money. That's why they normally focus on signing artists who are eye candy (ie good looks, sexy, good dance moves, dresses nice etc..)
Even though most record labels are out of touch with what most music fans want, they convince their artists that they are in touch with what music fans want. That's why most artists end up being hated by the same music fans who used to love them.
Record labels love to prey on naive artists (who don't know a lot about the music business) because they're easier to milk for everything that they're worth.
Record labels (and their middlemen)usually bribe radio stations to play their artist's songs (i.e. payola).
Most record labels are very corrupt.
Major record labels don't care about putting out 'great music'. They only care about making money. That's why they normally focus on signing artists who are eye candy (ie good looks, sexy, good dance moves, dresses nice etc..)
Even though most record labels are out of touch with what most music fans want, they convince their artists that they are in touch with what music fans want. That's why most artists end up being hated by the same music fans who used to love them.
Record labels love to prey on naive artists (who don't know a lot about the music business) because they're easier to milk for everything that they're worth.
Record labels (and their middlemen)usually bribe radio stations to play their artist's songs (i.e. payola).
Most record labels are very corrupt.
If you sign with a major record label without knowing anything about the music business, you're gonna get screwed.
Sometimes it's better to sign with an "independent" record label.
Sometimes it's better to sign with an "independent" record label.
by United Against Payola August 22, 2006
Get the record label mug.by aldwardo November 5, 2006
Get the black label society mug.A band that you must listen to, established in 1998 by Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde. This band plays pure no bullshit metal, and has songs for when your partyin' hard, or for when you just want to sit back, chill, and have a beer. The band's motto is STRENGTH DETERMINATION MERCILESS FOREVER, or SDMF for short. Scientists have proven that everytime anyone repeats that motto, an emo and/or pedofile is crushed by a fuckin' transport truck pulling out of a brewery. Fans of the band are refered to as Society Dwelling MotherFuckers, and usually have an extra 24 on hand. They will usually drink that 24 in one single night with some good society dwellin' buddies.
All Black Label Society songs must be played at max volume.
All Black Label Society songs must be played at max volume.
by thissucksletsgogetdrunk October 17, 2009
Get the Black Label Society mug.Refers to any record/song whether MP3, vinyl or CDR that is not signed to a record label. Often times white label tunes will be remixes usually samples illegally to show off a track and sell it to a record company but with no information about who made it so that no one can be sued - though everybody knows who made it. The production usually includes his or her contact information on the white label.
"A tune that is not signed to any record label, though you may find later that the tune gets signed to a record label and released. There are usually limited copies of it."
"The name white label comes from the fact that most promo records used to be sent out in an unfinished state, with the label completely white. The term incorporates any record that is not a finished product, including promos, test pressings and dub plates."
"A tune that is not signed to any record label, though you may find later that the tune gets signed to a record label and released. There are usually limited copies of it."
"The name white label comes from the fact that most promo records used to be sent out in an unfinished state, with the label completely white. The term incorporates any record that is not a finished product, including promos, test pressings and dub plates."
by drewmaust February 13, 2005
Get the white label mug.by See Emily Play December 7, 2004
Get the Black Label Society mug.