Name the three global ‘major’ record companies
Name one ‘frontline’ UK label that they each operate

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In the record industry we often refer to the ‘majors’ – these are the three big global record companies: Universal Music, Sony Music and Warner Music. Many artists partner with record companies on their recorded music – together they record, release and market new tracks and albums. 

Each major owns and operates a wide range of record labels, each of which has its own roster of artists and catalogue of recordings. The frontline labels are those that are actively signing new artists and releasing new music, as opposed to catalogue labels that work with an existing catalogue of music. 

On physical releases, the record label’s logo will usually appear on the packaging and the actual discs. On streaming platforms, the label will usually be listed somewhere in the credits. 

In the UK, each of the majors operates a number of frontline labels, some big, some small. As of April 2026, the bigger frontline labels are as follows. 

Universal Music: Polydor, Island, EMI, Decca

Sony Music: Columbia, RCA, Ministry Of Sound

Warner Music: Atlantic, Parlophone, Warner

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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

‘The Music Industry: Music In The Cloud’ by Patrik Wikström
Chapter Two – ‘Inside The Music Industry’

BPI is the UK trade group for record companies including the majors