Record Labels

A record label is a brand or trademark associated with the marketing

of music recordings and music videos. Often, 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; conducts talent scouting and development of new artists ("artists
and repertoire" or "A&R"); and maintains contracts with recording artists
and their managers.

Major Record Labels

Big Four labels/major record labels represent the majority of the music
sold, making up as much as 75% of the music market or more depending
on the year.
Artists who are signed to a Big Four record label are either signed to the
central label or signed to a subsidiary of the label.

For instance, a band may be signed to Sony, or they may be signed to the
Sony subsidiary label Columbia Records. These subsidiary labels have
their staff and usually sign their own artists and make most of their own
financial decisions. However, they are answerable to the "main" company,
which sets their overall budget and makes decisions like reducing staff at
the subsidiary.

The Major three record labels are:

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group (29.85%)

Sony Music Entertainment (29.29%)
Warner Music Group (19.13%)

Indie Record Labels

An independent record label or indie record label is a record label that

operates without the funding of or outside major record labels. Many
bands and musical acts begin their careers on independent labels.

Examples of indie record labels are:

Matador Records
Mad Decent
Xl Recordings
Unsigned Artists

An unsigned artist, unsigned band or independent artist is

a musician or musical group not under a contract with a record label. The
terms are used in the music industry as a marketing technique. Bands that
release their own material on self-published CDs can also be considered
unsigned bands. Often unsigned bands primarily exist to perform at
concerts.

Examples of unsigned artists are:

Mick Jenkins
Rapsody
Childish Gambino