Research into similar record labels

Ellie and I conducted research into various independent and large (conglomerate) record labels and looked closely at the design of their logos and how they effectively target their audiences. We narrowed down the record labels that we would research by firstly cross referencing all record labels through our chosen genre and bands we have conducted research into in previous blogs. We looked at Modular Recordings which is an Australian record label founded in 1998 by Steve Pavlovic that is currently owned by Universal Music Australia. This makes the record label subsidiary to Universal Music Group which is a large conglomerate that dominates the music industry. Universal Music Group is an American global music corporation that is a subsidiary of the French media conglomerate Vivendi. UMG's global corporate headquarters are in Santa Monica, California. The band Tame Impala is signed to this record label, Tame Impala are an Australian psychedelic rock band founded by Kevin Parker in 2007. Looking at Modular Recordings logo, I firstly noticed the bright and bold colouring. The record label promotes artists who fall into the genre of neo-psychedelia, the 'o' has been adapted into a disco ball which adds to the playfulness and bright colours within the label. 

We then conducted research into other record labels that similar bands were signed to such as the Arctic Monkeys to Domino Records. Domino Recording Company, generally known as Domino, is a British independent record label based in London. The most famous rock band signed to this label would be the Arctic Monkeys a British indie rock band formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield. In addition to these two record labels, we conducted research into Island Records, which is a Jamaican/British/American record label that operates as a division of Universal Music Group. Founded by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall and Leslie Kong in Jamaica founded it in 1959. Blackwell sold the label to PolyGram in 1989. The band Catfish and the Bottlemen are signed to Island records and are a British rock band, formed in Llandudno, Wales in 2007. Their debut album, The Balcony, reached number 10 on the UK Albums Chart and achieved Platinum status on 30 December 2016. Looking at Domino Records, I can see that their logo is simple as to not distract from its primary purpose of advertisement of the record label itself. The long rectangular logo has also been adapted by the record label to fit into a circle shape to appear on a smaller level perhaps for a CD in the corner next to the barcode. 

Lastly, I conducted research into Island Records who the band Catfish and the Bottlemen are signed to. Island Records is a Jamaican/British/American record label that operates as a division of Universal Music Group. It was founded by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall and Leslie Kong in Jamaica in 1959. Blackwell sold the label to PolyGram in 1989. Catfish and the Bottlemen are a British rock band, formed in Llandudno, Wales in 2007. Their debut album, The Balcony, reached number 10 in the UK Albums Chart and achieved Platinum status on 30 December 2016. Looking closely at Island Records logo I can see that the imagery revolving around the ‘island’ aspect of the logo is very important as in every adapted version of their logo the same palm tree representing an island is present. The pale pastel colour of one version of the logo could be used to represent the colour of the sky and the yellow colouring of the smaller logo the sand. The basic logo of course is in block black lettering as all logos start.

When conducting such a vast amount of research into very similar labels I decided to measure the results, comparing the design, composition, colour scheme and overall effectiveness of the record labels logo and found that the label I will take the most inspiration from when designing our own record label will be Modular Records due to the bright and bold colour and composition giving the logo a playful and eye-catching edge on other labels I have looked at.