Big Mouth entertainment is the original record label for the band Ruff Diamondz. We wanted to research the record label and find out more about their demands and history as well as other artists and how long they keep their artists for so that we could see if we wanted to use this record label. Unfortunately there is no up and running website for Big Mouth Entertainment at this time however,
because they already support the original band RD we have decided to consider this for our record Label.
BAD BOY RECORDS
History
Bad boy records (1993) had originally been founded as bad boy entertainment.It was
founded by Rapper/producer/entrepreneur, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. In the present times it acts as a subsidiary of Warner music group and is distributed by Atlantic records. Diddy had begun a internship as an A&R executive at Uptown Records but after being terminated he and a fellow intern founded Bad Boy entertainment. The
first release was "Flava In Ya Ear" by Craig Mack which was followed by hits from artists like
Notorious B.I.G and
Faith Evans. The rapid development of Big Boy entertainment left Death Row entertainment sour. They were a rival Record label who also promoted rap artists and having to share the fame proved a hard task. It was When Suge Knight (CEO of Death Row) held Sean Combs responsible for his friend’s death that the feud really began. After the song ‘Hit em up’ was released at Notorious B.I.G’s expense, 2Pac Shakur ( a member of Death row and B.I.G’s long time rival) was shot dead. In 1997 Biggies double album ‘Life after Death’ was released and then he too was shot. This shooting caused speculation and controversy throughout the record labels as everyone was left to assume that both deaths had been the result of the ongoing feud. This is when Bad Boy records became infamous. In 2005 the record label saw a huge improvement in its fortunes with successes from brand new artists like
Cassie and
Young Joc . Sean combs also produced his own television show where he founded 2 bands after auditioning solo artists. From his show
Danity Kane and
Day 26 was be produced. Soon after the band Danity Kane was dissolved Sean combs, the well known band
Dirty Money was created and they went on to produced songs like ‘Coming home’ with Diddy himself.
Ownership/Distribution
Arista records bought 50% stake in bad boy records but in 1993 they broke away from Arista and joined up with Universal Records but they saw no improvement. In 2005 Warner Music group bought the remainder of Bad boy’s agreement with Universal Music group. In the present times it is distributed through Warner Music Group's Atlantic Records.
Keeping the artists
Bad boy records’ is known for dropping/losing its artists quickly due to is forever changing status in the record label industry and violence caused by the label. This is shown through:
• Danity Kane:Dissolved by Diddy
• Young Joc: Left after disagreement with Sean Combs and the record Label
• Faith Evans :Left to join Capitol records after only 9 years with the Label
• Carl Thomas:Left to join Verve music group
• Murder Ma$e:Left because of the violence involved with the label. He had a calling from God
• 112: Left because of Lack of interest in the Label
• The Lox: Left because the Label gave them no direction in their career causing failure
• Shyne: Sent to jail and left after shooting with Diddy, Jennifer Lopez and Monay Hawkins
• Da Band: Dissolved by Diddy
• Dream: Broken up after disagreement and Lawsuit with Diddy
• Loon: Left to begin his own Label
• Donnie Klang: Left after winning ‘Making the band 4’ and joined Eight72 Entertainment
Artists signed to this record label are often involved with violent antics or lawsuits. Many artists leave the label because of this. The label is also strongly associated with rap artists. Although girl bands and solo females artists do join the label, they are often dropped and do not make it far in the industry.
COLUMBIA RECORDS
History
Colombia records’ was founded in 1888 evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company. Columbia Records had originally co-founded CBS in 1927 but left partnership leaving the name behind.
Columbia is the oldest brand name and was the first company to produce pre-recorded records instead of blank cylinders. From 1961-1990 records were released outside of the U.S and Canada on the CBS records Label. Colombia records showed an interest in artists that produced music of the jazz and blues genre after acquiring Okeh Records in 1926 and in 1928 the executive of Colombia Records (Frank Walker) some of the first
country music genre Columbia executive Frank Buckley Walker pioneered some of the first country music was pioneered. In 1931, the British Columbia Graphophone Company merged with the Gramophone Company to form Electric & Musical Industries Ltd. After a few years, the
Southern Gospel Genre had become highly popular and this is where Colombia records placed its interest. They were the first and only record label to record Charles David Tilman and in 1936 the company entered a recording contract with the Chuck Wagon Gang. The chuck Wagon gang were a signature southern gospel group and became Colombia’s bestsellers with 37 million records. This was the peak of the Southern Gospel genre. In the present day, Columbia Records remains a subsidiary label of Sony Music Entertainment.
Collaborations with the UK
In 2006, Sony BMG split into 2 labels,
RCA label group which supports
RnB and
Pop and Colombia Label group supporting
Alternative dance and Rock. These are found in the UK and are recognised as UK labels.
Artists
Artists signed (former artists inc.) to Colombia records include:
• Yolanda Adams
• Artful Dodger
• Beyonce
• Destiny’s child
• Tony Bennett
• Chipmunk
• Tiffany Evans
• Fugees
• Aretha Franklin
• Lauryn Hill
• Wyclef Jean
• Janis Joplin
• Latoya Tuckett
• Mary Mary
• Nas
Keeping the artist
Compared to Bad Boy records, Colombia’s reasons for dropping artists are much more reasonable. For example
Kelly Rowland was dropped by Colombia as sales of her new album didn’t do as well as they hoped. The band Kelly Rowland was in (
Destiny’s child) was also signed to Colombia however their split was a result of the end Of Destiny’s child rather than the label dropping them and
Beyonce Knowles, a former member of Colombia records, stayed signed onto the label before leaving to join another label that could supports her solo career. Popular UK artist
Ke$ha was even signed onto the UK Colombia record label RCA and is still signed in the present day.
DEF JAM RECORDS
History
Def Jam records’ is an American record label which focuses on
Urban and
hip hop music. It is owned by universal Music Group and works as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group. In the UK, the label is known as
Def Jam UK and works through Mercury Music Group.
Def Jam was created by Rick Rubin whilst he studied at New York University. Its first release was a single by the punk rock group Hose. Rick Rubin was shortly joined by business magnate Russell Simmons. In 1984 the first releases with Def Jam Recordings catalogue numbers were "I Need a Beat" by
LL cool J and the
Beastie Boys' "Rock Hard." The singles sold well, which lead to a distribution deal with CBS Records (which became SMR through Colombia records). Def Jam also signed its first and only thrash metal band, Slayer, in 1986. Although LL cool J and Public enemy had sold bestsellers, Def Jam did suffer blows to their finances however in 1994 Polygram purchased Sony's 50% stake in Def Jam Recordings. In 1995 PolyGram acquired an additional; 9.8% in Def Jam Recordings which strengthened its ownership of Def Jam, after this Rush Associated Labels renamed Def Jam Music Group. The label shortly signed Foxy Brown whose album Ill Na Na became a platinum seller in 1997.
Artists
• Big Sean (GOOD/Def Jam)
• Chrisette Michelle
• Frank Ocean
• Jay z
• Juelz Santana
• Justin Bieber
• Kanye West
• LL cool J
• Ludacris
• Nas
• Ne-Yo
• Rick Ross
• Rianna
• The Dream
• Young Jeezy
Former Artists
• Joe Budden
• Chingy
• Dru Hill
• Funkmaster flex
• Foxy Brown
• Ja Rule
• Lloyd
• Christina Milian
• N-Dubz
• Sisqo
Keeping the Artists
Def Jam has proved the best out of all research because it keeps the most artists. Artists’ that have been dropped/left, (above) dropped/left for the following reasons:
• Joe Budden: The label was unhappy with his under-development as an Artist.
• Chingy: Unable to secure a distribution deal
• Ja Rule: Involvement with Drug trade
• Christina Millian: Felt she had not been listened to and left (Island Def Jam)
• N-Dubz : Felt they were being Americanised
• Sisqo: Broke away from Dru Hill
Although many of the artists did leave, there are few artists on the list of people who have been dropped by the label and this makes the label appealing to our group.
