- Vanity label
A vanity label is a
record label founded as a wholly or partially owned subsidiary of another, larger and better established (at least at the time of the vanity label's founding) record label, where the subsidiary label is (at least nominally) controlled by a successful recording artist, designed to allow this artist to release music by other artists he or she admires. The parent label handles the production and distribution and funding of the vanity label, but the album is usually released with the vanity label brand name prominent. Usually, the artist/head of the vanity label is signed to the parent label, and this artist's own recordings will be released under the vanity label's brand name. Creating a vanity label can be an attractive idea for the parent label primarily as a "perk" to keep a successful artist on the label's roster happy, providing an ego boost and a venue to bring fellow artists to the public's attention. The parent label also hopes that the vanity label's association with the famous artist will entice that artist's audience to purchase other records on the vanity label, although only a relatively small number of new artists introduced by vanity labels have gone on to become major successes in their own right.tatus
In 2004, record companies drastically cut funding to many vanity labels, as they were seen to have underperformed. The future of vanity labels is in question.
Vanity labels, along with genre specific subsidiary labels, mask the amount of concentration in the music industry. They create the illusion that there are far more record labels then there actually are. On the other hand, many subsidiary labels and vanity labels are given a great deal of autonomy, so that the overall result is greater distribution and exposure of what can be labeled "
independent music ".Prominent vanity labels
{| class="wikitable"
-! Vanity Label! Founding Artist! Founded! Notable Artists Released! Parent Label (at founding)! Status
-
Brother Records
The Beach Boys
1966
The Beach Boys The Flames Stephen Kalinich Zarathurstra & Thelibus
Capitol Records
active
-
Bizarre Records
Frank Zappa
1967
The Mothers of Invention Alice Cooper
Warner Bros. Records
re-issued on Reprise Records
-
Apple Records
The Beatles
originally ran from 1968-1975, revived 1988 for Beatles CD rereleases
The Beatles John Lennon Paul McCartney /WingsGeorge Harrison Ringo Starr Badfinger Mary Hopkin Yoko Ono David Peel Ravi Shankar John Tavener James Taylor
EMI , under theParlophone brand in the UK and theCapitol Records brand in the US
active (2006); see alsoApple Corps
-
Threshold Records
The Moody Blues
1969
The Moody Blues Blue Jays The Graeme Edge Band
London Records (nowDecca Records )
—
-
Grunt Records
Jefferson Airplane
1971
Jefferson Airplane , Jefferson Starship, Starship
RCA Records (nowSony BMG Music Entertainment )
imprint not used after 1987
-
Rolling Stones Records
Rolling Stones
1971
Rolling Stones
Atlantic Records (WEA) (nowWarner Music Group )
albums now released byVirgin Records
-
Swan Song Records
Led Zeppelin
May 10 ,1974
Led Zeppelin Bad Company
Atlantic Records (WEA) (nowWarner Music Group )
closed (1983)
-
Duck Records
Eric Clapton
—
Eric Clapton
Reprise Records (WEA) (nowWarner Music Group )
active
-
Fiction Records
The Cure thenSnow Patrol after 2001
1978
The Cure (until 2001)Snow Patrol Delays Yeah Yeah Yeahs Kate Nash
Elektra, thenPolydor after the Cure's departure in 2001
active
-
Qwest Records
Quincy Jones
1980
New Order (in the US)Frank Sinatra George Benson
A&M Records Warner Bros. Records
active (2007)
-
Es Paranza Records
Robert Plant
1983
Robert Plant
Atlantic Records (WEA) (nowWarner Music Group )
—
-
Paisley Park Records
Prince
1986
PrinceSheila E.
Warner Bros. Records (WEA) (nowWarner Music Group )
closed (1994)
-
Maverick Records
Madonna
1992
MadonnaAlanis Morissette Deftones The Prodigy (in the US)Michelle Branch Mest Story of the Year The Rentals
TantricCandlebox Erasure
Warner Bros. Records
active
-
Nothing Records
Trent Reznor
1992
Nine Inch Nails
Marilyn Manson12 Rounds Pop Will Eat Itself The The
Interscope Records (nowUniversal Music Group )
defunct as of 2004. Reznor has now formed a similar label,The Null Corporation
-
Numa Records
Gary Numan
1984
Gary Numan Paul Gardiner
Pinnacle Records
closed (1995)
-
Grand Royal
The Beastie Boys
1992
The Beastie Boys
BisAt the Drive-In Jimmy Eat World Atari Teenage Riot Sean Lennon Luscious Jackson
Capitol Records
dissolved in 2001. Back catalogue distributed byGR2 Records , created when a group of fans purchased Grand Royal's assets.
-
MJJ Music
Michael Jackson
1993
Michael Jackson
Brownstone3T Tatyana Ali
Epic Records (Sony Music Entertainment )
seeking new distribution partner (2004)
-
Attack Records
Morrissey
originally ran from 1969-1980, revived 2003
Morrissey Nancy Sinatra Damien Dempsey Jobriath James Maker
Kristeen Young Remma
Sanctuary Records
active (2005)
-
Peak Records
Russ Freeman
1994
David BenoitEric Marienthal The Rippingtons
Russ Freeman
Concord Music Group
active (2007)
-
Roswell Records
Dave Grohl
1995
Foo Fighters Probot
originallyCapitol Records , thenRCA Records (Foo Fighters)Southern Lord Records (Probot)
active (2008)
-
Palace Records
Will Oldham
1996
Bonnie 'Prince' BillyWill Oldham Papa M Matt Sweeney
Drag City
active (2007)
-
Aftermath Entertainment
Dr. Dre
1996
Eminem D12
Eve
50 Cent
Universal Music Group
active (2008)
-
Melankolic Records
Massive Attack
September 1996
AlphaHorace Andy
Craig Armstrong
Day OneLewis Parker
Sunna
Virgin Records
active (2007)
-
Vapor Records
Neil Young
1996
Neil Young Jonathan Richman Tegan and Sara Los Abandoned
SpoonAcetone
originallySanctuary Records , thenUniversal Music
active (2007)
-
HellCat Records
Tim Armstrong
1997
RancidJoe Strummer & The Mescaleros
TransplantsThe Slackers Dropkick Murphys The Distillers
Epitaph Records
active (2007)
-
Adeline Records
Billie Joe Armstrong
1997
Green Day
AFIThe Living End
Warner Music Group
active (2007)
-
Elementree Records
Korn
1997
Videodrone
OrgyDeadsy
Epic Records
dissolved afterKorn 's departure from Epic
-
ATO Records
Dave Matthews
1997
Ben Kweller
David GrayMy Morning Jacket Crowded House Gov't Mule
Gomez
Sony BMG
active (2007)
-
Third Man Records
Jack White
1999
White Stripes The Raconteurs The Muldoons
V2 Records , thenWarner Brothers
active (2007)
-
Big Brother Recordings
Oasis
2000
OasisHappy Mondays
Sony BMG
active
-
Honest Jon's
Damon Albarn
2000
The Good, the Bad & the Queen The Ailerons
Blur
Parlophone
active (2007)
-
Shady Records
Eminem
2000
Eminem D12 Cashis Bobby Creekwater 50 Cent Stat Quo
Universal Music Group
active (2008)
-
Flawless Records
Fred Durst
2000
Puddle of Mudd She Wants Revenge Big Dumb Face
Geffen
active (2007)
-
US Records
Usher
2002
One Chance Rico Love Ryon Lovett
J Records
active (2007)
-
Idlewild Records
They Might Be Giants
2002
They Might Be Giants
none
active (2007)
-
BME Recordings
Lil Jon
2002
Lil Jon and the Eastside Boys Trillville Lil Scrappy E-40 Crime Mob
TVT Records , thenWarner Bros. Records
active
-
Brushfire Records
Jack Johnson
2002
Jack JohnsonMatt Costa G. Love & Special Sauce
Rogue Wave
Universal Republic
active (2007)
-
Grand Hustle Records
T.I.
2003
T.I.Young Dro DJ Drama P$C
Big Kuntry
Atlantic Records
active (2007)
-
Knockout Entertainment
Ray J
2005
Ray J
BrandyShorty Mack Willie Norwood
Michael Copon
TKOKoch Records Epic Records
active (2008)
-
G-Unit Records
50 Cent &Sha Money XL
2003
50 Cent G-Unit Lloyd Banks Mobb Deep
The GameTony Yayo Young Buck
Interscope Records
active (2007)
-
Machine Shop Records
Mike Shinoda andBrad Delson ofLinkin Park
2004
Linkin Park Fort Minor Holly Brook Alexa Ray Joel Army of Anyone
Warner Bros. Records
active
-
Heiress Records
Paris Hilton
2004
Paris Hilton
Warner Bros. Records
active
-
DC Flag Records
Joel andBenji Madden ofGood Charlotte
2004
Hazen Street Lola Ray MC Chris
Epic Records
active
-
Skeleton Crew
Frank Iero
2005
My Chemical Romance
Reprise
active (2008)
-
Decaydance Records
Pete Wentz
2005
Fall Out Boy Gym Class Heroes Four Year Strong Panic at the Disco The Academy Is... Cobra Starship
LifetimeThe Cab The Hush Sound
Fueled By Ramen
active (2007)
-
Big Orange Clown Records
Shawn Crahan
2005
Gizmachi
Sanctuary Records
active (2008)
-
Raybaw Records
Big & Rich
2005
James Otto Cowboy Troy
Warner Bros. Nashville
dissolved in 2008
-
Liberty & Lament Records
Lucero
2005
Lucero
Warner Bros.
active (2007)
-
Helium-3
Muse
2006
Muse
Warner Bros.
active (2007)
-
Born & Bred Records
Dropkick Murphys
2007
Dropkick Murphys
Warner Bros.
active (2007)
-
Super Records
McFly
2008
McFly
active (2008)
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