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See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 27 Fotos
The Beatles
- The band started Apple Records in 1968. It was intended as a creative outlet for the band and as artists individually. The label also worked with Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, and Badfinger.
© Getty Images
1 / 27 Fotos
Madonna
- Maverick was set up by Madonna and a few others and was formerly owned and operated by Warner Music Group.
© Getty Images
2 / 27 Fotos
Jay-Z
- Roc Nation isn't just an agency that carries out the responsibilities that a record label traditionally would, it also functions as a talent agency, school, clothing line, touring and production management company, media relations agency, and publishing company, and is worth around US$140 million. It has worked with Rihanna, Rita Ora, and Alicia Keys.
© Getty Images
3 / 27 Fotos
Eminem
- Eminem set up Shady Records with his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999. It was instrumental in the career of 50 Cent and many hip-hop artists.
© Getty Images
4 / 27 Fotos
Prince
- NPG Records was founded and owned by Prince and Trevor Guy to release Prince's music after Paisley Park Records finished up in 1994.
© Getty Images
5 / 27 Fotos
The Rolling Stones
- Rolling Stones Records was formed by The Rolling Stones' members Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Mick Taylor in 1970 when their contract with Decca Records ran out.
© Getty Images
6 / 27 Fotos
Kanye West
- West started GOOD Music in 2004. Travis Scott, Kylie Jenner's husband, has released music on the label.
© Getty Images
7 / 27 Fotos
Frank Sinatra
- Back in 1960, there were very few artists who managed to overcome some control and influence of major record labels by starting their own. Sinatra, however, managed to start Reprise that very year, though it operates through Warner Music Group.
© Getty Images
8 / 27 Fotos
Katy Perry
- Perry founded Unsub Records in 2014, which is owned by Capitol Music Group.
© Getty Images
9 / 27 Fotos
Justin Timberlake
- Timberlake founded Tennman Records in 2007, which is a joint venture with Interscope records.
© Getty Images
10 / 27 Fotos
Ed Sheeran
- Gingerbread Man Records is a record label created by Ed Sheeran in 2015 alongside the YouTube channel.
© Getty Images
11 / 27 Fotos
Ray Charles
- After a string of successful releases, Ray Charles managed to culminate a remarkably artist-friendly deal at the time through setting up Tangerine in 1962, which he would switch to in 1964, gaining rights over his masters.
© Getty Images
12 / 27 Fotos
Dave Grohl
- Named after the UFO incident that occurred in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters set up Roswell Records in 1995.
© Getty Images
13 / 27 Fotos
Tyler, The Creator
- Anyone who has listened to the music of Tyler, The Creator will have heard the many references in his raps to Odd Future Records. It functions as a division of Sony Records.
© Getty Images
14 / 27 Fotos
P. Diddy
- Bad Boy Records has become a household name, probably due to his hit single 'Bad Boys for Life' in 2011.
© Getty Images
15 / 27 Fotos
Skrillex
- Skrillex started OWSLA in 2011 with three friends. The label has worked on the release of dozens of artists to date.
© Getty Images
16 / 27 Fotos
Led Zeppelin
- The English rock band started Swan Song Records in 1994. It was overseen by the band's manager Peter Grant and worked with the band's products and helped other artists who struggled with major record labels.
© Getty Images
17 / 27 Fotos
Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato
- Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, who were dating once but are now just friends, and Jonas's manager Phil McIntyre, created Safehouse Records. The goal of the label is to "put artists in control of their art while providing them the best tools to manage their careers."
© Getty Images
18 / 27 Fotos
Oasis
- Oasis created Big Brother Recordings when their label had had enough with them. The band were infamous for causing trouble on tour.
© Getty Images
19 / 27 Fotos
Julian Casablancas
- The Strokes' frontman started Cult Records in 2009 to release his own solo music and later became a standalone label, releasing music of other artists, too.
© Getty Images
20 / 27 Fotos
5 Seconds of Summer
- Hi or Hey Records is a record label founded by the members of 5 Seconds of Summer. The name was chosen following their fans voting for it on Twitter.
© Getty Images
21 / 27 Fotos
The White Stripes
- Third Man Records was established by Jack White (left) of The White Stripes in Michigan, Detriot, in 2011.
© Getty Images
22 / 27 Fotos
Hanson
- The pop group started 3CG Records in 2003. The name is an acronym of "3 Car Garage," referring to the building the band used as a recording studio.
© Getty Images
23 / 27 Fotos
Kid Cudi
- Cudi has launched the now-dissolved label Dream On and the current independent label Wicked Awesome Records.
© Getty Images
24 / 27 Fotos
Frank Zappa
- Frank Zappa founded Zappa Records in 1977. It was inactive for two decades since the 1980s, only to be revived by his family in 2006.
© Getty Images
25 / 27 Fotos
Beastie Boys
- The New York hip-hop group set up their label Grand Royal in 1992 in conjunction with Capitol Records. The label went under in 2001 because of debt. Sources: (Paste)(iHeartRadio) See also: Famous musicians who got into acting
© Getty Images
26 / 27 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 27 Fotos
The Beatles
- The band started Apple Records in 1968. It was intended as a creative outlet for the band and as artists individually. The label also worked with Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, and Badfinger.
© Getty Images
1 / 27 Fotos
Madonna
- Maverick was set up by Madonna and a few others and was formerly owned and operated by Warner Music Group.
© Getty Images
2 / 27 Fotos
Jay-Z
- Roc Nation isn't just an agency that carries out the responsibilities that a record label traditionally would, it also functions as a talent agency, school, clothing line, touring and production management company, media relations agency, and publishing company, and is worth around US$140 million. It has worked with Rihanna, Rita Ora, and Alicia Keys.
© Getty Images
3 / 27 Fotos
Eminem
- Eminem set up Shady Records with his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999. It was instrumental in the career of 50 Cent and many hip-hop artists.
© Getty Images
4 / 27 Fotos
Prince
- NPG Records was founded and owned by Prince and Trevor Guy to release Prince's music after Paisley Park Records finished up in 1994.
© Getty Images
5 / 27 Fotos
The Rolling Stones
- Rolling Stones Records was formed by The Rolling Stones' members Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Mick Taylor in 1970 when their contract with Decca Records ran out.
© Getty Images
6 / 27 Fotos
Kanye West
- West started GOOD Music in 2004. Travis Scott, Kylie Jenner's husband, has released music on the label.
© Getty Images
7 / 27 Fotos
Frank Sinatra
- Back in 1960, there were very few artists who managed to overcome some control and influence of major record labels by starting their own. Sinatra, however, managed to start Reprise that very year, though it operates through Warner Music Group.
© Getty Images
8 / 27 Fotos
Katy Perry
- Perry founded Unsub Records in 2014, which is owned by Capitol Music Group.
© Getty Images
9 / 27 Fotos
Justin Timberlake
- Timberlake founded Tennman Records in 2007, which is a joint venture with Interscope records.
© Getty Images
10 / 27 Fotos
Ed Sheeran
- Gingerbread Man Records is a record label created by Ed Sheeran in 2015 alongside the YouTube channel.
© Getty Images
11 / 27 Fotos
Ray Charles
- After a string of successful releases, Ray Charles managed to culminate a remarkably artist-friendly deal at the time through setting up Tangerine in 1962, which he would switch to in 1964, gaining rights over his masters.
© Getty Images
12 / 27 Fotos
Dave Grohl
- Named after the UFO incident that occurred in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters set up Roswell Records in 1995.
© Getty Images
13 / 27 Fotos
Tyler, The Creator
- Anyone who has listened to the music of Tyler, The Creator will have heard the many references in his raps to Odd Future Records. It functions as a division of Sony Records.
© Getty Images
14 / 27 Fotos
P. Diddy
- Bad Boy Records has become a household name, probably due to his hit single 'Bad Boys for Life' in 2011.
© Getty Images
15 / 27 Fotos
Skrillex
- Skrillex started OWSLA in 2011 with three friends. The label has worked on the release of dozens of artists to date.
© Getty Images
16 / 27 Fotos
Led Zeppelin
- The English rock band started Swan Song Records in 1994. It was overseen by the band's manager Peter Grant and worked with the band's products and helped other artists who struggled with major record labels.
© Getty Images
17 / 27 Fotos
Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato
- Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, who were dating once but are now just friends, and Jonas's manager Phil McIntyre, created Safehouse Records. The goal of the label is to "put artists in control of their art while providing them the best tools to manage their careers."
© Getty Images
18 / 27 Fotos
Oasis
- Oasis created Big Brother Recordings when their label had had enough with them. The band were infamous for causing trouble on tour.
© Getty Images
19 / 27 Fotos
Julian Casablancas
- The Strokes' frontman started Cult Records in 2009 to release his own solo music and later became a standalone label, releasing music of other artists, too.
© Getty Images
20 / 27 Fotos
5 Seconds of Summer
- Hi or Hey Records is a record label founded by the members of 5 Seconds of Summer. The name was chosen following their fans voting for it on Twitter.
© Getty Images
21 / 27 Fotos
The White Stripes
- Third Man Records was established by Jack White (left) of The White Stripes in Michigan, Detriot, in 2011.
© Getty Images
22 / 27 Fotos
Hanson
- The pop group started 3CG Records in 2003. The name is an acronym of "3 Car Garage," referring to the building the band used as a recording studio.
© Getty Images
23 / 27 Fotos
Kid Cudi
- Cudi has launched the now-dissolved label Dream On and the current independent label Wicked Awesome Records.
© Getty Images
24 / 27 Fotos
Frank Zappa
- Frank Zappa founded Zappa Records in 1977. It was inactive for two decades since the 1980s, only to be revived by his family in 2006.
© Getty Images
25 / 27 Fotos
Beastie Boys
- The New York hip-hop group set up their label Grand Royal in 1992 in conjunction with Capitol Records. The label went under in 2001 because of debt. Sources: (Paste)(iHeartRadio) See also: Famous musicians who got into acting
© Getty Images
26 / 27 Fotos
Artists who started record labels
These artists were fed up with major labels
© <p>Getty Images</p>
The music industry is extremely lucrative for major record labels who reap the vast majority of the records sold by their artists, as well as the shows they play. Much more of the profits go to streaming sites like Spotify. Generally, the ones who get the short end of the stick in the music industry are the artists.
It's been like this forever, and record labels were able to hold onto their share of profits even when record sales plummeted (because of streaming). These days, major labels generally don't just take the majority of profits of streaming and record sales, but also tours, concerts, merchandise sold, and all other revenue the artists make (CD signings, biographies, TV appearances, etc). This is commonly referred to as a 360 deal. It's a raw deal for the artists, and some artists decided to do something about it.
These artists set up their own record labels to reclaim some financial and artistic control over themselves, their brands, and their business. To learn which artists broke the mold in setting up their own labels, click through the gallery.
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