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/Wings George Harrison Ringo Starr Badfinger Mary Hopkin Yoko Ono David Peel Ravi Shankar John Tavener James Taylor
EMI, under the Parlophone brand in the UK and the Capitol Records brand in the US
active (2006); see also Apple Corps
-
Threshold Records
The Moody Blues
1969
The Moody Blues
Blue Jays
The Graeme Edge Band
London Records (now Decca Records)
—
-
Grunt Records
Jefferson Airplane
1971
Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Starship
RCA Records (now Sony BMG Music Entertainment)
imprint not used after 1987
-
Rolling Stones Records
Rolling Stones
1971
Rolling Stones
Atlantic Records (WEA) (now Warner Music Group)
albums now released by Virgin Records
-
Swan Song Records
Led Zeppelin
May 10, 1974
Led Zeppelin
Bad Company
Atlantic Records (WEA) (now Warner Music Group)
closed (1983)
-
Duck Records
Eric Clapton
—
Eric Clapton
Reprise Records (WEA) (now Warner Music Group)
active
-
Fiction Records
The Cure then Snow Patrol after 2001
1978
The Cure (until 2001)
Snow Patrol
Delays
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Kate Nash
Elektra, then Polydor 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) (now Warner Music Group)
—
-
Paisley Park Records
Prince
1986
Prince
Sheila E.
Warner Bros. Records (WEA) (now Warner Music Group)
closed (1994)
-
Maverick Records
Madonna
1992
Madonna
Alanis Morissette
Deftones
The Prodigy (in the US)
Michelle Branch
Mest
Story of the Year
The Rentals
Tantric
Candlebox Erasure
Warner Bros. Records
active
-
Nothing Records
Trent Reznor
1992
Nine Inch Nails
Marilyn Manson
12 Rounds
Pop Will Eat Itself
The The
Interscope Records (now Universal 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
Bis
At the Drive-In
Jimmy Eat World
Atari Teenage Riot
Sean Lennon Luscious Jackson
Capitol Records
dissolved in 2001. Back catalogue distributed by GR2 Records, created when a group of fans purchased Grand Royal's assets.
-
MJJ Music
Michael Jackson
1993
Michael Jackson
Brownstone
3T
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 Benoit
Eric Marienthal
The Rippingtons
Russ Freeman
Concord Music Group
active (2007)
-
Roswell Records
Dave Grohl
1995
Foo Fighters
Probot
originally Capitol Records, then RCA Records (Foo Fighters)
Southern Lord Records (Probot)
active (2008)
-
Palace Records
Will Oldham
1996
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Will 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
Alpha
Horace Andy
Craig Armstrong
Day One
Lewis Parker
Sunna
Virgin Records
active (2007)
-
Vapor Records
Neil Young
1996
Neil Young
Jonathan Richman
Tegan and Sara
Los Abandoned
Spoon
Acetone
originally Sanctuary Records, then Universal Music
active (2007)
-
HellCat Records
Tim Armstrong
1997
Rancid
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
Transplants
The Slackers
Dropkick Murphys
The Distillers
Epitaph Records
active (2007)
-
Adeline Records
Billie Joe Armstrong
1997
Green Day
AFI
The Living End
Warner Music Group
active (2007)
-
Elementree Records
Korn
1997
Videodrone
Orgy
Deadsy
Epic Records
dissolved after Korn's departure from Epic
-
ATO Records
Dave Matthews
1997
Ben Kweller
David Gray
My 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, then Warner Brothers
active (2007)
-
Big Brother Recordings
Oasis
2000
Oasis Happy 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, then Warner Bros. Records
active
-
Brushfire Records
Jack Johnson
2002
Jack Johnson
Matt 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
Brandy
Shorty Mack
Willie Norwood
Michael Copon
TKO
Koch Records
Epic Records
active (2008)
-
G-Unit Records
50 Cent & Sha Money XL
2003
50 Cent
G-Unit
Lloyd Banks
Mobb Deep
The Game
Tony Yayo
Young Buck
Interscope Records
active (2007)
-
Machine Shop Records
Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson of Linkin 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 and Benji Madden of Good 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
Lifetime
The 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)
-

"("--" indicates information not available)"