Can Two Record Labels Have the Same Name?

Record labels are a crucial component of the music business. They are in charge of publicizing and disseminating music. Over the years, a lot of record labels have gained notoriety, and it is not unusual for two labels to share the same name. However, this could cause misunderstandings among fans and in the industry.

As long as they are not active in the same market or industry, two record labels may legally share the same name. Because they are not competing in the same market, there can be a record label called “Universal Records” in the United States and a different record company called “Universal Records” in Japan. To avoid confusion, two record labels cannot share the same name if they are active in the same market and industry.

The music publisher VEVO is one illustration of this. Two significant record labels, Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, jointly own the video hosting site VEVO. As a tool for record companies to advertise their music videos on YouTube, VEVO—which stands for “video evolution”—was developed. Beyoncé has a recording contract with Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. One of the world’s oldest record labels, Columbia Records was established in 1888. Numerous legendary musicians have called Columbia Records home over the years, including Adele, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan. Another well-known record label that was established in 1984 is Def Jam Recordings. LL Cool J, Public Enemy, and Jay-Z are just a few of the famous hip-hop musicians that have called Def Jam, a division of the Universal Music Group, home. Def Jam Recordings is thought to have a net value of about $200 million.

People now frequently use streaming services like Spotify to listen to music. However, there is frequently disagreement regarding how much money musicians actually get from streaming services. Spotify pays between $0.003 and $0.005 for each stream, according to The Verge, so an artist would require one million streams to earn between $3,000 and $5,000.

In conclusion, while though it is legal for two record labels to share the same name, this might be confusing to both the music business and listeners. Over time, record labels like Columbia Records and Def Jam Recordings have established themselves as household brands, while streaming services like Spotify have revolutionized how music is consumed. The amount of money that musicians make from streaming services, however, is still up for discussion.