Research- Music Labels and Ownership

The record label that owns Two Door Cinema Club is a French company called ‘Kinsuné’. This independent French company combined a fashion label and electronic music record label together; so they sign artists as well as designs clothes. This label was founded in 2002 in Paris by Gildas Loaëc. The idea of combining fashion with music was from a visit to Japan. The name ‘Kinsuné’ was from the Japanese word ‘kinsune’ meaning fox; to have the power to change its appearance and its face. The many faces and appearances of the Kinsune represent the different parts and directions of Kinsuné.

This record label is independent and has signed similar artists such as Bloc Party, La Roux and Foals. All these artists are of either an electronic or Indie Rock genre; this suggests that this is Kinsuné’s main genre. Two Door Cinema Club may have been signed to this record label because as they are independent, the artists have more freedom. Major record labels such as Sony usually choose the image they want their artist to have and the artist doesn’t have much say. But Independent record labels are not as strict and lets the artist to be more free to choose the image they want to portray. Being signed to an independent record label suggests that the artists have a niche market. This is because independent record labels don’t have as much money as major record labels, so they are limited to what they can provide for their artist.

Major record labels sign big artists who have a large audience. For example Rihanna is signed to a major record label because she has a large audience so she needs more money and major record labels can provide this. Also Rihanna produces mainstream music causing a larger audience. But Two Door Cinema Club produces Indie music; therefore they don’t produce mainstream music. Independent record labels are more likely to take artists who don’t produce mainstream music and have a niche audience due to what they can provide for the artist.