Island and Fascination Records - Subsidiaries of UMG

Fascination Records and Island Records are two subsidiaries from the mass Music Label Universal Music Group.
Subsidiaries are used to appeal to different audiences who like a certain genre of music.


Island Records 





Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group. The label now operates as a division of The Island Def Jam Music Group in the United States (where it is now a largely rock-oriented label) and as a standalone label in the United Kingdom (also known as Island Records Group or Universal Island). Since 2007, there is also a front line local artist and repertoire label in Australia known as Island Records Australia, run by Universal Music Australia.


Island records is aimed at reggae, you can also see this from the look of the website with it's use of exotic tropical colours. Island records features many reggae artists such as Bob Marley, however, it also includes artists such as Colbie Caillat, Sugababes, U2 etc which shows that Island records are looking to appeal to a more wider audience even though it comes across as being for a niche audience.


There is link on the website called records, by clicking on this link you are taken to a page where you are told of new releases, past releases, coming soon, singles and albums. this page shows the variety of artists that are signed to island records which is effective in people discovering new artists when looking and listening to another artist.
There is also a link where you can download 'Free Tunes' again a variety of artists shown on this page appealing to a mass audience.


Fascination Records 







Fascination Records is a UK-based record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as an imprint of Polydor Records. The label was launched in spring 2006, and is managed by former TOTP Magazine editor Peter Loraine. It concentrates on a relatively small number of pop acts and will complement the re-activated Fiction rock imprint.

Fascination records appeals to a mass audience. Looking at island records website and fascination records website you can see that colour scheme used for fascination records is simple and does not reflect on a certain genre of music like island records does (emphasises reggae).


Universal Music Group will benefit from having subsidiaries based in different countries because it allows the subsidiaries to focus on the mass needs of the country they are based in, meaning that Universal Music Group can appeal to a mass audience world wide.


In conclusion, subsidiaries are used to gain a larger audience and are specific in the music genre they distribute making it easier for not only Universal Music Group but also for their audience.