Music is universally known as an expression of emotion, a rebellion against man, a way of life, a random collection of sounds, an annoying thing that children listen to or even a holiday from everything, but in reality music is free from any definition. The industry involved in buying, selling and recording music has become so old, insidious and ignorant that it fails to understand the steps needed to evolve with the rapidly expanding music industry. Musicians and fans alike shout about the desperate need for some modern innovation in the market. Unfortunately, the monstrous companies that dominate the market have put a brake on competitive advantage, stopped the innovative changes that any smaller company can make. There are only three major record labels dominating the market today and only one other company is trying to make its way into the ring. Yet there are numerous small companies distributing and selling CDs by bands whose names will never make it to the dinner table, let alone the bar stool, and they themselves will never be recognized outside of those within the company. Furthermore, bands are even bought by smaller companies before the band gets too big and the small label becomes known. It's a sad, sad story of big fish eating little fish and nothing has changed since recorded music began! Many of the main topics that will be covered concern the monopoly that major record labels have on the music industry and how difficult it is for emerging labels/artists to make a living off of them. As a member of a band trying to get started, I have some experience with how much work it takes, the type of people it requires, and some of the long nights a show might entail. Also they are a high... mid level paper... 2014.Hatschek, Keith and Casey Newlin. “Run your own independent record label.” Disc Makers Echoes Running Your Own Record Label Comments. Np, nd Web. 02 April 2014. Uno, Jeriko. “How the Music Industry Monopoly Really Works.” RapRehab. NP 06 January 2012. Web. 02 April 2014.Owsinski, Bobby. “The lie that fuels music industry paranoia.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, November 27, 2013. Web. May 5, 2014Rapaport, Diane. "How record companies make money". Music Business: Producers. Network. April 04, 2014.Roosevelt, Franklin D Quotes. "Franklin D Roosevelt Quotes." Poemhunter.com. Np, nd Web. 06 May 2014.Spellman, Peter. “Music Business Solutions: Music Business Education: The Real Reason Why Major Record Labels Suck.” Music Business Solutions: Music Business Training: The Real Reason Why Major Record Labels Suck. Network. April 11. 2014.