Every song has two copyrights. A record label controls one. A music publisher controls the other. If you do not know which one your deal covers, you are either leaving money uncollected or giving up rights you do not know how to manage.
You do not need investor money to start a label. You need a budget, a release plan, and the discipline to reinvest what you earn. Funding is not about getting money. It is about deploying it well.
Artists do not sign with labels because of a logo. They sign because the label stands for something they want to be part of. Your brand is not your artwork. It is the world you build around your artists.
Nettwerk Music Group is a Vancouver-based independent music company founded in 1984 that operates a record label, publishing division, artist management, and a dedicated sync licensing department called Nettwerk One. The company represents artists like Sarah McLachlan, Passenger, Paris Paloma, and SYML for sync placements across film, television, trailers, advertising, and video games. In 2026, Create Music Group invested over $300 million to support a management buyout led by CEO Terry McBride.
Position Music is an independent music publishing, record label, and artist management company founded in 1999 in Los Angeles by Tyler Bacon. Specializes in sync licensing for trailers, film, TV, video games, and advertising. Operates five departments: Synchronization and Licensing, A&R, Administration, Label Services, and Artist Management. Places music across thousands of ad campaigns, trailers, and productions.
Riptide Music Group is a Los Angeles-based creative music company founded in 2000, providing sync licensing, music publishing, publishing administration, and digital label services. Has generated over $60 million in licensing fees for independent artists through placements in TV, film, trailers, advertising, and video games.
