Industry insiders called it D-Day.  Last thursday A&M records closed it doors, and Geffen Records fired a large number of employees.

More layoffs and restructuring is expected as Segram merges its newly acquired Polygram Music group with Universal Music Group. 
Several labels got cut thus far and were folded into four separate labels. 

The labels affected A&M, Mercury, Geffen, Interscope, MCA, Island, Universal, Motown and Def Jam. 

What does this mean for the music industry? 

For starters two pioneering labels which were known to take on new artist with unique styles will no longer exist as they did before. 


Geffen records gave the world Guns n Roses and Nirvana. While most labels play it safe and sign bands which conform to the latest fad in the biz, Geffen staked it's company on new and interesting artist. 

So fans will have to look even more to Indy labels to hear unique artist who the majors don't  believe will sell a lot of records. 

Also artist now signed to those labels who do not meet a certain level of sales are going to be given the boot. The figure curently being tossed around is 200,000 in album sales. 

The bottom line is the industry has just become even more corporate, where the dollar rules, and creativity comes in a distant second. 

Look for less new artist from these super labels, and even less variety, already a problem in the 90's. It looks as though we will start the next century with artist like Hootie and the Blowfish and Celine Dion who are sure to sell millions getting all the attention from the major labels, while newer bands, or veterans like Morrissey will be left out to pasture. 

Thank God for the rise in Indy record companies, is it any wonder why they have been so popular in the 90's? Look for their influence to gain even more in the years to come.