# Major Labels > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Major_Labels > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Major_Labels.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Labels > Source revision: 1323853653 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|2021 book by Kelefa Sanneh}} {{About|the book|the primary companies which own music|Record label}} {{Infobox book | name = Major Labels | image = File:Major Labels.jpg | author = [Kelefa Sanneh](/source/Kelefa_Sanneh) | country = | language = English | genre = [Non-fiction](/source/Non-fiction) | isbn = 978-0-525-55959-7 | dewey = 781.64 | congress = ML3470 .S25 2021 | oclc = 1309664374 | pages = 496 | pub_date = October 5, 2021 | publisher = [Penguin Books](/source/Penguin_Books) (US) [Canongate Books](/source/Canongate_Books) (UK) | caption = | subject = [Music genre](/source/Music_genre)s }} '''''Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres''''' is a 2021 [non-fiction](/source/non-fiction) book written by the music critic and journalist [Kelefa Sanneh](/source/Kelefa_Sanneh). Sanneh had largely moved away from music criticism after joining the staff of ''[The New Yorker](/source/The_New_Yorker)'' in 2008, but felt compelled to explore music again after realizing that he was "still obsessed" with it. The book contains seven chapters, each of which focus on the history of a different [music genre](/source/music_genre) from the 1970s onward; the book also contains several autobiographical stories interspersed within the chapters. ''Major Labels'' received generally positive reviews from critics, and appeared on several listicles regarding the best music books of 2021. ==Background and publication== Kelefa Sanneh is a music critic and journalist, who has prominently written for publications like ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' and [''The'' ''New Yorker''](/source/The_New_Yorker).{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Jack |date=October 6, 2021 |title=Review: 'Major Labels,' by Kelefa Sanneh |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/11/kelefa-sanneh-major-labels-music/620178/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250204042057/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/11/kelefa-sanneh-major-labels-music/620178/ |archive-date=February 4, 2025 |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=[The Atlantic](/source/The_Atlantic)}} In 2004, Sanneh wrote "The Rap Against [Rockism](/source/Rockism_and_poptimism)" for ''The New York Times'', which Jack Hamilton of ''The Atlantic'' called an "influential rumination on genre". After joining the staff of ''The New Yorker'' in 2008, Sanneh moved away from music criticism and mainly wrote about topics unrelated to music.{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |last2=Amorosi |first2=A.D. |last3=Willman |first3=Chris |date=December 17, 2021 |title=The Best Music Books of 2021 |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/reviews/best-music-books-2021-1235135734/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306024720/https://variety.com/2021/music/reviews/best-music-books-2021-1235135734/ |archive-date=March 6, 2025 |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))}}{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=John |date=September 30, 2021 |title=Why Write About Pop Music? 'I Like When People Disagree About Stuff.' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/books/kelefa-sanneh-major-labels.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211003064103/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/books/kelefa-sanneh-major-labels.html |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |access-date=July 24, 2025 |website=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)}} Later, Sanneh noted how he "realized [he] was still obsessed" with music, and became interested in exploring it again. ''Major Labels'' was published on October 5, 2021{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2021 |title=Major Labels |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kelefa-sanneh/major-labels/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213201701/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kelefa-sanneh/major-labels/ |archive-date=December 13, 2024 |access-date=July 24, 2025 |website=[Kirkus Reviews](/source/Kirkus_Reviews)}} through [Penguin Press](/source/Penguin_Press) in the United States{{OCLC|1240263631}} and through [Canongate Books](/source/Canongate_Books) in the United Kingdom.{{OCLC|1249499729}} An audiobook version, narrated by Sanneh, was also released that year.{{OCLC|1273555946}} ==Content== ''Major Labels'' is a book covering the histories of seven [music genres](/source/Music_genre): [rock](/source/Rock_music), [R&B](/source/Rhythm_and_blues), [country](/source/Country_music), [punk](/source/Punk_rock), [hip-hop](/source/hip-hop), [dance](/source/Dance_music), and [pop](/source/Pop_music);{{Cite web |last=O'Hagan |first=Sean |author-link=Sean O'Hagan (journalist) |date=October 10, 2021 |title=Major Labels by Kelefa Sanneh review – an unapologetic defence of music’s defining categories |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/10/major-labels-by-kelefa-sanneh-review-an-unapologetic-defence-of-musics-defining-categories |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114111715/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/10/major-labels-by-kelefa-sanneh-review-an-unapologetic-defence-of-musics-defining-categories |archive-date=January 14, 2025 |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=[The Observer](/source/The_Observer)}} the book begins with an introduction, followed by seven chapters each broken up into ten-to-twelve sections.{{Cite web |last=Kirby |first=David |date=October 1, 2021 |title='Major Labels' Review: The Hits Just Keep on Coming |url=https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/major-labels-kelefa-sanneh-music-review-the-hits-just-keep-on-coming-11633095460 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725195530/https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/major-labels-kelefa-sanneh-music-review-the-hits-just-keep-on-coming-11633095460 |archive-date=July 25, 2025 |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=[The Wall Street Journal](/source/The_Wall_Street_Journal)}} While writing ''Major Labels'', Sanneh noted how he would continuously do research and listen to music in order to present each genre as a "story" with a plot.{{Cite web |last=Cain |first=Hamilton |date=December 23, 2021 |title=From Takes on the Sex Pistols to Madonna v. Beyoncé, Kelefa Sanneh‘s Ode to Pop Music Thrills |url=https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/a38584000/major-labels-kelefa-sanneh-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219204110/https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/a38584000/major-labels-kelefa-sanneh-review/ |archive-date=February 19, 2025 |access-date=February 19, 2025 |website=[Oprah Daily](/source/Oprah_Daily)}} [Jonah Raskin](/source/Jonah_Raskin) of the ''New York Journal of Books'' noticed how the book primarily focuses on the history of music from the 1970s onward, suggesting that the music from before that point was "not his era and there have already been tons written about it". Additionally, ''Major Labels'' contains several autobiographical stories, which per Jack Hamilton of ''[The Atlantic](/source/The_Atlantic)'' "allow Sanneh to explore his own still-evolving relationship to music". The chapter on rock music comments on how songs in the genre became "[repertory music](/source/Musical_repertoire)", and how the genre faded from prominence. The chapters on R&B and country focus on the relationship between the genres and race. The chapter on punk contains [memoir](/source/memoir)-like elements regarding Sanneh's relationship with the genre, and how he was "forced to reckon with some of [its] inconsistencies". In an interview with ''[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))'', Sanneh explained that he decided against combining the chapters on rock and punk due to the unique [ethos](/source/ethos) behind the latter genre, separate from its sound.{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Mark |date=October 14, 2021 |title=Kelefa Sanneh on Rockism, Disappearing Genres, and His New Book ''Major Labels'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/kelefa-sanneh-interview-rockism-major-labels-book/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704151756/https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/kelefa-sanneh-interview-rockism-major-labels-book/ |archive-date=July 4, 2024 |access-date=July 26, 2025 |website=[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))}} In the chapter on hip-hop, Sanneh called it the "quintessential American art form", but expressed concerns about [sexism in the genre](/source/Misogyny_in_rap_music). The chapter on dance music focuses on the evolution of the genre from [disco](/source/disco) to [electronic dance music](/source/electronic_dance_music). Finally, the chapter on pop music focuses on the "notions of authenticity" within the genre. Hamilton observed how a primary theme of ''Major Labels'' was how other people could shape the genres which a person associates themselves with. ==Reception== ''Major Labels'' received generally positive reviews from critics, with both ''[Kirkus Reviews](/source/Kirkus_Reviews)'' and ''[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)'' giving the book a starred review.{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2021 |title=Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-525-55959-7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213203441/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-525-55959-7 |archive-date=December 13, 2024 |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=[Publishers Weekly](/source/Publishers_Weekly)}} The memoir elements of ''Major Labels'' received particular critical praise. [Sean O'Hagan](/source/Sean_O'Hagan_(journalist)) of ''[The Observer](/source/The_Observer)'' commented how the more-personal elements brought about a "compelling exploration of belonging and identity through music", and Raskin wrote how it justified Sanneh's credibility.{{Cite web |last=Raskin |first=Jonah |author-link=Jonah Raskin |title=Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres |url=https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/major-labels-history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316094103/https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/major-labels-history |archive-date=March 16, 2025 |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=New York Journal of Books}} However, the encyclopedic treatment of genres received a more negative reception: O'Hagan called the historical aspects "frustrating" in contrast to the "personal resonance" from the memoir and critical overview parts of the book, while [Dwight Garner](/source/Dwight_Garner) of ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' found the book "generic" and compared it to a "[Ken Burns](/source/Ken_Burns)-style history lesson".{{Cite web |last=Garner |first=Dwight |author-link=Dwight Garner |date=October 4, 2021 |title='Major Labels' Wraps Popular Music — All of It — in a Warm Embrace |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/books/review-major-labels-kelefa-sanneh.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211008035029/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/books/review-major-labels-kelefa-sanneh.html |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=The New York Times}} ''Major Labels'' appeared on several listicles regarding the best music books of 2021, including the lists of ''[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)'',{{Cite web |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |date=December 8, 2021 |title=Best music books of 2021 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/08/best-music-books-of-2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250727055010/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/dec/08/best-music-books-of-2021 |archive-date=July 27, 2025 |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)}} ''[NME](/source/NME)'',{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Ed |date=December 16, 2021 |title=The 10 best music books of 2021 |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/best-music-books-of-2021-paul-mccartney-dave-grohl-sinead-o-connor-3118648 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250727055320/https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/best-music-books-of-2021-paul-mccartney-dave-grohl-sinead-o-connor-3118648 |archive-date=July 27, 2025 |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=[NME](/source/NME)}} ''Pitchfork'',{{Cite web |date=November 22, 2021 |title=The 11 Best Music Books of 2021 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-music-books-of-2021/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206153333/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-music-books-of-2021/ |archive-date=December 6, 2024 |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=Pitchfork}} and ''[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))''. == References == Category:History books about music Category:Penguin Books books Category:2021 non-fiction books --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Major Labels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Labels) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Labels?action=history)). 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