As of 2012 there are only three major record labels - or Music Groups. A Music Group consists of music publishing companies, record (sound recording) manufacturers, record distributors, and record labels. Music Groups typically own multiple divisions and record labels due to increased consolidation within the sound recording industry in past several decades. 

The three major Music Groups are: 

• Sony Music Entertainment
• list of SME labels (e.g. Columbia, Epic, RCA, etc.) 
• Universal Music Group
• list of UMG labels (e.g.Interscope-Geffen-A&M, Capitol, Virgin, Island, Def Jam, etc.)
• Warner Music Group
• list of WMG labels (e.g. Atlantic, Elektra, Rhino, etc.) 

• U.S. Copyright Offices, Library of Congress
  The website of the U.S. Copyright Office includes publications, copyright registration forms, links to copyright law and related organizations and more.