Statistics

Nielsen SoundScan reported that the big four accounted for 81.87% of the US music market in 2005:[10]
Universal Music Group (USA/France based) — 31.71%
Sony Music Entertainment (Japan based) — 25.61%
Warner Music Group (USA based) — 15%
EMI Group (UK based) — 9.55%
independent labels — 18.13%
and in 2004, 82.64%:
Universal Music Group — 29.59%
Sony Music Entertainment — 28.46% (13.26% Sony, 15.20% BMG)
Warner Music Group — 14.68%
EMI Group — 9.91%
independent labels — 17.36%