In this fascinating UsefulCharts video, Matt Baker traces over a century of music industry mergers using a giant animated timeline. Starting from the invention of the gramophone in the late 1800s, it follows how pioneering labels like Victor, Columbia, Parlophone, and Decca evolved and consolidated into giants. Through the vinyl era (Elvis, Beatles, Motown), the rise of Warner, PolyGram, and others, the story shows how the industry shrank dramatically—culminating in today’s “Big Three” (Universal, Sony, Warner) dominating over 70% of the global market. Packed with historical nuggets and clear visuals, it perfectly illustrates how small fish keep getting eaten by bigger ones.
