Ohio Players

The mid-1970s saw a massive change in the structure of the US record industry.

One-stop independent distribution started to break down as the major record labels consolidated their own distribution systems, taking valuable inventory lines away from the indies. This also meant fewer outlets for the independent record labels. This had a dramatic effect on pop music, but for R&B it was revolutionary. In 1973 14 of the 22 R&B #1 singles were on independent labels. A mere three years on and the figure was only eight out of 29. Majors signed up the big labels and producers. For example, CBS had done deals to distribute Stax and Gamble and Huff’s Philadelphia International. In addition the majors had done deals with some of the independent sector’s biggest acts. The Ohio Players were one of the first in the exodus from indie to major record company.