According to sales figures from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 2003 was a good year for both EMI and the independent sector.
Good overall global sales figures helped increase EMI's market share last year, making them the second biggest record company behind the mighty Universal Music Group - a position formerly held by Sony.
EMI made gains in all but the African music market, enabling them to sneak 0.2% ahead of Sony in market share, Sony Music seeing their market share drop in the same period.
The other two major labels - Warner and BMG - both saw their market share rise slightly, though they remain fourth and fifth biggest players respectively.
While Universal Music remains by far the biggest record company with a 23.5% market share, their sales fell in 2003 meaning that the collective independent sector now has the biggest market share - 25.3%