The Power of Indie
There’s a plague in indie music land that is under disguise. Indie nation is suffering from a fall in the ranks which hurts the very concept of “independence”. It’s the selling out of indie artist for faulty record contracts, hype and the surrendering of artistic value.
Many Indie artists think that to make it, you have to align yourself with a major record company. This is false. Even way back in the 50’s, your most powerful entity were independent labels which had a wealth of local talent to choose from and record. This is how Stax Records and Motown Records were created…through the spirit of independence. These labels started crashing when they aligned themselves with corporate entities. Sun Records and Sam Phillips, who was responsible for breaking in Elvis, Johnny Cash and others, started out as an indie label. Stax is the greatest example of powerful independent music label and operation that made a worldwide impact until the President started mingling with corporate distributors. I would advise any independent artist to read a copy of Rob Bowman’s book on Stax Records to see how an indie movement was undermined by the corporate big wigs.
There is now a chance for the Indie movement to come back like it did with Indie labels from the ‘50s. With the knowledge, technology and possibilities that are now available, the Indie movement has the possibility to overcome major corporations and bring true music back to the stage.
November 24th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
That is very sad but so true. People are turning away from music because of its label such as indie or folk. I have to say that if we did not pay attention to this there would be better music choices out there.
December 4th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Why people will turn away from music is beyond me, but I love almost any style of music no matter if it gets shunted into a not-mainstream listening niche.
January 6th, 2008 at 6:05 am
People pay attention to labels because that is the only way they can judge something without knowing lots about it. I think that if it was easier to really sample music, without cost, then people would listen to more. Not everyone has a fast internet connection - where I live many people get charged per GB of their download, so they can’t afford to be streaming lots of music just to see if they like it or not.
I don’t blame people for paying so much attention to labels, but I do blame the mainstream media for pigeon-holing as much as they do.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Unfortunately people do pay attention to labels for that reason. What they need to do is just listen and make a decision from what they hear not what they are told. I have found that many artist that are found to be indy are things that I would listen to. I try not to classify music anymore. I would rather just call it music and not place it in a category.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:49 am
i also like almost all of our music. it does not matter if it is an indie music, or not. music has always been a great influence to many people. and many companies are gaining benefits from this music. i appreciate different kinds of music and i also don’t choose which to listen to.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I admit that I’m guilty of not listening to certain bands because of what they are labeled. For the longest time I wouldn’t listen to anything Classical because I had an image in my head of a bunch of old people. I finally gave it a chance, and became an instant fan though. I think a lot of it has to do with human nature though. Humans are creatures of habit. If we are used to listening to a certain type of music, that’s what we’ll listen to. If we have a bad mental image about a certain type of music, or perhaps heard it once before and didn’t like it, we’ll generally stay away from all bands who fall into that category.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:48 am
well yes, people do pay attention with labels. and i think that labels really have something to do with the recognition of their artists. and some labels that are already popular will help their artists to become popular also. and i think these are the reasons why people also pay attention to the labels.
July 4th, 2008 at 10:53 am
To Leeuh,
I think the issue is a combination of what you say (human nature), but it’s also a matter of how easily the mass media will influence tastes in music, particularly if executives of the big labels are savvy enough to get their “product” out in the airwaves and on TV and the movies. If people are “sold” on the notion that a particular style of music is the “cool” or “in” one, especially as an outlet of youthful rebellion, then that’s what becomes popular. The new is always made out to be the “best,” and the previously “good” stuff is considered passe or even bad.
That’s kind of sad, actually, because some of the “old” stuff is actually very good. And I’m not just talking about classical music - though that’s one genre that’s affected by the “new is good” philosophy - but other styles of popular music, such as what is called “standards.” Oddly, when a recognized rock star such as Rod Stewart decides to sing stuff from The Great American Songbook, standards become cool and hip…which they would still be if we listeners weren’t brainwashed to poo-poo “old stuff.”
July 12th, 2008 at 1:34 am
yes fardreamer. i will agree with you on that. the mass media has a big role in making a band and artist stay in the music industry. labels are the only ones who let these artists and bands become recognized by us. and it is really up to the people if they will take these bands and artists as a part of good music.