Today is Independence Day in the United States, so I thought it was a great time to ask the question...
What does "independent" mean to you?
I'm not asking for any kind of "flag waving" or political answer... I want to know why you choose to release your music independently what that means to you as a creative person.
Leave answers below...
This topic has been cropping up frequently this week. It is timely and it is relevant. It is also an opportunity to define and address the definition of indie vs. independent labels.
It's documented The Fabulous Wailers created the first artist-owned rock label in 1961, Etiquette Records. Their desire to create their own label was born out of three things:
They were young men bucking authority and wanted to control their own destiny. Side A of their first release was the arrangment of the most-recorded rock song in history: "Louie Louie." They'd had a previous hit while still in high school, "Tall Cool One."
Most people confuse the idea of indie music with independent music merely due to the idea we abbreviate the latter version of the word. Indie music represents the emerging and experimental styles of music by a mostly young demographic, very few of which will actually become professional musicians.
Conversely, the independent musician owns his/her own label as a self-employed musician, who has either been forced or chooses to be in business for themselves. Their intellectual properties belong to their label. Like other working class Americans the independent musicians are working to make a living, pay the bills, mortgages, car payments, and some are at a stage in their lives they are putting their kids through college.
At this particular moment in time, music is struggling to make a profit. I'm not addressing the recording industry...of which independents want no part. It's a difficult time to make money when most intellectual property is being given away for free - or in some cases stolen. Either way, not a pretty picture, when their products are modestly priced for long-lasting entertainment value available in myriad formats.
Independent musicians will survive. The trick will be how they establish brand loyalty with their niche customer base.
Time will tell many things. The Fabulous Wailers started a trend nearly half a century ago that has effectively pierced the corporate shield, and gone on to glory.
Janet Hansen
Scout66.com
Posted by: Janet Hansen | July 04, 2009 at 12:09 PM
It means not being owned or distributed by one of the four major records labels or any other public company like Disney.
Posted by: Al McCree | July 04, 2009 at 12:17 PM
To me, being independent means keeping creative control and the destiny of your art and career in your own hands. The abbreviation indie gets tossed around in the public discourse with mixed meanings, but I think it represents the mindstate of passion and determination to succeed on your own.
Posted by: Joseph VanBuren | July 06, 2009 at 01:13 AM
This is a great topic, and I like what Joseph is saying...
I don't count as an independent (or indie) artist anymore as I run a studio full-time instead of making my own music. However, I see a lot of young artists, some of which I think actually have the right mindset.
As someone who has been on both sides, Independent means something different to me than it used to. Many times, the definition a musician gives includes the phrase "trying to make it on your own," or "trying not to do such and such."
There was a time when I would have said the same thing - I'm trying to keep creative control, trying to keep ownership... while trying to be successful.
Today, looking back (and watching these bands heading out into the great wide open for the first time), I think it's about what you do, and not what you try to do. It's about the process (the tour or the journey if you will), and not about where you end up.
For me, the test of real independence for a musician is wrapped up in why they want it. Because reacting to the norm is just as shallow as fitting in to it. If you are an Independent Artist, you are already. You don't have to make it big, or avoid making it big - and your fans certainly don't make you indie.
I guess what I'm getting at is I don't think it's a place on the musical map or up or down the ladder of the music biz. Somewhere along the way, you will have to fight for your independence, but the fight isn't possible unless you know you're free already.
Posted by: Will Duke | July 16, 2009 at 11:47 PM