Independent music (also commonly known asindie music, or simplyindie) is a broad style of music characterized by creative freedoms, low-budgets, and ado-it-yourself approach to music creation, which originated from the liberties afforded byindependent record labels. Indie music describes a number of related styles, but generally describes guitar-oriented music straying away from mainstream conventions. There are a number ofsubgenres of independent music which combine its characteristics with other genres, such asindie pop,indie rock,indie folk, andindie electronic.
The origins of independent music lie in British independent record labels, such asRough Trade andMute. In the 1970s, these labels contributed to the emergence of a distinct sound, influenced bypost-punk andnew wave.NME released the influential compilation albumC86 in 1986, and helped with indie's spread and development. American independent music first emerged in the 1980s, and was spread viacollege radios. Styles that evolved out of indie music and reached wide commercial success in the 1990s includegrunge (Nirvana,Pearl Jam, andthe Smashing Pumpkins) andBritpop (Blur,Pulp, andOasis). In the 21st century, due to the internet, indie music saw a global spread in popularity, as music fans were no longer dependent on physical publications to find new music.
Independent record labels, important to the development of indie music, are characterized by their smaller operations, lower funding, and greater creative control as compared tomajor labels. Independent labels use a variety of methods of distribution, with the label generally owning the copyright for the sound recording. They generally give smalleradvances, or sometimes no advance, and some may offer higher royalty splits than major labels.
Although "Indie" was first used to described music released on independent record labels, the term grew to describe a specific sound because of the creative freedom of its initial bands and artists.[1] A defining characteristic of indie music is that artists retain much more creative control over their music as compared to major labels.[1] Bands often have small budgets, and employ ado-it-yourself ethos which influences their sound.[2] Indie music generally represents guitar-oriented music which strays away from commercial conventions.[1] It often features lyrics that are earnest and emotive, with many cultural and sociopolitical references.[1] Many artists signed to major labels have retained creative control and are still considered indie artists.[2]
_002.jpg)
Independent labels have a long history of promoting developments in popular music, stretching back to the post-war period in the United States, with labels such asSun Records,King Records, andStax.[3] In the United Kingdom during the 1950s and 1960s, the major record companies had so much power that independent labels struggled to become established, until the launch of new labels likeVirgin Records.[4] Several British producers and artists launched independent labels as outlets for their work and artists they liked; the majority failed as commercial ventures or were bought by the major labels.[3]
During thepunk rock era, the number of independent labels grew.[3] In 1977,Manchester-bandBuzzcocks releasedSpiral Scratch, considered the first independently released rock release.[5] In the late 1970s, certain UK independent labels (such asRough Trade,Factory,Fiction, andMute) contributed to the emergence of a distinct musical style found in indie music, which was influenced bypost-punk andnew wave.[1] Important albums that contributed to this style includeJoy Division'sUnknown Pleasures (1979) andDepeche Mode'sSpeak & Spell (1981).[1] Released on Rough Trade,Inflammable Material (1979) was the first independently-released album to sell over 100,000 copies.[5] By the 1980s, theindie pop bandThe Smiths, signed with Rough Trade, "came to exemplify indie both musically and culturally" according toThe Conversation.[1] The Smith's authentic sound contrasted with the common highly producedpop music of the time.[1]
_(cropped).jpg)
TheUK Indie Chart was first compiled in 1980, and independent distribution became better organized from the late 1970s onward.[6] In 1986,NME released the compilation albumC86, which was influential to the development of indie music.[5][7] In the United States, independent music was first spread by in the 1980s bycollege radios and thus dubbedcollege rock (also later termedmodern rock andalternative rock).[8] Defining American albums of this era includeSonic Youth'sDaydream Nation (1988) andPixies'Doolittle (1989).[5]
However, unlike the UK, this music was not referred to as "indie" until the 2000s.[8]Indie music reached wide commercial success in the 1990s, especially withBritpop bands likeBlur,Pulp, andOasis.[1] As well, American grunge bands likeNirvana,Pearl Jam, andthe Smashing Pumpkins received mainstream success.[5] In 1991, theGrammys added anAlternative section to its awards ceremony, for "non-traditional form[s]" existing "outside of the mainstream music consciousness".[8]
Theinternet's ease of spreading information influenced indie music's popularization in the United States and global spread.[8] Music fans no longer relied on publications or magazines to hear about new artists.[8] At the beginning of the 21st century, the term indie came to describe a number of related but distinctsubgenres.[1] One example isindie folk, a stripped-backlow fidelity approach tofolk music, as seen inFleet Foxes orBon Iver's first album,For Emma, Forever Ago.[1] Widely popularindie rock bands of this era includeArcade Fire andArctic Monkeys.[1] By this time, the term indie had transcended the definition of solely independently released music, and came to represent a "general resistance to popular and mainstream culture, evoking realism, independence and authenticity".[1]
Anindependent record label is one that operates outside of the funding and creative control ofmajor record labels. Independent labels generally have greater creative freedom, at the cost of smaller budgets and personnel.[9] They are often able to support artists working in niche styles of music,[10] and rely heavily on personal networking, orword of mouth, to expose their acts.[11] Indie labels are usually small operations, with almost no outside assistance and run out of tiny offices.[12] Some artists choose to go from an independent label to a major label if given the opportunity, as major labels have considerably more power and financial means to promote and distribute products, sometimes increasing the chances of greater success.[13]
There are a few ways an independent label may go aboutdistributing its music.[10] Some independent labels are owned by major labels, who carry out the distribution for them.[10] Other labels instead go through independent distributors.[10] Many current artists use their own resources to produce, record, market and release music throughSpotify,SoundCloud, and other streaming platforms withsocial media in a direct,do-it-yourself manner allowing creative distribution.[14] There is the potential for artists to gain large numbers of streams on Spotify if their music are included in certain popular playlists.[15]
For both independent and major labels, the label generally owns the copyright to the sound recording.[10] Artists who maintain their copyrights usually must sacrifice other parts of their deal, and must give the label a temporary license to the recordings.[10]
Anadvance is a pre-payment of royalties from the label for the artist to record the album; it is paid back through the album's royalties.[16] Independent labels generally give out much smaller advances than major labels, if any.[16][10] Additionally, some independent labels will cover an album's recording costs instead of proving a set dollar amount as an advance.[10] One advantage of smaller advances is that artists have less to pay back, and therefore can begin to profit quicker.[10]
There are a number of ways that an independent label may structure their contract.[10] Some independent labels have contracts that are essentially equivalent to major label deals.[10] On a major label, a typical royalty rate (what the artist takes) is 13% to 16%;[16] however, some independent labels offer 50-50 splits, which functions more as a partnership.[17][10] One issue is that artists often forgo theirmechanical royalties in 50-50 deals,[10] and it can be more difficult to recoup the advance, meaning it takes longer to turn a profit.[16] Some labels forgo a formal contract altogether, and their deals include few restrictions.[10]
Independent music is a broad category that is made up of distinctsubgenres with influences from various other genres.[1]
Indie pop is a style of pop music that originally grew out of Britishpost-punk in the late 1970s.[18][19] Indie pop was one of the first independent music genres, and was initially synonymous with "indie".[19] Indie pop is characterized by a focus onmelody, arrangements, andharmony, with less angst anddistortion as compared toindie rock.[18][20] It features the homemade intimacy commonly found in independent music.[18] Notable subgenres includechamber pop, which adds lushchamber orchestration, andtwee pop, which features "primitive simplicity".[20]
Indie rock (also referred to as simply "indie")[21][5] is a style ofrock music and is one of the most popular independent music genres. It originally grew out of thealternative rock,punk rock, and independent movements of the 1980s,[2][21] with local scenes emerging in many American cities andcollege towns.[22] The New ZealandDunedin sound of the 1970s and 80s was also influential in indie rock's development.[23] By the 1990s, indie rock had separated from alternative rock and gained popularity in the mainstream,[2] pushed along by the popularity of Seattle'sgrunge scene, especiallyNirvana.[2][21] Notable artists of the 2000s includedThe Strokes,Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and theArctic Monkeys,[5] while some of the 2010s includedThe 1975 andVampire Weekend.[21] Indie rock went onto inspire a multitude of subgenres and derivative styles, such asdream pop,noise pop,lo-fi,math rock,emo, and more.[2]
_(52182452613)_Cropped.jpg)
Indie folk is a style offolk music which originated in the 1990s with artists likeElliott Smith andWill Oldham.[24] The genre grew fromtraditional andcontemporary folk, but took a distinctly independent approach inspired by indie rock.[25] The genre gained further popularity and support in the 2000s from labels such asSaddle Creek,Barsuk, andSub Pop.[24] Notable 21st century indie folk artists includeFleet Foxes,Bon Iver,Great Lake Swimmers,Sufjan Stevens, andPhoebe Bridgers.[25][26][27] Indie folk is distinguished by itsacoustic instrumentation – and often consists of just vocals andacoustic guitar – although some artists experiment with more diverse instrumentation.[25] As well, indie folk artists are oftensinger-songwriters.[25]
Indie electronic, also known as indietronica, is a broad categorization of music that combines independent andelectronic music styles.[28][29] It is not considered a scene or movement, and often combines influences from a variety of genres.[29] It has origins in the 1990s, with artists likeStereolab,Arab Strap, andDisco Inferno contributing to the style.[28][29] Indietronica largely grew in popularity in the 2000s, with the rising accessibility tohome recording andsoftware synthesizers.[28] Influential artists of this era includeHot Chip,Metronomy, andThe Postal Service.[30] Some 2010s artists achieved wider success with their music, for example,James Blake andThe xx.[30] Indietronica artists usually release their music on independent labels, with examples includingSub Pop,Warp, andGhostly International.[28]
| Precursors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Styles and fusion genres |
| ||
| Related topics | |||
