An independent record label (or indie label) is a music company that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels. These labels typically function as small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Independent labels and their artists are often represented by regional trade associations, which are in turn represented globally by the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN).
Many of the labels started as producers and distributors of specific genres of music, such as jazz music, or represent something new and non-mainstream, such as Elvis Presley in the early days. Indies release rock, soul, R&B, jazz, blues, gospel, reggae, hip hop, and world music. Music appearing on indie labels is often referred to as indie music, or more specifically by genre, such as indie hip-hop.
Overview
Independent record labels are small companies that produce and distribute records.[1] They are not affiliated with or funded by the three major records labels. According to SoundScan and the Recording Industry Association of America, indie labels produce and distribute about 66% of music titles, but only account for 20% of sales.
Many musical artists begin their careers on independent labels, hoping to further grow their career into signing with a record label.[2]
The distinction between major and independent labels is not always clear. The traditional definition of a major label is a label that owns its distribution channel. Some independent labels, particularly those with successful artists, sign dual-release, or distribution only agreements with major labels. They may also rely on international licensing deals and other arrangements with major labels. Major labels sometimes fully or partially acquire independent labels.
Other nominally independent labels are started and sometimes run by artists on major labels but are still fully or partially owned by the major label. These labels are frequently referred to as vanity labels
History
Independent labels have historically anticipated developments in popular music, beginning with the post-war period in the United States.[5] Disputes with major labels led to a proliferation of smaller labels specializing in country, jazz, and blues. Sun Records played an important part in the development of rock 'n' roll and country music, working with artists such as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Charlie Rich.[5] These independent labels usually aimed their releases at a small but loyal audience. They relied less on mass sales and were able to provide artists much more opportunity for experimentation and artistic freedom.
1940s–1960s
During the 1940s and early 1950s, the American music business was altered by the emergence of self-made recording studios. Many of these owners realized that whichever label first publishes a song is legally entitled to receive compensation for every record sold.
Worldwide Independent Network (WIN)
The international peak body for the indie music industry, Worldwide Independent Network, was founded in 2006. WIN is a coalition of independent music bodies from countries throughout the world.[134]
Alison Wenham spent 17 years leading the UK's Association of Independent Music (AIM), which she launched in 1999. During this time she also helped to found WIN in 2006, remaining at WIN for twelve years, with the last two spent as CEO. As a driving force in helping indie labels being able to compete worldwide with bigger companies, Wenham featured in Billboard's "Top Women in Music" every year since publication. She stepped down from her role at WIN in December 2018,[135][136] the following year taking on a non-executive director's role at Funnel Music.[137]
On 4 July 2008, WIN ran "Independents Day", the first annual coordinated celebration of independent music across the world, for which the Australian Independent Record Labels Association created a list of the greatest independent records of all time.
21st century by country
Australia
In Australia, the peak body for the independent music industry is the Australian Independent Record Labels Association, known as AIR, representing about 350 members as of 2019.[143]
A 2017 report commissioned by AIR, titled AIR Share: Australian Independent Music Market Report, was the first market analysis of the industry in Australia. It showed that indie labels represented 30% of revenue generated by the Australian recorded music market, and that 57% of independent sector revenue was from Australian artists, which put the Australian sector in the Top 10 global list of mainly English-speaking indie music markets, according to then CEO of WIN (Worldwide Independent Network), Alison Wenham. (By comparison, the US indie market had a 34% share while the UK had 23%.)[142]
The report valued the Australian recording industry as worth A$399.4 million, sixth largest music market in the world in terms of revenue and ahead of countries with higher populations such as Canada and South Korea. Digital revenue, at 44%, had overtaken that coming from physical sales, at 33%. A spokesperson from the company Unified Music Group said that governments were beginning to recognise the financial and cultural worth of a thriving music industry, but there was still a big challenge for the independents to compete with well-funded tech companies that have an anti-
Notable labels
The Scouting Party Index of Independent Record Labels (1986) by Norman Schreiber included a list of over 200 independent record labels, their artists, and examples of their work.[145] The following is a list of notable independent record companies and the creatives/founders behind the labels:
- Concord (US, 1973– ); started its life as Concord Jazz, today Concord includes sub-labels that feature diverse music such as Loma Vista (hip-hop, rock, metal), Fearless (rock), Stax (soul, RnB) and Rounder (americana, folk, bluegrass)[146]
- Savoy Records (US, 1942– );
- Apollo Records (US, 1943– ); New York
- Sun Records (US, 1950– ); was the first label to record Elvis Presley and other big names in early rock 'n roll.
- Allied Artists Music Group (US, 1959– ); founded by Allied Artists Pictures in 1959 as a motion picture soundtrack label; formally organized in 1971 as Allied Artists Records enlarging genres to include pop, rock and heavy metal; rebranded to consolidate anchor labels and numerous imprints in 2000, becoming Allied Artists Music Group, an Independent label with its own worldwide distribution network through Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution.
See also
- Australian Independent Record Labels Association
- Independent music
- List of Billboard 200 number-one independent albums
- List of record labels
- List of largest music deals
- Music industry
- Music
- Music recording sales certification
- Open-source record label
- Terms related to "indie" at Indie (disambiguation)
- Record label
Further reading
- WINTEL (2018 market report)
- Features of independents (IMPALA)
References
- John V Pavlik. Converging Media: A new Introduction to Mass Communication Oxford University Press, 2016^
- Indie record labels Musicians.about.com, retrieved January 12, 2016^
- Full Bio Follow Linkedin Heather McDonald wrote about music careers for The Balance Careers She has worked in the music industry for over two decades Read The Balance's editorial policies Heather McDonald. How the Big Four Record Labels Became the Big Three