Indie Is Working With an Independent Label

Since the term, “indie,” derives from “independent,” there are many music lovers who strictly define indie music by what type of label the artist works with. An independent record label is purely a record label that functions without the association to or finance from a major record label. So, can we limit the definition of indie music by its label? Is indie music just a genre because of its label?

Artists who choose to work with independent labels tend to do so because they feel that they get more control, actually, in this case - freedom, over their creativity. Independent labels cannot offer the artists enough money in the first place, so the artists are paying for career aspects such as recording, touring, and publishing out of their own pockets. However, because they are paying for all of this, they are also entitled to make each and every one of these business decisions their own.

Artists who fear of being a sell-out if they do gain commercial success often use independent labels as somewhat of a security blanket for their reputation (although some fans may have other thoughts). Major labels often have more control over the creativity and what is being published, but most of all they also have some control over how the label can profit from the artists’ music. Artists who sign with independent labels feel they have support in the right way, and this is often linked to how indie artists work with integrity.

Indie Is A Way of Life

Indie music listeners will often unite with their artists’ aesthetics or philosophies. To make indie music is to make music that represents what they stand for. The artists are writing music for themselves - not for radio play. This is a main justification for indie artists choosing not to sign with major labels. Not all artists who sign with a major label will be successful with listeners, so why comply with all their rules when artists can do what they want to do in their own terms?

Indie artists tend to join together with the Do It Yourself (DIY) ethic which originates from the punk aesthetic. DIY refers to being self-reliant without the help of others (which you usually get from others by paying for it). Indie music is linked to the DIY ethic because of its importance of individualism and rebellion which stemmed from punk ideology.