Indie Music

Guide Note

The term "indie music" is used to describe any music produced independently of the major recording labels. There is an indie presence within every genre of music, much of which shares a strong do-it-yourself ethic at every level of production. Modern technology and the internet have lowered the cost of production and distribution, making it easier for unsigned artists to create and promote their music to the world.

Fast Facts

1. No hard and fast definition
2. Many genres associated with indie music
3. Over 20,000 indie labels

1. Alternative rock
2. Experimental music
3. Folk
4. Glitch
5. Industrial music
6. Punk rock
7. Space music
8. New Age music
9. Neo Soul
10. Underground Hip Hop

1. Indie Rock
2. Indie Pop
3. Indie Dance
4. Indietronic
5. Post-rock

"Independent labels take nothing and make something out of it. Major labels buy that something, and try to make more out of it."—Tom Silverman, Tommy Boy Records CEO

"In the music business bigger is not necessarily better. In fact, I believe smaller is actually better."—Chuck Kaye, Dreamworks, SBK Publishing

"The hardest thing in the world to do in this business is start a band nobody's heard of."—Tom Whalley, Interscope Records