Orangutang Music

Indie Music Industry – Why Be Independent?

Who needs a major label anymore?

With the major labels focusing on quick returns rather than artist development and the advent of downloading music online, the traditional record company/artist relationship has become blurred to the point of being obsolete.

Nowadays, being independent has real advantages…

How many times have you heard or read somewhere that the internet has changed the face of the music industry forever? Personally, I’d love a dollar for everytime I heard it.

However, it’s true and there are a couple of reasons for this:

1. A traditional record company/artist relationship is optional and not a necessity. You can do your all music sales and band promotion online cutting out all of the ‘middle people’.

2. Websites can turn an artist with a local audience into an artist with an international audience. As the internet is not ‘owned’ by any one entity the playing field is a lot more even.

A really great example of an artist that is doing it independently and (doing very, very well out of it thank you) is Ani DiFranco.

Ani and her record label Righteous Babe Records have been kicking it against the system for many years now. Personally I think that Ani is the best example of how an indie music artist can have total control over their career and be a roaring success at the same time.

Her example has inspired me.

I read somewhere that by 1996 Ani had her own warehouse, about eight or nine full time staff and her music sales were nudging over 500,000 units (in which the profit goes to her company not to some multi-national). I found these facts very impressive.

To me, being an independent artist means that you’re the one driving the bus and being in control over your own affairs.

A lot of talented artists and performing songwriters around the world are at this very moment waiting for that knock at the door, the opportunity to ‘get discovered’.

What’s likely to happen is that these same people will spend their creative lives being very, very disappointed.

If you are reading this and feel that this is you, consider this. Where do you think you would be if you managed your career yourself rather than wait for someone (or some company) to do it for you?

There are many, many sites online that are there to help you take control over your career by spreading practical information about band promotion and the indie music industry as a whole.

Take advantage of these sites. Go to as many as you can and learn. Become inspired to take control over your indie music career. It’s the only one you’ve got.

Until next time,

Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music

Keywords: ani difranco, indie music, independent music, music industry news, music industry resource, music promotion, music marketing, music business, corey stewart

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Tags: corey stewart, independent music, Indie Music, Music Business, Music Industry, Music Marketing, Orangutang Music