Indie Music
Indie Music Industry – The True Meaning Of Indie
Indie seems to be the ‘buzz’ word at the moment.
I came across this cute and clever article by Bob Baker putting across the meaning of ‘indie’ in a slightly different way and I just had to show it to you guys. Its a bit of fun but the message is still very clear.
We hear the term “indie” bounced around a lot these days. It’s become quite a trendy word (although some of us have been preaching about it for more years than most). So, let me ask you …
What’s your definition of indie?
Many people think of it as a reference to a musician, small record label or film company without an affiliation with a major corporation. That’s true, but I believe it has a much deeper meaning than that.
(By the way, “indie” is an abbreviation for “independent.” The “ie” at the end is the proper spelling, as opposed to “indy,” which is usually a reference to Indiana or Indianapolis — as in the Indy 500. There’s your grammar lesson for the day 
I think of indie in much the same way I think of the term “guerrilla.” It’s more than a simple, surface-level reference to your financial backing. I believe it’s a state of mind and a way of life you must bring to your entire pursuit of music.
The best way to explain my angle on this is to use an acronym. So here’s my definition of I-N-D-I-E, with every letter standing for a separate concept (and I didn’t even use the word “independent,” which was tempting considering I had two I’s to work with).
I – Inspired
To embrace the indie frame of mind, you must be inspired.
You have to know in your gut that music is what you are meant to do. You must become energized when writing, recording and performing your music. Hopefully, this is something you already experience fully, without having to force yourself to feel that way.
When this kind of natural inspiration comes over you, it’s a sure sign that you’re on the right path. And you will need this desire to carry you through the ups and downs of pursuing the independent music path.
N – Nontraditional
Indie musicians don’t mind learning about what has come before, and they are happy to listen to the “rules” that others say are required to have a successful music career.
However, the smartest indie artists keep their minds flexible and constantly ask questions about how the supposed “rules” of the past really apply to them. They actually develop a mindset that seeks out the road less traveled. And when they spot a good idea that’s off the traditional path, they fearlessly go after it without apologies.
D – Determined
Successful indie artists are fixated on their goals and determined to reach them.
They still leave room to veer from the original plan, when needed, but they are steadfast in their desire to produce more and better music, reach more fans, sell more CDs, etc. With this attitude, obstacles become short-term learning experiences along the road to higher levels of success.
I – Innovative
Being an indie means thinking outside of the proverbial box and looking at fresh opportunities from every angle.
It means not promoting yourself the same way a thousand other acts have done it. It means being resistant to knee-jerk marketing tactics and open to new ideas and overlooked avenues for exposure.
E – Empowered
Indie musicians don’t wait for someone or something else to come along and rescue them.
They don’t pray for a “lucky break” or to “be discovered.” They know to the core that the power to succeed with their music resides inside of them. And they understand that it’s their mission to tap into that personal power and use it to share their music with the world.
Let’s recap my definition of INDIE:
I – Inspired
N – Nontraditional
D – Determined
I – Innovative
E – Empowered
Print this article and pin it up where you’ll see it every day.
Being INDIE has nothing to do with what company you are or are not affiliated with. It has everything to do with how much you take control of your own life and take steps to build the kind of music career you deserve.
Bob Baker is the author of “Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook”, “Unleash the Artist Within” and “Branding Yourself Online.”
He also publishes The Buzz Factor, a web site and e-zine that deliver marketing tips, self-promotion ideas and other empowering messages to music people of all kinds.
Get your FREE subscription to Bob’s e-zine by visiting The Buzz Factor today.
I really liked the way that INDIE was used as an acronym.
It sums up my feelings about what the term ‘indie’ means to me. If one word could be used to describe the driving force behind the indie music industry it would be “EMPOWERMENT”. Think about it
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: bob baker, indie music, music business, music industry, music marketing, music promotion, independent music, orangutang music, corey stewart
You’ve Got To Wear Many Hats In This Music Business
There is no magic formula for success in this industry.
Lets face it, being independent means that you’re going to have to be wearing more than one hat to survive. You are going to have to do a lot of things yourself and at the same time build a team around you and your music.
I’ve always believed that the music industry as a whole is much, much more than just getting a band together, playing gigs, recording a CD and then (hopefully) getting signed by a record label in which case you live happily ever after.
Getting on in this industry is all about diversification, multi-skilling and not putting all you eggs in one basket.
Whatever you want to call it, it means that you are going to have to get used to wearing different hats.
I hear a lot of musicians say that they want to just concentrate on the art and have someone else (loosely termed a ‘manager’) do all the other stuff.
Well, unless these musicians have the ability to convince a manager who has a well respected and proven track record to take a punt on someone who’s totally unknown and unproven then they are living in some sort of musical fantasyland.
I’m sorry but it just doesnt work that way.
Being independent is a choice, being independent is a way of life, a way of doing things. It’s embracing the fact that it’s all up to you to make things happen.
It’s about giving yourself back power and control over your own affairs.
Being independent shouldnt be a scary proposition. There are lots of resources around including this website/blog to help, guide and light up the path of whoever wants to explore it.
I myself, am in the same position as you. I realise that the global music industry is huge and that there is room for everybody to have some sort of a go, we just need to find the spaces.
I also realise that having belief in what you’re doing and being open to learning as much as possible about the industry then putting it all into action are the keys to moving forward.
For me, the answer to the question of what seperates the artists that ‘make it’ from the artists that don’t is “you’ve got to be business savvy”
You got to be prepared to wear many hats. For example:
The Agents Hat – Calling up venues for gigs
The Promoters Hat – Putting up posters and handing out flyers
The Publicists Hat – Putting articles or gig details into street press
Being an independent artist is all a matter of balance.
We straddle between two worlds, the ‘artistic’ and the ‘business’ worlds. How far we go in this industry seems to be determined by how well we marry the two worlds together to form a whole.
If you need any help with these matters you can always contact me.
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: indie music, music business, music promotion, music industry, music management, independent music, music marketing, corey stewart
Indie Music Industry – You Got To Believe In Yourself
“Whether you believe you can or you believe you can’t, you’ll be right everytime.”
The only thing that matters at the end of the day is the amount of belief that you have in yourself and the music you create
Let’s face it, without that belief, you don’t have a career.
I have been involved in the music industry for twenty years however, I’ve only really belived in myself over the past five years and in that five years I’ve achieved much more than the fifteen years preceding that.
I don’t remember that moment when I finally climbed up the top of a mountain and put my flag of belief into the summit but I remember the feeling of knowing that it was okay to be doing what I am doing and, most importantly, it was okay to be ME.
I can’t tell you how to believe in yourself, only you can do that but I can tell you that if you are lacking in belief then you are not alone.
We live in a world that is not overly tolerant to artistic endeavours. I mean just the other day I had someone ask me at a party.
Q – “What do you do for a living?”
A – “I am a musician”
Q – “Oh, that’s nice. So what is it that you really do?”
That really threw me back. I was initially insulted but I proudly answered that being a musician was my ‘real job’.
We as musicians are always being told that we:
1. Can never make a living out of a hobby
2. Need something to fall back on
3. Should go and get a real job.
If you do have a day job, fantastic.
I’m not telling you to give it up all I’m saying is that when you have belief in yourself and what you do any decision that you make is made for you only, not to please well meaning friends or family.
Be proud of what you do but don’t be too proud to not take advice from people that have trodden the path that you’re about to take.
Use this website/blog for instance to ask any question that you want. I will only give you encouragement because I have been there myself.
Always remember, no matter how many articles you read, how many courses you take, how many bands you play in or how many gigs you do, you can’t get others to believe in you unless you start believing in yourself.
Starting today, go and look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you deserve to be a musician and that you are not going to feel guilty about it.
After that its time to go forth and ROCK (or country or punk or whatever you do)!!!
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: indie music, music business, music promotion, music industry, music marketing, music management, independent music, corey stewart
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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