| CMU Directory: What is an indie label? |
|
What makes an indie 'independent'
In theory independent record companies are those not owned by a 'major entertainment group'; a major entertainment group being a conglomerate with interests in a number of different kinds of entertainment companies like film studios, TV networks, book and magazine publishers, video game makers and consumer electronic firms.
However, that definition isn't a great one, because Warner Music, generally considered a major record company, isn't owned by such a conglomerate. And in recent years a number of independent labels have been. So, all in all, it's not a great definition.
Basically any record company in which Bertelsman, Terra Firma, Sony, Vivendi and/or Warner Music has at least a 50% stake in is considered to be a major record company. The rest are 'independent'.
Independent record companies range from bedroom operations to multi-national enterprises. Some will exist to promote one band, others have rosters to rival the majors. Generally independent labels will be more brave and innovative artistically, and they often rely on one or two very successful bands to bankroll a roster of niche and newer acts.
--------------------------------------------------
Indie labels and indie music
Indie labels do not just release indie music - as in the genre of pop rock music that many in the UK refer to as 'indie'.
When a label is called 'indie' it refers to its corporate status rather than the kind of music it releases. Many indie labels release dance and urban music. Some even release mainstream pop music - when Kylie Minogue first started recording for PWL and when Britney Spears first started recording for Jive Records they were both indie labels.
Meanwhile many of the biggest artists releasing so called indie music - from Blur to Ash to Kasabian to Babyshambles to Dirty Pretty Things - are all currently signed to major record companies.
--------------------------------------------------
Record companies and record labels
You will find people use the terms 'record company' and 'record label' to mean the same thing, though you could argue there is a difference. The major record companies consist of a number of divisions, and each artist signed to a company will be assigned to a specific division. You could say the overall company is the 'record company' and each division is a 'record label'. So SonyBMG is a record company, and its divisions, Columbia, RCA, Epic etc are labels.
However, most people don't really make a distinction between the two terms, and it is probably an even less relevant distinction in the independent sector where many companies don't bother with divisions - though some do - eg the Beggars Group is made up of a number of divisions, eg 4AD, XL etc.
--------------------------------------------------
Indie / Major relationships
Many independents increasingly have relationships with major record companies.
It can be hard to figure out what this relationship is. Some indies are part owned by a major (maybe to such an extent that they are technically a major label). Some indies collaborate with majors on certain artists, normally to secure bigger marketing budgets (the artist is signed to the indie, but the major invests money in them, maybe for a cut of the profits, maybe for an option to sign their next album). And some indies simply use a major label's distribution department to distribute their releases, especially outside their home territory.
Some artists will be signed to different independents in different territories, or to an indie in one territory but a major in other territories. This is often because smaller independents don't have the facilities to work with an artist on a global level.
--------------------------------------------------
An evolving sector
Independent labels come and go quite frequently - some run out of cash and close down, others get taken over by a major label and cease to be independent. Significant acquisitions of independents by majors in recent years include Zomba (bought by BMG), Mute (bought by EMI), Mushroom and Roadrunner (bought by Warner) and V2 UK and Sanctuary (bought by Universal).
--------------------------------------------------
Directory
There are hundreds (possibly thousands) of independent labels around the world. We give more information about the bigger indies operating in the UK here and list many more in our label directory here.
--------------------------------------------------
Media contacts
If you are a media person looking for information about an indie label artist the starting point is finding out which record label they are signed to and then calling or emailing the PR or promotions department at that label. Press contacts are given in our directory here (the indie labels are on a blue background).
Some indie labels (normally the bigger ones) will, like the majors, have different people to to deal with newspapers and magazines (PR) and radio and TV (promotions or plugging). They also often hire the services of PR and promotions agencies to handle the media on certain (sometimes all) releases. More details about all this nonsense is given in our guide to PR and promotions agencies here.
