Image credit: Gilly

In recent years there has been an explosion of DIY labels and one of the reasons for this may be thanks to the internet and e-commerce.

In the last decade, there has been an explosion of DIY labels across the country and world, each one flying the flag of their DIY community. It’s proof that although the grassroots of the music industry can be a struggle, there is a vibrant, supportive, and passionate group of people who are constantly striving to get new and independent artists heard. 

After talking to a variety of DIY label heads it became abundantly clear that the internet had made it easier for them to not only exists but thrive. Being able to connect to audiences across the globe and sell them digital and recorded products via e-commerce has made it more viable for these labels to operate. Not to mention being able to digitally distribute with ease with services such as our own. 

Angus of Double A-Side records explains: “The internet has made everything more accessible. The information on offer and ways to interacts with fans and your favourite bands are easier than ever now, it was only a matter of time. There are so many small niches of people finding what they love to do for the sake of doing it and they can connect with like-minded people within a few seconds via a device they can hold in their hands.” 

This is mirrored by Callum of Copper Feast Records who says: “Without a doubt having the world at our fingertips in the way that it is has made it possible for Copper Feast to exist. Without that resource in terms of reach to bands, customers, scenes, record shops, and other key people in the industry, I’ve no idea where I’d have even begun with starting a label, never mind making it beyond the first release.” 

Joe Booley of Beth Shalom Records also shared this sentiment, who said: Oh definitely. We certainly wouldn’t have worked with some of the bands that we have in the past or even be able to have the customers we have which are stretched across the globe. So having the internet definitely makes it easier to operate the label and I’d struggle to know how to run it without it I think.” 

It’s easy to forget the positivity and good the internet has done for the world, especially in the creative industries. It’s often looked at as something that has destroyed the reality of creativity, or perhaps made it saturated. Even if this is the case it cannot be denied that today, right now it is helping grassroots music and its respective scenes continue to grow and reach audiences that 20 years ago was not even possible. It’s an incredibly exciting time to be an independent artist, with a wide variety of tools to help you grow and create, not to mention a larger choice of labels to sign with. All of which are run by people like you, who are wanting to keep it real and create under their own terms.