{"id":87197,"date":"2021-08-10T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-10T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=87197"},"modified":"2021-11-03T13:09:04","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T13:09:04","slug":"what-does-indie-record-label-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/what-does-indie-record-label-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"What does “indie record label” mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There’s more room in the music world for successful indie labels than ever before. But what does an independent record label do? <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each year the number of artists going independent continues to grow<\/a>. Indie record labels are giving artists a new way to make music on their own terms, away from the dominance of major record labels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indie labels<\/a> are part of a grassroots, DIY section of the music industry that keeps on building momentum. Through independent labels, artists can discover unique opportunities and join a vibrant DIY community.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s the difference between an indie record label and a major record label?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The major labels are Sony Music<\/a>, Warner Music and Universal Music<\/a>, often referred to as the Big Three<\/a> record labels. These three music companies all dominate the mainstream music market, owning innumerable offshoots of smaller labels and publishing arms. Major record labels <\/a>have huge budgets which they pump into artist promotion, studio time and touring, and they\u2019ll often have big teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any label that isn\u2019t under the umbrella of one of the major record companies is considered an independent label \u2013 no matter how global the indie\u2019s reach. Examples of indie labels include Spirit Goth<\/a>, The Latest Sounds<\/a> and Soave Records<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are indie record labels like?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll typically find less “mainstream” music being put out by an independent record label<\/a>. Often the label will sign artists based around one genre of music. There’ll be niche artists whom major labels aren\u2019t willing to take a risk on, and who don\u2019t fancy being locked into a complicated contract with a big company<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indie record labels<\/a> are often founded by resourceful music artists driving their own success. Artists can start out as an \u201cartist label\u201d \u2013 structuring themselves like a one-person, single-artist record label; releasing music themselves; organising their own tours. They might sign to or form an independent label themselves once they\u2019re established and more successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are the benefits of signing to or running an indie record label?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Independent labels generally work closely with the artist at every stage of the release. Check out our interviews with DIY labels and artists here to discover more about life running, and releasing under, an independent label.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How do independent record labels release music?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like major record labels, there\u2019s a variety of release options for indie labels, from vinyl records<\/a> and CDs to online. The rise of the digital age means that there\u2019s more promotional<\/a> opportunities for independent labels than ever before, and more space in the market for independent artists to rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To release their artists\u2019 music online independent record labels can use a digital music distributor like RouteNote<\/a>. Since 2007, RouteNote has been helping indie labels and independent artists get their music onto streaming services and digital stores such as Spotify<\/a> and Apple Music<\/a>, free of charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Music distribution for indie labels with RouteNote<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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