How I Define Indie Music
In a time when being a successful independent artist can be achieved in so many ways through so many different outlets, if you`re an aspiring music artist like myself you eventually will come to terms that really there is more than one answer to this question. This is because to make things simple there is no right or wrong way only creating a winning way and that is all that counts in this business. The music industry is all about whom you know, numbers, and money. How you as an artist find the people you need to know, create a large following in numbers that are reactive, and continue making that money is all up to each and every person at their own discretion whether it through a T.V. Show, Radio, Publicity Stunt, or through social media.
Macklemore
Take Macklemore for example, anyone who is everyone on the planet has fell into the $20 in my pocket song craze, but what is even more of a craze is how the once unsigned Macklemore and his fellow band mate Ryan Lewis have conquered all obstacles to get to where they are today as Grammy Award Winning Singer/Rappers. More so though is the question of if they ever were truly unsigned and independent? So being not only a former TV personality singing contestant but an independent music artist myself I will now be able to dig into this dilemma with all of you whom are my blog readers. The first thing is breaking what it is most of the general public often perceives an unsigned music artist to be and what factors there are that tend to make the underlying message of unsigned music artist change from time to time. An independent music artist often has a lack of resources, funds, technology, and equipment, as well as contacts.
$20 (in my pocket)
For all those that do not know it was the duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis that climbed all the way to the top of the charts that they made it as independent music artists which simply isn`t all there is to the story. The thrift shop singers that became a radio hit were being promoted and backed with major distribution through a major record label the whole time, whether officially signed or not which is why the music act came under such high scrutiny from major media outlets like Rap Radar and NPR. The fact is these music guys Macklemore and Ryan Lewis had a deal through Alternative Alliance Distribution, owned by Major Label Warner Music Group. What Macklemore and Ryan Lewis did was approach the music game smartly by using corporate tools such as twitter and YouTube as an indie artist along with touring while getting ready to put an album out which helped the acts break through terrestrial radio to top the charts. The thing that drives the whole force though is that all the services Macklemore and Ryan Lewis used happened to be associated with the major label in some way, shape, or form so the lesson behind this whole strategy much of the music industry and public in general have now been taught, seems to be is the likelihood of an unsigned and independent music act truly succeeding on their own without the use of a major in some capacity is slim to none.
Taking the big guy tools without being tied to the big guy for a long period of time while being able to make just as much as the big guys, keeping a bigger portion only using their tools is one way to go. One question will always linger on for guys like me and you surely after reading this blog, which is exactly just how much, did Macklemore and Ryan Lewis pay to receive the major promotion they received from distribution through Warner Music because obviously nothing in life is free. Better yet though how much of these guys own money was used to create this deal with Alternative Alliance Distribution. Might never know, cause almost everything involving money stays on the down low these days but sure doesn`t hurt to imagine. Oh if I had that type of financial backing!
To sample the music that I have been producing (genuinely) independently, just enter your email address into the form on the right of this page, and 2 of my songs will be sent to you straight away!
