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Independent record label

An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented by trade associations in their country or region, which in turn are represented by the international trade body, the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN).

"Boutique label" redirects here. For specialty labels in home video, see Boutique Blu-ray label.

Many of the labels started as producers and distributors of specific genres of music, such as jazz music, or represent something new and non-mainstream, such as Elvis Presley in the early days. Indies release rock, soul, R&B, jazz, blues, gospel, reggae, hip hop, and world music. Music appearing on indie labels is often referred to as indie music, or more specifically by genre, such as indie hip-hop.

Overview[edit]

Independent record labels are small companies that produce and distribute records.[1] They are not affiliated with or funded by the three major records labels. According to SoundScan and the Recording Industry Association of America, indie labels produce and distribute about 66% of music titles, but only account for 20% of sales.


Many musical artists begin their careers on independent labels, hoping to further grow their career into signing with a record label.[2]


The distinction between major and independent labels is not always clear. The traditional definition of a major label is a label that owns its distribution channel. Some independent labels, particularly those with successful artists, sign dual-release, or distribution only agreements with major labels. They may also rely on international licensing deals and other arrangements with major labels. Major labels sometimes fully or partially acquire independent labels.


Other nominally independent labels are started and sometimes run by artists on major labels but are still fully or partially owned by the major label. These labels are frequently referred to as vanity labels or boutique labels, and are intended to appease established artists or allow them to discover and promote newer artists.


According to the Association of Independent Music, "A 'major' is defined in AIM's constitution as a multinational company which (together with the companies in its group) has more than 5% of the world market(s) for the sale of records or music videos. The majors[3][4] are currently Sony, Warner Music (WMG) and the Universal Music Group (UMG), with EMI and BMG (RCA/Ariola International) being the other two majors that made up the 'Big 5' of the 1980s and 1990s. If a major owns 50% or more of the total shares in a company, that company would (usually) be owned or controlled by that major."

(US, 1942– );

Savoy Records

(US, 1943– ); New York

Apollo Records

(US, 1950– ); was the first label to record Elvis Presley and other big names in early rock 'n roll.

Sun Records

(US, 1959– ); founded by Allied Artists Pictures in 1959 as a motion picture soundtrack label; formally organized in 1971 as Allied Artists Records enlarging genres to include pop, rock and heavy metal; rebranded to consolidate anchor labels and numerous imprints in 2000, becoming Allied Artists Music Group, an Independent label with its own worldwide distribution network through Allied Artists Music & Video Distribution.[141]

Allied Artists Music Group

(US, 1960– ); founded by Chris Strachwitz, this blues and zydeco label is now owned by Smithsonian Folkways.[142][143]

Arhoolie Records

(Northern Ireland/UK, 1966–2011); set up by Radio Caroline's Phil Solomon[144][145][146] and not to be confused with the major-minor record labels of the 1980s (Virgin, Island, Chrysalis and Jive). Major Minor Records was known for picking up the rights to "Je t'aime... moi non plus" by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg, getting the song to number one after it had been deleted by Fontana.[147] After being dormant for a number of years, the label was used by major label EMI Records in the early 2010s, for a number of Morrissey re-issues.[148]

Major Minor Records

(US, 1976–1989); set up by Spencer Proffer and distributed by CBS Records, best known as the label that released Quiet Riot's blockbuster albums Metal Health, Condition Critical, and QR III; absorbed into and subsequently shut down by Sony Music Entertainment in 1989.

Pasha Records

(UK, 1968– ); set up and run by Lee Gopthal; from 2001 under Sanctuary Records (now part of BMG Rights Management)

Trojan Records

(UK, 1969–1986); the Famous Charisma Label was set up by band manager Tony Stratton-Smith, with Lee Gopthal's B&C Records distributing the label (and some Charisma acts being released on B&C Records's PEG/Pegasus label in 1971)[149][150]

Charisma Records

Australian Independent Record Labels Association

Independent music

List of Billboard 200 number-one independent albums

List of record labels

Open-source record label

Terms related to "indie" at

Indie (disambiguation)#Music

Record label

Archived 27 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine (2018 market report)

WINTEL

Archived 2 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine (IMPALA)

Features of independents

Sforzi, Fabio; Amin, Ash (2018). The Institutions of Local Development. Routledge. p. 22. ISBN 978-13-517-598-16.