The music industry is a cutthroat and competitive place to build a career. Many bands and solo acts go through rigorous auditions to win the favor of a record label, while some try to score a fanbase on their own. However, indie music is on the rise in the 2020s thanks to modern society offering countless options for production and promotion. It’s now easier than ever to be a bedroom musician and have the world know your name. Come along as we explore why indie music is one of the most notable and important genres of 2024.
The Heart Behind the Music
Bypassing Censors
While indie music might be relatively underground, it’s the least deserving category to be left unheard. Many artists choose to stay independent to avoid censorship in their music. If you self-release a track, no one can tell you to revise it. Bands with strong political opinions or religious views often choose this route. Record companies aren’t too fond of controversy in mainstream media.
Being an independent artist also means taking home one hundred percent of your earnings without giving the record label a cut. That means they can charge less for performances as well. Having little extra staff to pay means cheaper tickets and easier access to the music for listeners. There are musical benefits to being an indie artist as well. Complete freedom allows artists to create the songs they envision without boundaries. There’s no time limit for songs to meet radio standards and no specific genre mold to fit into.
Self-Ownership and Distribution
Indie music truly allows the most heartfelt songs to come to life. It enables 10-minute-long symphonies drenched in lyrical poetry. While some indie music stays within the traditional lines, not all experimental tracks would sound normal after hearing “Wonderwall” on your favorite classic rock station. Many listeners are tired of cookie-cutter copies in pop music and indie music gifts them a more meaningful kind of art.
Music is also easier to produce and distribute from home than ever. Production software is often available for a flat rate or even a monthly subscription fee to anyone with a computer. Beyond that, companies like Distrokid and CD Baby will distribute music to streaming services directly, cutting out the work of record companies entirely. Some distribution companies also manufacture physical media like CDs and vinyl records. While not everyone can afford the cost, much of the stigma behind these resources being unattainable has disappeared completely.
Social Media Promotion
In today’s age of technology, musicians are finding new and creative ways to promote their work. Platforms like YouTube have launched new artists into stardom since the mid-2000s, but what about short-form content? Social media giants like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, allow artists to create short videos to promote their content during viewers’ daily scrolling. Some notable indie artists who’ve risen this way are Fulton Lee, Dominique, and Louyah. They’ve each used their unique production style to bring listeners to their Spotify or Apple Music pages.
Fulton Lee is a great example of this new promotion style. He creates street performance videos, offering bystanders some sign with a wacky sentiment, and when they stop to listen, he plays them a song. He also features his young daughter in many of his shorts, asking her to make up beats or giving him words to write about in his songs. He then shows viewers the finished silly songs they wrote together. Meanwhile, Dominique showcases her music production techniques, teaching viewers how to replicate her style. In turn, listeners visit her streaming pages. Through this short-form type of promotion, anyone can become a star in the indie music universe.
In Conclusion
It’s easier today than ever to enter the indie music scene. With access to distribution and production tools at their fingertips alongside easy ways to promote music like TikTok and YouTube, more singers and bands have a shot at making music a real career. We see a diverse range of music from all over the world thanks to this accessible technology, and we think that’s pretty cool. Anyone can be a published artist with the right tools.
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