Indie v Major Label Research

Whats the difference between a major label and a independent label?

Independent (or Indie )labels have less capital to work with than major record labels - usually affecting production quality of albums and the distribution of. Independent labels are usually a stepping stone for an artist before going with a more mainstream label and making the big bucks, especially if it is a more underground type of music.


Majors often own the music by the artist

when an artist signs with a major label,
 particularly at the beginning of their musical career.
This includes the right to use that music, including licensing the songs to video games, commercials. bigger acts who have been in the industry for awhile, can either buy their own licenses from the label can get this stipulation removed if the label finds them  valuable.
It’s just a common misconception among fans that believe that the artist has full control on where their music  ends up.

Indies are often partly owned by major labels

A common idea is that an indie label acts completely on their own.
 often the case, especially in larger independent labels, is that they are partly owned by a major label.
An indie may rely on funding from a major for things such as international licensing deals or making distribution agreements.
  Many indies are created from majors wanting to branch out their brand and accompany different types of musical artists in their repertoire. 

Many labels are completely independently owned, but many are seeking oversight from majors who have a stake in their well-being.

Labels sign hundreds of artists

A common misconception amongst fans is that labels are very selective. Sure, they are selective. there are millions of bands in the world and they sign hundreds. The idea here is more prominent in major labels who may sign 600 acts in a year. out of this 600, who actually gets an album finished and on store shelves? 400?

Labels leak their own music

In a world where leaks are commonplace, digital sales often exceed physical album sales, and the single is the big ticket to profit, we have labels using unconventional methods to get attention. A common misconception here is that labels are often upset when a big album leaks. A leak means that the album is available online before it is available in stores, often jokingly referred to it as “falling off the delivery truck.” Labels may leak a popular record to build a buzz around the release. There was a lot of stirring in the music world when EMINEMs long awaited LPRecovery leaked to the internet weeks in advance of its street release. The label responded with dissatisfaction, but in reality, the street date was pushed forward due to the leak and the internet was buzzing about how fantastic the album was and how it was a return to Eminem‘s roots as a rapper in his 2000-2003 prime.

This type of buzz was exactly what the label wanted, and likely helped push Recovery to be one of the best selling albums of 2010 and relaunch Eminem’s career.

Bands have been releasing songs outside labels for years

One of the biggest misconceptions is in the act of releasing music for free across the web. This is now a much more common act, and is in itself a new way of marketing without the control of either a major or indie label.

When RADIOHEAD released their groundbreaking record In Rainbows in 2007 for a pay-any-price download through the internet, they did it with no label. Not only did they make all the profit (without a label’s cut) they also had full control of WHEN it was released and the body of the music being from entirely their own creation, and no label oversight. 

 

It will take a long time for major record labels to die

Many believe that the major label is on its death bed.
Fortunately for them, they will likely have a place for many years to come.
 Many bands still find the major label the place to be, the place where success is realized.
And there will always be a need for buying physical albums, as collector’s will strive to fill their shelves with the latest releases in whatever format seems to be gracing the mainstream.
 Major labels may die soon, but the idea of the record label has a long life. Indie labels are still extremely important in building a band, and using their business connections to promote in ways that a solo act or band simply couldn’t reach without some luck on their end.

Major labels have a wavering but reasonably long life ahead of them. it is in independent labels where the money is- where their image in the public of being creatively openly and signing more unique and experimental acts gives them an edge in the public eye.
 People are getting sick of cookie cutter safe acts signed by labels, and a large amount of their undoing is directed at their inability to consistently sign and market acts which break the mold instead of adding to it.