Short for independent music, indie music is an ever-changing and eclectic genre that encompasses a wide variety of styles characterized by a do-it-yourself ethos, alternative flair, and rebellious spirit.
The main philosophy behind indie music is its focus on creative and artistic freedom and its independence from major and established record labels in the music industry. At its core, the idea behind the term “indie” has a fascinating history that dates back even further than the 1970s!
“Indie” was used to describe independent film companies at first. When a new wave of British musicians banded together to challenge the mainstream music scene later in the 70s, little to no people knew that they were igniting a revolution that would change the face of music forever. These groundbreaking guitar bands released their music on vinyl and were often signed to small, independent labels.
So, if you were an indie artist who wanted to make a name of their own by learning how to promote your music back in the day, you would look other ways rather than working with major music records companies such as EMI Records, Warner Music Group (formerly known as Warner Communications), Sony Music Entertainment (then known as CBS Record Group), and Universal Music Group (formerly known as MCA Records).