When Is Indie Not Indie

How indie can an artist or band stay when a major label comes along with its chequebook? Does it spell the end of independence, or can both minor and major labels work?

Every Journey Has A Beginning

Forgive me for the Star Wars reference, especially since it comes from the inferior prequels (but then again, I'm biased - I grew up with the originals on first cinematic release, and yes, that does mean I'm old!!). But it's a more than apt reference for where indie music initially finds itself and then, just like Anakin and the Emperor( with indie music being the young Anakin and major labels taking the place of the Emperor), along comes power and wealth and influence, and you lose sight of what you believed in to start with.

Okay, maybe that's a little too over-dramatic, but with fans of bands complaining of sell-outs and wishing for "the good old days" of fleapit gigs and EP's being the ultimate end journey for a performer, it does beg the question as to what constitutes indie, and how long that can survive on a major label.

Don't Label Everyone The Same

I'll be the first to admit, I've seen some of my favourite bands struggle for years on a smaller label, and I've wondered why they haven't had the success of so-called bigger acts. Bands like Your Vegas, Dashboard Confessional and Vib Gyor spring to mind (although Vib Gyor are still unsigned, but hopefully that will be changing soon with solid plans currently being formulated). Yet I've then watched the likes of Dashboard seemingly sell out, lose their identity and even antagonise their fans with multiple releases of the same or similar tracks.

With the news that one of my favourite UK-based bands, Your Vegas, has been signed to Universal and are in the process of recording their debut, I'm in two minds as to whether I see this as a good thing or not. On the one hand, it's great that they're being recognised as a band who offer something different to the likes of Keane and Snow Patrol, but at the same time, I fear they'll lose the intimacy of their songs to over-production, and in the process lose a part of them that made them so appealing to me in the first place. Time will tell...

Major Doesn't Mean Sell Out

Although it's undoubtedly tough to survive as an indie artist, especially in the MySpace age where so many other bands and artists are competing, it can still be done, as the likes of Foreverinmotion has proven so conclusively with its latest release. The same with Melee who, despite being on Warner Bros, are steadfastly continuing to plough the indie route and doing all the small tours and homemade videos.

And perhaps this is an indication of the future of indie. Major labels are realising that they no longer have control of the marketplace, yet still want a piece of it, and are creating offshoots within their ranks to be able to sign and promote indie bands without upsetting the fans in the process. Sony BMG are promtoing Cary Brothers' new CD, Who You Are (a review of which is coming soon), yet the American singer-singwriter holds a huge control over it via his own label Procrastination, as well as joining up with BluHammock Records. As seen by the pre-orders and his current successful tour, he doesn't need the full backing of Sony, but they're still a powerful friend to have.

So maybe I can sleep easy, as can every other indie fan who worry about whether they can still like their favourite artist if they sign to a major, or have the backing of one. As The 88 prove, you can be a huge success on an indie label, and as Melee prove equally as well, being on a major needn't spell the end of indie idealisms either. And hey... didn't Anakin (as Darth Vader) finally redeem himself by defeating the Emperor and bringing good and evil together for the better good? It may just work... :)