“Making It:” Independent Musicians
You may have heard the term “indie” used to describe music, film or even fashion. Indie is short for independent, and it means that the artists responsible for a piece are working independently of any major commercial label. Because there are no executives holding them accountable for their work, independent artists are free to create whatever they want.
Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová as the Guy and the Girl rehearsing in the Guy’s bedroom in Once.
Because of this freedom, indie art is often more experimental and personal.
alternative, low-‐budget, exploratory types of music. However, commercial labels provide promotion, distribution and money; without outside help, independent artists may struggle to come up with these resources. Since the advent of the internet, many independent musicians have begun promoting and distributing their work cheaply or for free using websites like YouTube, MySpace and Reverbnation. Bands like Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire and The Shins all began as independent artists, and many of them remain on independent record labels, which do their own production and distribution and are not part of a commercial label.
In the story of ONCE, the Guy is an independent musician. If he wants to be a successful recording artist, he will have to either find a label that will promote and distribute his work, or promote and distribute his work himself. This is easier said than done! Just recording a CD can be very expensive: recording engineers, session musicians, rehearsal space, rental instruments, studio time, blank CDs, CD cases and recording software all cost a lot of money. Then he will have to decide how to distribute his music—will he give it away for free and hope that people like it and share it? Will he charge money for it and hope that people will buy a CD at a show? Where will he play a show? Will he send it to a record label and hope that the executives will want to sign him? All of these questions, and many more, are probably whirling around the Guy’s head as he prepares to make his trip to New York.
Do you think the Guy will “make it?” What will happen to him if he doesn’t? Can you think of any more examples of indie music or film? In your opinion, how is indie art different from more commercial art?
If you were a musician and a major commercial label offered to sign you, what would you do? Would you give up some artistic freedom in exchange for more financial resources and connections, or would you keep working independently?
14 In fact, “indie” has become synonymous with
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