What defines Indie nowadays?
February 72010
And I have to cite one example that’s always bothered me. Why is Radiohead considered an Indie band? For roughly 13 years they were signed to Capitol/Parlophone…both of which are owned by EMI. What about them is "Indie"?
I’m a fan, I enjoy their music, but there’s tons of users here who are into then more than I am. With all that being said, why is it that so many people here consider them an Indie band? What was it that made you think they were Indie? I think it’s time we iron out for everyone what Indie or….Independent (from a major label) really means.
MQ: Favorite INDIE band??
I have no problem with saying….
"I like Indie music"
It’s a bit vague, but at least I get the point.
I do have a problem with taking major label acts and calling them Indie. It’s just ridiculous. And as a fan of a particular group, how do you not know what label they’re on?
Marc, yes only recently have they become "indie" and quite frankly, one independent release after a career of major label releases hardly qualifies you as an Indie band.
i’ve never heard of Radiohead as an indie band… and I’ve always heard of bands on independant labels labeled as an indie band… i.e. Arcade Fire, indie… Ash, indie… Belle & Sebastian, indie.. R.E.M. – until they signed with Warner were indie [Murmur, Reckoning, Fables & Document]… The White Stripes, indie…
Also, lots of well known bands start out "indie" until they get offered a contract by a big record label.. such as R.E.M. or Green Day or even Nirvana.
Unfortunately, the term indie, is now used to refer to non-mainstream artists such as Radiohead… However before they released Kid A… no one called them indie.
Only recently is Radiohead correctly "indie". In Rainbows is their only indie album… they are no longer with with EMI. The album was released through tbd records… which is actually independant.
February 7th, 2010 at 7:14 am
people just think that music like postal service is indie, but i mean even rap or country music or metal can be indie..all it is is ignorance.
i mean i use the term as well because if i do say i like indie, then people know what type of music im talking about..even if its not even indie..but anywho i dont have a fav indie band, i mean there are soooo many good ones. i dont even have a fav band, that question is so hard! lol
[i used postal service as an example..but im not even sure if they really are indie or not haha woops]
as for not knowing, im not one of those people that researches the band and knows everything about them..i just listen to the music, and know the songs and thats that.
References :
February 7th, 2010 at 7:21 am
i’ve never heard of Radiohead as an indie band… and I’ve always heard of bands on independant labels labeled as an indie band… i.e. Arcade Fire, indie… Ash, indie… Belle & Sebastian, indie.. R.E.M. – until they signed with Warner were indie [Murmur, Reckoning, Fables & Document]… The White Stripes, indie…
Also, lots of well known bands start out "indie" until they get offered a contract by a big record label.. such as R.E.M. or Green Day or even Nirvana.
Unfortunately, the term indie, is now used to refer to non-mainstream artists such as Radiohead… However before they released Kid A… no one called them indie.
Only recently is Radiohead correctly "indie". In Rainbows is their only indie album… they are no longer with with EMI. The album was released through tbd records… which is actually independant.
References :
February 7th, 2010 at 8:03 am
To me, it’s the same as a band calling themselves "alternative". Waaaay too vague. Truthfully, indie doesn’t have a definition to me anymore. It used to be someone signed to an independent label, but that doesn’t work anymore, does it?
MQ: Iron & Wine
References :
February 7th, 2010 at 8:42 am
um Indie music is just Independent music. Its just when a band is not owned by a record company. It has nothing to do with the way it sounds. People need to understand that.
References :