Sugar_Kane

I'm doing a project for school and it's about indie rock, I would appreciate if some of you could give me an opinion.
well, the question is basically...would you feel "betrayed" if one of your favourite bands moved from an indie label to a major?

Turtle109

To answer your question, I would not feel betrayed if my favorite indie band moved over to a major label. If it's all the same, I'll even tell you why.

First, the fact that they've moved over to a major label proves that they have gotten some level of recognition for their work, because, let's be honest, not everyone gets signed to a major; they are pretty picky for the most part. Not that they don't have recognition in the first place; obviously they must be a good/popular indie group. If anything, I would be glad for them because even if bands are about the music first-which they should be, otherwise get out of the game-music doesn't pay rent, money does. God bless them if they are independently wealthy or something, but I highly doubt it.

Secondly, signing to a major label is not like signing a deal with the Devil for your soul. Really, it isn't. Majors are just businesses trying to stay afloat in today's changing marketplace, and if one of your favorite bands can help them, then why not reap the benefits of their hard work? They put their time, talent and efforts into their music, and the recognition of a major wanting to sign them should be an honor; not that you have to accept, but if the deal seems fair enough, why not take the opportunity to see if you can be bigger and better than you already are? The opportunities for a band signed on a major as far as sheer capital at their disposal for marketing and tours and what not is countlessly bigger than those at an indie (usually), so why not try it out? I mean, if it's really that terrible, when your contract runs out, just sign back to an indie label.

Finally, for all of those people claiming "sell-out", stop it. Just stop. Seriously. I know this isn't a great example, but look at Green Day (I know, I shouldn't do it, but I have to; it's a perfect answer to the question); they have been ridiculed for "selling-out", and finally they responded. They said that they were fathers now, and family men, and that it was time to grow up and provide for their families. If that meant signing to a major and possibly taking a hit in "credibility", then as adults they had to make that decision. Music is about creativity, yes, but the music industry is a creative business, and so that's what it has to be viewed as, a business.

Put yourself in the same situation; say you're a musician, with fairly decent popularity, good credibility and a great group of fans, and one day after a show you're approached by an A&R exec. from a major, and they want to discuss a new contract after the one you currently have expires (soon). Are you going to tell them to go away? I know I wouldn't. If the opportunity is there, why not take it? If you sign, you would hope that your fans are loyal and stick with you. Those that don't are merely enchanted by the "indie" term, and you can forget about them anyway; because if you take advantage of this opportunity, then you might gain thousands more fans.

Bucklberry

To feel betrayed if your favourite independant band is the domain of the Indie kid, the type who doesn't listen to bands who anyone has ever heard of, the type of person who would make a band up to impress someone as to their knowledge of the most obscure bands.

If you're a true fan why on earth would you be annoyed that they'd worked their way up the ladder to earn a better contract, with more money to back them in the studio, on the road and in promotion? I want my favourite bands to get paid, to get the recognition they deserve, and for people out there to see what a good band they are.

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aftertheiceboy

In my opinion, I think that´s something that allways happens. I think all of us that have played in a band, have thought about the idea of living with your music, and why not being famous or just popular. Lot of my favourite bands, are in big labels, and I think in general if them are there, It´s because their quality composing music..there are excepctions jeje

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TheAGBand

Bands worth listening to will always get picked up by a major eventually, thats just the way it works, does Sony BMG, Universal etc own all the little labels anyway.

ToffsCantDance

If you feel 'betrayed' by that then you are hardly a real fan of the band.

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musicguy625

Support Brett Dennen! There is this site I found, summerofmusic.vervelife where you can use My Coke Rewards points to download an exclusive music bundle with Brett Dennen's songs and music videos! There're also some other cool artists to listen to. All you need is 50 points to download the free bundle from My Coke Rewards.

type summerofmusic into google

johnkrux

i hate the be the bearer of bad news and i no most of you all say its not about the money but the ill give you an honest opinion on how it really works coming from someone whose family has been in the industry forever... bands play music because they like to ,yes... but they also know in the back of their minds that it can make them rich. when bands sign these indie deals they try to use them as stepping stone to bigger things. Its kinda of like getting a raise at work... most bands are in it for the money... if there was no money to be made then 80% of the bands wouldnt be out there... but the truth is and this is what i ask all the bands that i look at... is this about the music or is this about business? and the answer i look for is .. .i want to hear a band tell me that they love music and if they can play music and make money and not have sit at a desk from 9 - 5 then they would rather do that...

hope that helps....

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Zombeels

Signing to a major label (Built To Spill, Flaming Lips, Death Cab For Cutie...) will not stop me liking Indie bands. But if the music they turn out starts sounding like other corporate mainstream crap (Snow Patrol)then I will no longer listen to them.

thosedancingdays

I would be really guttered, i love everything being hidden from those mainstream people. Indie music is not for wide appreciation, it is for those who actually appreciate the music, they don't download to be "cool".

Johnny Taronja

"iNDIE" is just a word now. It means nothing no more.
They're all signed to majors or subsidiaries.
When the term started in the 80s there was a whole ethos surrounding the word "indie" with Go! Discs, Rough Trade and kitchenware.
Read "The Last Party" by John Harris on the subject, a book that came out i think in 2003. Good stuff.

alex

I have this favourite indie band of mine called Cohen and The Ghost and there on Cohen own record label, but he wants to pursue a major record label. And i think it would be great for him to try to do so, to get the music out there.

ogle Sam

I totally agree. (Although I think Death Cab is running out of creative juice after I listened to Narrow Stairs. They seem so much more ... I dunno ... digestible now. Hope that makes sense.) And Snow Patrol really went down the tank with their last album I think the one that was released back in '06. And someone earlier wrote something like "someone tries to make up this really obscure band that no one has ever heard of". Funny thing is majority of "new and obscure" bands usually SUCK because they haven't found and gotten comfortable with their own sound, and/or are influenced way too much by one particular band and sound like a broken down clone of them.

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Patty Wagon

As long as they keep on pushing out good albums I dont mind. If they sound like shit then fuck it. Its good money to be watered down. Im up for it.

HaoXiaoXi

4AD was another important label during the 80s. I remember my first 4AD record was a 12-inch of the Cocteau Twins