31-01-2011, 21:49
NME used to have a seperate "independant" chart in their weekly paper in the early 1980s, some bands that i remember featuring in the chart were Joy Division,Smiths,Coctau Twins,Frankie Goes To Hollywood,Billy Bragg,New Order etc.
it was a chart basically for bands on small record labels, or sub labels of major labels....similar to what Jerome is talking about, thay had room to have creative freedom.
towards the end of the 1980s, the "independant" chart became the "indi" chart and it seemed to me that anyone could if they werent your average 'radio friendly' artist.
then in the 1990s it seemed to revert to the early 1980s idea of "independant" chart again, artists like Paul Weller, Oasis were often in the "indie" chart because they were on small labels independantly run from the big labels(emi,rca,polygram etc)
now it appears to me that a lot of new bands call themselves "indie" to get credibility, regardless of what label they are on.
"indie" is not a "style" of music IMO, its used because some bands could fit into a couple/several genres and because the media doesnt know where to place them, they are called "indie", which has created a new genre of music IMV.
it was a chart basically for bands on small record labels, or sub labels of major labels....similar to what Jerome is talking about, thay had room to have creative freedom.
towards the end of the 1980s, the "independant" chart became the "indi" chart and it seemed to me that anyone could if they werent your average 'radio friendly' artist.
then in the 1990s it seemed to revert to the early 1980s idea of "independant" chart again, artists like Paul Weller, Oasis were often in the "indie" chart because they were on small labels independantly run from the big labels(emi,rca,polygram etc)
now it appears to me that a lot of new bands call themselves "indie" to get credibility, regardless of what label they are on.
"indie" is not a "style" of music IMO, its used because some bands could fit into a couple/several genres and because the media doesnt know where to place them, they are called "indie", which has created a new genre of music IMV.
"BTO....Bachman,Turner,Overweight
They were big in the 70s....for five minutes,on a Saturday,after lunch..." - Me 2014.
They were big in the 70s....for five minutes,on a Saturday,after lunch..." - Me 2014.