As established before, indie is the word used to describe independence from major commercial record labels in which the artists uses their own methods to record and publish songs.
Sun Records was one of the first labels to start. It began in post-war period in the US In the UK, it was hard for independent labels to start because of all the power major record labels had. However during the punk rock era, a variety of independent labels began to emerge. The UK Indie Chart first came about in 1980 and independent distribution became better organized from the late 1970s and on.
Because of the rise in internet technology, artists are able to introduce their music to a potentially enormous audience at low cost without signing with a major recording label. Digital music software allows artists to explore endless possibilities in the creation of indie music. Web sites with larger libraries of songs do the best. As a result, independent bands are able to get their names out there a lot faster. Royalties gained from these digital services could become a large chunk of income for artists. If an artist has already paid for the making and promotion of their album, then there is little to no additional cost for independent artists to share music with fans online. These online services facilitate the introduction of indie music to new fans and the possibility of increased sales through online retailers. Artists can also release music more often and quickly if it is made available online. Additionally, artists can release limited edition or live material that would be too expensive to produce through major labels.
