Aural Pleasures: Putting the Indie in Independent Music
- Brian Thomas
- Apr 11, 2005
- Series: Music
I am a supercilious audiophile. I admit it. When it comes to music, I am an out and out snob. I find comfort in the characters from the movie High Fidelity. While you are careening through the crowds at Target to purchase the latest offering from an ex-American Idol loser, I am busy downloading rare b-sides from the band East River Pipe. What? Never heard of East River Pipe? How bout' Say Hi to Your Mom? No! Ambulance LTD? NO!!! This is my problem with you. This is my problem with society. I realize you do not care, and that I sound like a pretentious geek – which I am. But at least I am a geek with a good music pedigree.
For years I have lamented the state of music in our fine country. We live in an age where the song “Macarena” spent 14 weeks at number one; where boy bands keep returning like a bad case of herpes; where nonsensical mind-numbing lyrics like “ makes me want to La La ” can be heard 100 times a day pouring forth from the Satan controlled medium known as modern radio. I don't even know what “ makes me want to La La ” means, but I do know that it “ makes me want to up-chuck ”. Do you hear me Ashley Simpson? Turn off the backing track and stop hurting my ears.
But there is hope, my friends. I have found a glimmer of goodness at the end of the symphonic rainbow for those of you who share my disdain for popular music. So turn off your radios and fire up your computers.
Through Al Gore's superhighway invention, independent music (read: good music) is getting its chance to flourish. Most independent record labels and bands do not have the advertising capital to garner the attention of the masses, but over the past few years they have found alternative ways of becoming successful…or at least ways of staying in business so they don't have to get real jobs, which is a type of success.
Streaming Radio
There are a host of radio stations that have taken to the internet. What once could only be heard on late-night college radio is now streaming worldwide. Stations like WOXY 97X ( www.woxy.com ) out of Chicago and Seattle's own KEXP 90.3 ( www.kexp.org ) are keeping hope alive by airing an eclectic blend of independent music. The program directors and DJs of these stations are not the hand puppets of Clear Channel executives, so they are given creative freedom to spin good music. They are not blitzkrieg'd into playing crap because the station is receiving financial kickbacks from the record labels.
YAHOO! Launchcast
Another cool source of music is Yahoo's Launchcast radio (www.music.yahoo.com). Although you can subscribe for a small monthly sum to get premium service, I have found the free service suits my needs. Launchast has a myriad of genre's to match your mood or liking – even for you people who celebrate Michael Bolton's entire catalog. And if you use the Yahoo rating system you can create your own personal radio station that plays exactly what you like. What's cooler than getting to create your own soundtrack? Over time it will add new music to your playlist, which may sound a little 1984ish to you, but you can always tell it to “never play again” (a nice feature in case Celine Dion or Josh Grobin rears their demon-possessed heads).
Apple's itunes
As record companies bemoaned slipping sales figures due to illegal downloading over the past few years, several companies have found a way to make everyone happy. Apple's itunes ( www.itunes.com ) is my favorite among the legal music downloading sites. You won't find every band and record on this site, but most new mainstream and independent bands are offered. The best part is that you don't have to buy an entire album. You can listen to a 30 second preview and download just the songs you like for 99 cents with a nice discounted price for those that purchase the album in its entirety.
What about independent bands that are sans label and need a vehicle to sell and promote their garage inspired tunes? CD baby ( www.cdbaby.com ) is the record store for indie musicians and listeners who desire to find the “next-big-thang” before they are the “next-big-thang”. CD Baby offers band bios, mp3 previews, and sells independent albums at affordable prices. Of course, CD Baby sells my own bands record, so I am biased (insert shameless plug here: www.cdbaby.com/bezalel ).
My Space
In the world of online personal networking sites, My Space ( www.myspace.com ) is head and shoulders above the rest. Anyone can sign up, paste some pictures, start a blog, upload mp3s and make “friends” – including bands. This is a great means of networking for musicians and fans of good music. Even major label bands are starting to take notice and get themselves a my space…uh…space.
Noncommercially Commercial
The greatest way for a young independent band to make some Jerry Maguire “Qwon” is through television commercials. Companies are starting to get savvy and utilize great music from relatively unknown bands to advertise their wares. It's a win-win situation; the company gets good music at a premium rate because the band is unknown, and the band gets a solid stream of income, plus an awesome avenue of getting their music heard. Companies like Apple, Saturn, Volvo and Volkswagen have made little artists like Moby, Jet, Ivy, and the Shins huge profits and helped build a solid fan base.
God is Good
Independent music is like a weed (not Weed, you stoners). It continues to thrive amidst countless adversities – proof that God is indeed victoriously ruling on high. Now that you've finished this poor excuse for an article, log-on to www.woxy.com , listen, enjoy and spread the good news that is…indie music.
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