emilio

used to be that "indie" meant unsigned artists, or artists signed to small independent labels without access to a big-time PR apparatus. you could have indie hip-hop, indie metal, indie country, if you could find it. now years later, "indie" means "indie rock" and evokes floppy haired kids banging on guitars and staring at their Chucks - what happened? it's "alternative" all over again, with an even deeper pigeonholing.

even worse, bands make it big and retain their indie label: indie rock bands playing corporate tours, making expensive videos, and getting prime distribution. you can't blame the labels and distributors entirely, as fans hungering to "break out of the mainstream" will enjoy easy radio, television, and Wal-Mart access to their "indie" music, and continue to label it as so. a lot of niche scenes and cultures have been raided by the "mainstream machine", but this time around it seems like the fans are much more complicit in getting their anti-establishment fix from the majors.

you can't be indie if...

- you're signed to Sony.
- you've upgraded from a band van to a tour bus.
- you appear live on Total Request Live, or anything involving Mountain Dew.
- you're on a compilation sold at the Gap, Old Navy, or Banana Republic.

...?

- emilio