Danger of "Independent"

A Quick scan today of Billboard's Indpendent charts has us somewhat stunned.

In the Top five there are some notable albums and artists holding their positions. We love Flight of the Conchords but it is more of a comedy act troupe with a soundtrack and there they are at number #2 this week. What is interesting is the label given for their album is as follows "HBO and distro Sub-Pop." Ok, I'll give you Sub-Pop, but HBO as an independent label? Hardly.

You will find a charming little band called Atmosphere. They are a positive conscious hip-hop crew from Minneapolis. They started their own label with a group of like-minded crews on the scene and called it Rhymesayers Entertainment. Their beautifully titled album shows you their sense of style: "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold." They sit sturdily at #3 after only 3 weeks on the chart

So, we got #2 and #3 all locked in.

Get ready Indie kids! We will unveil Number 1, 4 and 5 below. Who will it be...? What killer indie band with skinny jeans and dirty hair will take it? What killer live outfit that has a smelly van and has been out on the road tirelessly selling the albums for gas cash will it be:! Drumroll...........


In Reverse order:
#5 Radiohead
#4 The Eagles
#1 Garth Brooks

Are you fucking kidding me? These are the residents of the top 5 in INDEPENDENT ALBUMS.

Yes the record companies are independent. Pearl (G.Brooks) and TBD (Radiohead) And ERC (Eagles) - I refuse to rip on ATO : it truly is an independent major founded by Dave Matthews and Michael McDonald and launched the likes of David Gray.

But look at Garth and Eagles... NO Distro company listed. Ahh but wait, remember the Wal-Mart deals they both signed? There's your "Independent" Distribution. Edited albums, packaging at a .10 from china and 100k first order not paid for 60 days. Sure, that's really independent!

The point here is not to rip on these artists, but to tell you all how pointless it is to play the old model game. I have a song for Garth Brooks called "Free" that I think he could make an "Independent" Hit. I applaud them all for stepping out of their deals, but it is hardly independent when you have a 20 year career and a mailing list the size of the Ellis Island directory. Heck, Garth got a made up award (Crystal Milestone Award) at the Country awards in Vegas this week, just so he could play a few live for millions watching. Any other indie bands get that attention? No? Musiclink doesn't quite cut it eh?

This is not your game to play. Even the new "independents" play with the same money as majors do. You don't have that kind of money and yes, that is what it takes.
There needs to be some sort of other chart. Maybe a Top 20 Vanity Label chart. OR conversely, maybe there needs to be a "Broke-Ass- Barely-Makin-It Band" chart.


So, forget the charts and make sure you are gaining on that 5,000- 10,000 fan mark. Making them feel invested in your project. Heck you might even reach #20 on the independent charts. No, Wait, Dolly Parton has that -sorry!