In Between the Tracks

It takes "talent, desire, and belief" to make it in the music industry, as Frascogna and Hetherington so eloquently state in their must read book: "The Business of Artist Management." They further expound on having an "IT." They say it's the "IT" that sells records. But not everyone can acquire this "IT."

Throughout the years, the music industry has created its own kind of evolution from the likes of Elvis Presley and James Brown in the sixties, 70's, 80's and 90's are mostly Disco, pop, then of course the ever "famous" boy band era of the Backstreet Boys, New Kids On the Block, Color Me Badd, LFO, 98 Degrees and NSYNC. Today there is a power struggle between the HIP HOP of the West Coast and East Coast, R & B, etc. etc.

Somewhat in the midst of this explosion of sound, notes and lyrics are the artists who are just into this because they truly love to make music. They call themselves "indie artists." These artists are not usually looking for fame or fortune; they are simply expressing themselves in ways they have the most influence.

According to Wikiepedia, the word "Indie" is a term used to describe genre, scenes, subcultures, styles and other elements in music. The advent of the independent music movement is commonly characterized by their grass roots, back door, quasi-underground, do-it-yourself, autonomous, and yes their "independent" approach to the recording and publishing of music industry - a far cry from the way major commercial record label companies operate.

For the major labels, the "freedom of expression" is unlikely, unappealing, and most of the time it's done their way or no way at all. So an indie artist becomes "independent" in every sense of the word - no label...no record deal...just music which is unheard and/or talent that is unknown.