What are the 4 major indie labels?

two guns holla · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:19 am

I know there aren't 4 per se, but which ones could be considered the big 4?

Merge
Matador
Sub Pop
??

Timis · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:20 am

not sure where they fit in

vagrant
epitaph

Timis · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:21 am

Quote:

A number of independent labels have joined together in a move which could have far reaching consequences for the music industry. Labels including heavyweights like Epitaph, Beggars Group have formed Merlin, a collective licensing agency which would allow independents to establish the same kind of market power and negotiating ability currently enjoyed by just four major labels.

The organization will represent the labels in negotations with major digital retailers like iTunes, and the result has been likened to a "fifth major." Merlin will allow online stores and other digital platforms to access its members' music in one deal, rather than the thousands of separate contracts they would otherwise have to negotiate. Labels will also be able to continue selling independently through their existing distribution networks.

The move is also remarkable because it stands to allow the indies to break the major's stranglehold over distribution channels. The stranglehold has been the subject of frequent antitrust concerns, and has allowed the majors to account for 70% of the entire music industry, despite releasing only 20% of albums.

two guns holla · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:22 am

Oh cool...I hadn't heard of that. It was just a thread I thought of based on the 4 major labels one.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:25 am

tommy two bums Wrote:

Merge
Matador
Sub Pop

I would completely agree with those.
Maybe also:
Righteous Babe
?

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

PopTodd Wrote:

tommy two bums Wrote:

Merge
Matador
Sub Pop

I would completely agree with those.
Maybe also:
Righteous Babe
?

if it's in terms of catalog size, artist roster size, or units sold, righteous babe wouldn't be in the same league, i don't think.

i thought I read somewhere that victory records was the largest independent.

Jim Clark · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:37 am

I'd think that Saddle Creek would fall somewhere near the top 4.

jc

Rick Derris · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:43 am

Prince of Darkness Wrote:

PopTodd Wrote:

tommy two bums Wrote:

Merge
Matador
Sub Pop

I would completely agree with those.
Maybe also:
Righteous Babe
?

if it's in terms of catalog size, artist roster size, or units sold, righteous babe wouldn't be in the same league, i don't think.

i thought I read somewhere that victory records was the largest independent.

Yeah Righteous Babe isn't up there. The two biggest artists they have are Ani and Andrew Bird right now.

You might be right about Victory in terms of units sold. They have all of these emo bands and shit like Hawthorne Heights and they also have the back catalogs of stuff like Thursday and Taking Back Sunday. Big bands with the kids these days I think.

I don't know. I'd say that the 3 Tommy named are the biggest, most recognizable. After that it's anybody's guess. I'd say just on name recognition these should be mentioned:

Yep Roc
Saddle Creek
New West
Bloodshot

Not sure if any of those are technically owned by Majors though.

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

what about indies that were purchased by majors because their roster/catalogue was successful at the indie level?

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

Yeah, i was thinking about Bloodshot and rough Trade

PopTodd · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:53 am

Rounder?

two guns holla · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:58 am

An initial thought I had was Dischord, but maybe its too much of a niche label. Saddle Creek is a pretty good one.

Epitaph is pretty good as well, since they have more than just punk now. The other 3 labels I mentioned have a wide range of artists and genres of music on their rosters.

Timis · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:06 pm

based on success and bands....its gotta go to vagrant

Timis · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:08 pm

few vagrant bands...

alkaline trio
dashboard confessional
eels
the futureheads
the hold steady
french kicks
the lemonheads
rocket from the crypt
paul westerberg
the get up kids

Rick Derris · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:08 pm

PopTodd Wrote:

Rounder?

Are you even trying anymore Todd?

el_scorcho · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:13 pm

If you're talking "indie rock," I would say #4 is Touch and Go. Probably not as big as Vagrant or Epitaph, but those are essentially punk/emo labels.

Kill Rock Stars would at least deserve some mention.

Z · **Joined:** Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:38 pm **Posts:** 7979

i believe victory is top-2 in terms of sales. epitaph and its umbrella are enormous, but i don't know any figures.

shmoo · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:31 pm

Wind-Up
Yazoo
Tons of classical and gospel labels

Sex, Drugs, and Dave · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:07 pm

those are really the big indie "rock" labels.

Matador is really part of the Beggars Group (Beggars Banquet, 4ad, too pure, XL, twisted nerve, etc...)

don't forget, big hip-hop names are indie labels picked up by majors.

katie, a princess · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:20 pm

tommy are you talking about sales or roster or what? some hip-hop labels would trump a lot of these other labels' sales...

bort · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:04 pm

F**k You Dave Wrote:

Matador is really part of the Beggars Group (Beggars Banquet, 4ad, too pure, XL, twisted nerve, etc...)

My friend has the Beggars Group catalog, listing just about every release from all associated labels. It's like the liner notes from a Rhino Records box set on steroids. pretty cool.

Also, would Rough Trade be a major indie label?

pollysix · **Joined:** Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:56 am **Posts:** 5174

el_scorcho Wrote:

If you're talking "indie rock," I would say #4 is Touch and Go.

yeah.

also Thrill Jockey.

two guns holla · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:10 pm

katie, a princess Wrote:

tommy are you talking about sales or roster or what? some hip-hop labels would trump a lot of these other labels' sales...

I guess I really mean in terms of importance, influence and being the tastemakers of the "indie" world.

Touch N Go is a good one. Of the ones mentioned, I'd probably put them as the fourth. Didn't they just celebrate their 25th anniversary or something last year?

puma · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:21 pm

also, other huge indies (non-rock): warp, ninja tune, stones throw

Prince of Darkness Wrote:

what about indies that were purchased by majors because their roster/catalogue was successful at the indie level?

mute (emi)
a&m (universal)

i think dischord is most successful in the "true" meaning of an indie label with the whole diy ethic and no majors intervening. as far as sales, i think victory is the biggest 'indie.' regardless, most of the indies these days are distributed by a major or something to that extent. ie: subpop, matador (warner)

puma · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:14 pm

here's an interesting statistic:

in 2006, retail sales among labels -

universal 35.6%
sony/bmg 21.4%
canada's independent distributors 18.3%
warner 14.8%
emi 9.9%

(according to nielsen soundscan)

What are the 4 major indie labels?

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