Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube have made it possible for artists to become successful without a record label. However, being successful and profitable still takes a lot of hard work and infrastructure–more than many rookies have the money or time to handle. That’s where indie record labels come in.
Artists on independent labels benefit from built-in marketing and distribution, as well as greater creative freedoms than their major label counterparts.Â
Today we look at some of the top indie record labels that changed music with the artists they’ve signed and nurtured.Â
XL Recordings
This British label began its journey catering to the world of electronic dance, with acts like The Prodigy and Freeez. But by the early 2000s, it became equally celebrated for releasing indie rock.Â
In 2003, The White Stripes released their fourth album Elephant on the label. That album went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. Three years later, Thom Yorke from Radiohead, released his first solo record, The Eraser, on the label. After that, Radiohead signed with XL for the release of their seventh studio album, In Rainbows. The band subsequently went on to release everything since their eighth studio album The King Of Limbs on the label.
XL Recordings is also responsible for Vampire Weekend’s second album Contra. It was the band’s first album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200.
Outside of rock music, the album has released Adele’s 21, Tyler, the Creator ‘s debut studio album Goblin, and works by Dizzee Rascal.Â
Sub Pop
Sub Pop achieved fame in the early 1990s for signing Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney.Â
As a powerful force in the Seattle scene, the label’s name became synonymous with grunge—much in the same way Motown Records became synonymous with Detroit.
The label’s current roster includes Fleet Foxes, Beach House, The Postal Service, Sleater-Kinney, Flight of the Conchords, Foals, Blitzen Trapper, Father John Misty, Shabazz Palaces, Weyes Blood, Guerilla Toss, Bully, Low, METZ, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, TV Priest and The Shins.
Rough Trade
Based in London, Rough Trade was founded in 1976 by record store owner, Geoff Travis. After having success promoting punk rock and indie pop albums within his store, Travis decided to take a shot at a label. We’re lucky he did, because one of the first acts that he signed were The Smiths.
Then in the late 1990s, the label found more success with the Libertines, the Strokes and Antony and the Johnsons. Â
Today, with offices in London and New York, Travis continues to work towards helping the music they love get the exposure. With artists like Alabama Shakes, Anohni, Warpaint, Goat Girl, Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker, Sleaford Mods, and Parquet Courts, there will be success from this label for years to come.Â
Domino Records
Founded in South London in 1993, Domino is one of the more influential labels for indie rock music. The label’s first release was Sebadoh’s “Soul And Fire”, a song of lovelorn honesty that cut through the prevailing bluster of grunge and introduced a new style of singer-songwriter recording that became known as Lo-Fi.
SInce then, they’ve helped launch careers for bands like Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand. Domino is now one of the most successful independent record labels in the UK, with offices in NYC, Germany and France.
Their current roster includes Blood Orange, Arctic Monkeys, Animal Collective,Neutral Milk Hotel, Franz Ferdinand, The Kills, Dirty Projectors, and Hot Chip.
Mute Records
Mute Records was formed in 1978 by Daniel Miller. Miller began his career by producing his own music using synthesizers and releasing it through Rough Trade Shops under the name Mute Records.Â
After a few years of promoting his own music, he struck next-level success when he signed Depeche Mode.
With the success that followed Mute has grown from Miller’s one-man operation into the record label, as well as the subsidiaries NovaMute, The Grey Area and the Parallel Series alongside Mute Song (publishing), with offices in London and New York. Now, more than ever, Daniel Miller remains heavily focussed on Mute’s creative output.
Jagjaguwar
Jagjaguwar is a label based in Bloomington, Indiana, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Its name “Jagjaguwar” was generated using a Dungeons & Dragons character name-generating computer program.
Jagjaguwar has found success with many artists including Grammy winning band, Bon Iver. Other artists on the label include Dinosaur Jr. and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.Â
In 2012, Jagjaguwar was awarded the American Association of Independent Music’s (A2IM) Label of the Year. Then in 2018, Jagjaguwar was listed at number 4 on Paste Magazine’s top 10 record labels of 2018. It is certainly one of the best indie record labels around.
4AD
4AD was founded in 1980 and is known for underground rock in both the UK and North America. An initial idea for the label was that it would be a “testing ground” for Beggars Banquet (its owner); successful acts would graduate up to Beggars Banquet after a year at 4AD.Â
However the label soon proved it could stand on its own after signing significant acts. It has been the label of choice for Pixies, Throwing Muses, Bauhaus, The Breeders, Belly, Twin Shadow, TV on the Radio, Grimes, Future Islands, The National, St. Vincent, and SOHN.
The label has released critically applauded albums by Deerhunter and Grimes, amongst others. The following year, the label and The National landed their first UK No. 1 record with Sleep Well Beast.
