Independent Labels

Here are some excellent Independent labels(in no particular order):

1)SST
2)K
3)Touch and Go
4)Dischord
5)Slash(originally)
6)Epitaph
7)Rough Trade
8)Homestead
9)Fat Wreck Cords
10)Equal Vision
11)Matador
12)Sub Pop(how could I forget this so far!)
13)City Slang
14)Kill Rock Stars
14)New Alliance
16)Drag City
17)Alternative Tentacles
18)Twin/Tone
19)Domino
20)Suicide Squeeze
21)Merge
22)Mute(originally)
23)Revelations
24)A-F
25)Saddle Creek
26)Ace of Hearts
27)Fall
28)2.13.61
29)Metal Blade
30)Neutral
31)Ecstatic Pastel
32)Blast First
33)Cherry Red
34)Cooking Vinyl
35)Factory
36)Fat Cat
37)Paw Tracks
38)Nitro
39)Kung Fu
40)XL Recordings
41)Tooth and Nail
42)Kitchenware
43)4AD
44)Revelation
45)Important
46)Megaforce
47)Hellcat
48)Restless
49)C/Z
50)Alchemy
51)Boner
52)Amphetamine Reptile
53)Sudden Death
54)Tommy Boy(originally)
55)Viper
56)B-Boy
57)Equator
58)Wichita
59)Ruthless
60)Rabid Cat
61)Creation
62)Motown(originally)
63)Sun(originally)
64)Atlantic(originally)

Uhh, I guess that's enough for now, but there are countless others I didn't mention.

Independent Labels Have Great '07; Majors Don't

First, the good news. Indie labels and bands had a banner year. Spoon and Arcade Fire (both on Merge), the Shins (on Sub Pop), and Bright Eyes (Saddle Creek) all scored top-10 Billboard albums in 2007, carving out niches in the mainstream with the sort of individualism and integrity that's been in short supply.

But for the major labels and overall retail sales, however, news was bad. Record companies slashed their rosters of artists and executives in 2007, which marked the fifth consecutive year of decline for recorded music. (We got the first clue early, as the year began with Tower Records shutting its doors nationwide.) Album sales were down 15 percent from 2006, according to Nielsen SoundScan - tripling last year's decline of 5 percent compared to 2005.

Factor in a slowdown of digital growth and the picture is undeniably bleak - although the year is closing with a nice surprise for Josh Groban. Thanks to four straight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard charts, Groban's Oprah Winfrey-endorsed "Noel" is now the top-selling album of 2007. Not only did "Noel" outpace Disney's "High School Musical 2" and "American Idol"-spawned "Daughtry," the year's other big sellers, but Groban also broke the 50-year-old record held by Elvis Presley (and his "Elvis' Christmas Album") for a chart-topping holiday collection. The Boston Globe

Individualism and integrity always seem to be lacking in major labels. I think one Étudiant writer/industry critic would agree.

Major Labels Vs. Independent Labels

This guy, Owen Husney, does a good job of telling the pros and cons of major and independent record labels.