What does "independent" mean officially?
For record labels, ownership. A2IM, the US trade group for independent labels, defines an independent label as one that owns 50% or more of its masters, and an independent distributor as one that's 50% or more owned independently of the major labels. Who distributes the music doesn't decide it. Who owns it does.
There's no equivalent rule for artists. "Independent artist" is a description, not a status, and it's used for very different setups.
How big is the independent side now?
Bigger than it used to be. Spotify says roughly half of the royalties it paid in 2025 were generated by independent artists and labels, and that more than a third of artists who generated $10,000 or more were DIY, meaning self-released through independent distributors, or started that way.
Spotify's own figures, from Loud & Clear 2026. "Independent" there includes independent labels, not only self-releasing artists.
Can you be independent and have a team?
The usual advice says yes: get a manager, a booking agent, a publicist, a lawyer, a distributor, a publishing administrator. Each of them takes a fee, a commission, or a share.
Stuart's take
We're all told you can be an independent artist, but you need a team. A team is not being independent.
Stuart's take
You were told that independence meant freedom. You were not told that without infrastructure, independence just means alone. The "independent artist" became the industry's most efficient content engine: self-funded, self-marketed, self-managed, and grateful for the table scraps.
Stuart's take
The real problem is the divide it creates. You have artists against labels, and people who think giving away anything is giving in to the system. It turns into an either-or system, when the truth is in the middle.
What's actually in the middle?
"Independent" and "signed" aren't two options. They're two ends of a range of deals, and each one trades something different:
| Deal | What you typically trade |
|---|---|
| DIY distribution | A fee or a small percentage. You keep your masters and pay for everything else yourself. |
| Distribution or label services deal | A larger percentage, sometimes for an advance, marketing, or other services. You often keep your masters. |
| Licensing deal | A label controls your masters for a set term or territory, then the rights come back to you. |
| Traditional label deal | The label usually pays for recording and marketing, owns or controls the masters, and pays you a royalty. |
Typical structures. Every contract is different, so the terms in front of you are what count.
Hiring a manager, publicist, or admin company is a different kind of trade again: you pay a fee or commission for work, and they don't own your songs or masters.
Every option above is a trade. Knowing what you own is how you know what you're trading.
Frequently asked questions
What is an independent artist?
There is no official definition. The term is used for artists not signed to a major label, whether they release alone or work with a manager, distributor, and other partners.
What makes a record label independent?
A2IM defines an independent label as one that owns 50% or more of its masters, and an independent distributor as 50% or more owned independently of the major labels.
Can an independent artist have a manager or publicist?
Yes. Paying a fee or commission for services does not transfer ownership of your songs or masters. Assigning rights in a label or publishing deal can.
Is it independent or signed?
Not really either-or. Between DIY distribution and a traditional label deal sit distribution deals, label services deals, and licensing deals, each trading different rights and money.