The New Indie Music Gatekeepers?

Going the independent, do-it-yourself music route is in full swing, and it has been for years (even though there are plenty of latecomers still stuck in the old ways). But as with all new trends that shake up the system, new systems often emerge to accommodate the new thing. Which some people fear turns the new path into something that looks a lot like the old system.

Confused? Well, here's what Nathan Lilly, singer-guitarist of the Milwaukee, Wis.-based band Call Me Lightning told ReadExpress.com:

"There's definitely a real change in indie music going on and it can be discouraging. There's a system you have to fight against now that resembles the mainstream music industry more than punk rock at this point. It's a little bit more highly organized now — people have streamlined indie-rock and punk touring."

That is, it's harder to go out and do the classic D.I.Y. thing.

"We've always booked ourselves and that can be difficult these days for sure," lamented Lilly. "I'm perfectly capable of booking a show at a small venue where I know the people, but at this point you need people with some credibility larger than your own to get any shows.

"There's always good with the bad," he admitted. "The independent music press, 'zines -- it's really just highly developed and really well organized, which is good. I guess. But there's kind of this much more stable hierarchy in place as far as independent music goes."

What do you think?

Have you encountered new "systems" as you pursue your music career independently? Are you being shut out of supposedly "indie friendly" venues, web sites, blogs, podcasts, etc., because of a new indie pecking order?

OR ... are these just excuses from people who want quick fixes and aren't willing to do the work and put in the time to be creative and slowly build credibility and buzz?

Feel free to click the comments link below and post your thoughts.

-Bob


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