Act United – Stay In­de­pen­dent

From jazz to punk, hip hop to electronic music, independent music companies have always challenged the status quo of the industry. Not only have they established and shaped new genres, created legends, and redefined success through greater transparency and fairness toward their artists, but also by promoting underrepresented genres and niche markets: Indie is not just a business model, but a necessary prerequisite for progress and diversity in music.

Especially in times like these, independence takes on a new meaning. Despite takeovers and growing dependence on tech corporations, as well as the resurgent dominance of major companies, the core values of indie labels remain crucial: companies are run by artists or owners, decisions are made locally – not dictated by global corporate headquarters. They create new musical trends, remain agile in the face of rapid change, and continuously drive innovation and the development of new talent.

We talk to Mark Chung about the values, special responsibilities, and commercial success of independent music companies. We take a look at the development of indie labels—from their beginnings to formative milestones to current challenges. This involves key questions such as: What role do independent players play today in an increasingly concentrated market? And what are the prospects for the future?