Indie & Unsigned-The Latest Music Trend, Or Industry On The Mend?

Posted by CrybKeeper at USA Today

It is true, the digital age has changed how we get our information, feed our social needs and also find our entertainment. One big plus, is getting our music fix on, has become easier than ever before.

There is no doubt, the technology we have today has certainly changed how the music industry markets itself. The fans have also decided, the big labels have missed the boat, which has caused quite a large amount of music lovers, to cut out labels altogether and go straight to the musical source. Self publicity is getting easier all the time, which also allows quite a few wannabee arists to get sprinkled in the mix. That sprinkle, may be the extra added appeal however, as music fans search through the dusty underground, looking for the hidden golden nuggets of sound, amongst the masses of indie talents.

This changes the way we view our music news as well. Many fans are searching for new and promising musical artists that have that magic sound and are independent of major labels, deciding to produce and market themselves direct to their fan base. It somehow feels as if, we the fans are a bigger and more important part of our favorite musicians rise to self made fame. We feel closer to our favorite bands and can share in the success they garner.

So, who are these artists on the verge of being famous in music today and doing it all on their own?

How about Ellsbeth -a female fronted Goth Metal band from Los Angeles, CA., with near 6,000,000 track plays and voted number one Goth Metal band on all of My Space? Ellsbeth have managed to hold this title for nearly half a year and garnered quite a large amount of FM radio plays in California, as well as taking national college radio stations by storm.

Maybe it's Shaolin Temple of Boom -the brain child of David Alvarez and one of the largest self promoted unsigned bands on the internet? StoB are the latest winners of the Wonka Candies Battle of the Bands and took the honors by a landslide of fan based votes. Stob is also endorsed by ENGL amps and sound equipment and featured in their latest advertisements in several major music mags.

Then we have bands, who are just getting started with this self publicity measure and showing signs of making it big on the unsigned scene in like manner. One good example would be Woolgather , a Progressive rock band from Austin, Texas, who recently hit the top 20 charts at Metal Deli Radio in Los Angeles, CA., at number 14, with their track Ashes And Echoes , off of their debut CD, Programmes - Volume 1 - The Pleasure Principle .

These are three great examples of a growing and thriving underground scene, that has been in place for quite a few decades, but may be gradually taking the front position, as the technology continues to make self promotion and publicity, easier to obtain with every new year.

You can find out more about these artists at the links:

On LastFM

http://www.last.fm/music/ellsbeth



On My Space


http://www.myspace.com/shaolintempleofboom
http://www.myspace.com/woolgather

So what does everyone else think? Can anyone add some really great bands to this topic?

Please feel free to make some suggestions. I for one, am always searching for my own golden nuggets of sound, so please point me to some more and share the wealth?