ABSTRACT
Empowerment through digital technologies has made independent practices increasingly easier. Recording equipment has become more and more affordable and the Internet empowers people to distribute and promote their music without major investments. However, 'being indie' is not always a voluntary choice. Changes in the music industry – which are themselves closely linked to digital technologies – led to the fact that it is increasingly taken for granted that people record, release, promote and distribute music independently. In many cases it is the artist's only choice. 'Indie music and technology' is changed to 'independent music and technology'. The members of Metro Manila's independent scene show a collective sense of identity that is closely tied to locality. This is especially visible with regard to live music but it is also expressed in the music itself. The independent scene is often referred to as the 'gig scene' or the 'band scene'.
