ABSTRACT

Independents are generally regarded as essential instruments for the discovery, promotion, and sustainability of local music styles, genres, and artists. DIY-independents remain close to the mainstream/alternative dichotomy, with indie-styles, small-scale production, authentic music, non-commercial attitudes, and small audiences. The global success of dance acts from the Netherlands illustrates how independent companies, rather than majors, can succeed in breaking local artists internationally. Collectivism then may be considered a distinctive ideological mark of micro-independents. This collectivism places the importance of music before commercial or business interests. The growing influence of independents makes itself felt particularly on the field of locally produced music. Dutch DIY micro-independents have many characteristics in common, which makes them clearly stand out from record companies that operate on the mainstream market. Micro-independents in Flanders and the Netherlands are small organizations, in most cases established by one or two people. Micro-independents primarily release music in order to contribute to the widening supply of contemporary music.