What are the biggest/most influential American Independent record labels?

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Or are the majors the only show in town?

― lee ward (lee ward), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Sub Pop, Matador, Transmat, Definitive Jux, Priority, Epitaph, No Limit, for a start.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:14 (twenty-two years ago)

merge

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Dischord, Touch & Go, Kill Rock Stars

― Ian Johnson (orion), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Thirsty Ear ain't "influential" then? and Thrill Jockey?

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)

SST? (influential rather than big)

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Hefty & Schematic, Metroplex if they still count dont remember the last release Planet E too

K records

― hector (hector), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:43 (twenty-two years ago)

TVT

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:43 (twenty-two years ago)

K records

otm

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Sun
Chess
Stax/Volt
Motown
Atlantic
Blue Note

Their remains may be owned by corporations, but it didn't start that way.

― earlnash, Monday, 9 February 2004 01:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Vagrant's pulling in the big emo money these days (and yeah they have some major connections but so do over 50% of these puppies)

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm trying to keep mine to still-going ones, which leaves out Strictly Rhythm, SST (in essence), couple others.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:50 (twenty-two years ago)

vagrant = emotaph.

i think SST is a good call; so many amazing/influential bands during the early/mid eighties--black flag, dino jr., meat puppets, minutemen, husker du, sonic youth.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:51 (twenty-two years ago)

That Manheim Steamroller guy has his own label. And his frikkin' inescapable storewise.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

CORWOOD MOFUGGAZ

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:59 (twenty-two years ago)

um, no.

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Monday, 9 February 2004 01:59 (twenty-two years ago)

They're influential for lonely shutins. Oh wait.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 9 February 2004 02:02 (twenty-two years ago)

you're right.. Corwood is one of the Big Five. Or is it four? or three now?

― donut bitch (donut), Monday, 9 February 2004 02:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Drag City should be mentioned. Along with Matador, Sub Pop, Merge, and Touch & Go, they're one of the paradigmatic indie labels, having been there at ground zero for Pavement and Will Oldham, and for their close association with O'Rourke/Grubbs, Royal Trux, and Stereolab.

― otto, Monday, 9 February 2004 02:26 (twenty-two years ago)

What is "indie? I mean, aren't there different levels of
"indie-ness"? Dischord and Touch&Go have less affiliation with the majors as, say, Sub Pop or Matador.
Or have am I totally wrong and very drunk?

― peepee (peepee), Monday, 9 February 2004 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

As far as influential, I'd have to throw Bloodshot in there.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 9 February 2004 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Matador is Beggars Banquet now. Hardly 'indie'.

I'm going to say 'All Tomorrows Parties'.

― j the s, Monday, 9 February 2004 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Death Row
Sugar Hill

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 9 February 2004 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

what abt revenant/harry smith --> 'new weird americana'

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 9 February 2004 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

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