Best non-RIAA indie labels

[mrtaber]

What are some good non-RIAA, non-DRM'd sources of music? This thread could be a great resource for finding great undiscovered artists, labels. And if you have a favorite artist that is self-published, feel free. I know for a fact that there is a world of non-major label talent, excellent artists on excellent small independent labels, that haven't gone over to the Dark Side.

I've heard good things about Hyperion Records, a British-based classical label with beautiful quality packaging, great recording and mastering, and great performances. http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/. There must be others.

Thanks,
Mark

[Sam Lowry]

Sorry for lack of specifics, but my thinking has been for many years: support the independent labels not matter what. They are the ones that pay their artists fairly.

[Mark Lanctot]

To copy a very useful link from the other thread on this:

http://www.magnetbox.com/riaa/

The "RIAA Radar" which will tell you whether a given artist is a member of the RIAA.

BTW I noticed something interesting checking an artist the other day on this. 95% of the artists I checked were RIAA members :-( but one had some releases out on RIAA-affiliated labels and other releases on RIAA-free labels. Specifically, The Offspring.

[mrtaber]

Thanks for that link, Mark. I personally bookmarked that earlier (from a previous post) when it appeared. Very useful.

Mark :)

[Mark Lanctot]

Thanks for that link, Mark. I personally bookmarked that earlier (from a previous post) when it appeared. Very useful.

Mark :)

No problem Mark. Make sure to mark that down and put it in your bookmarks. ;-)

Ahem.

But it is really disappointing to see what kind of a lock the RIAA has on the music market. It's a monopoly. It's also distressing to see so many artists whose music I like tied to them. I guess I can write it off by saying that most artists aren't involved and have little control over the kind of DRM that might appear in the end product or the affiliations of the label.

This is an interesting question though and at some point, artists are going to have to get involved. Witness the infamous origin of the Sony/BMG rootkit, Van Zant's "Get Right with the Man". Wonder how well that album did, LOL! But if I was the artist I'd look to sue the label for making the product unattractive and outright dangerous to consumers. Perhaps the more vigilant artists can have this written into their contracts. I suspect the labels will hold all the power though, but one can hope.

What so frustrating is the "blanket" release of DRM. The RIAA has no jurisdiction in my country. Yet the labels' DRM makes it onto the CDs I buy. (Or the CDs I *would* buy but won't.)

[cliveb]

Sorry for lack of specifics, but my thinking has been for many years: support the independent labels not matter what. They are the ones that pay their artists fairly.
Not true in all cases. For example, I tried the "RIAA Radar" mentioned elsewhere in this thread, and discovered that albums on the Charly label are deemed "safe". As far as artist compensation is concerned, nothing could be further from the truth. I have personally spoken to Daevid Allen (of Gong) who told me that Charly never pay him a penny in royalties, and as far as he was aware they do the same to most/all of their artists. (Sueing them is not feasible: they have deeper pockets and better lawyers than any artist).

[tom permutt]

I have found interesting music on cdbaby.com, and they are delightful to deal with.

[Skunk]

I got mostly safe results from the RIAA radar re: MFSL discs, which are an aural delight as well. Curiously, the U2 MFSL disc was the only one I saw with a warning. Are U2 pro RIAA, moreso than the other artists who have discs on the label?

[snarlydwarf]

here's an interesting label I found this evening. Actually, Slim may want to talk to them about adding their radio stations to Slim Picks/Squeezenetwork...

http://www.magnatunes.com/ -- independent artists that get 50% of all sales, downloads available as everything from 128kmp3 through WAV (including FLAC and OGG). Albums are "pay us from $5-$18, whatever you think it is worth".

Yes, most of the artists are "unknown" ... but there are plenty of unknown talented musicians, these ones are at least not getting ripped off by a big evil record company: their contracts with magnatune are non-exclusive, and the music is "peer reviewed" to ensure quality (other magnatune artists approve who gets contracts).

[Pale Blue Ego]

Another vote for Magnatunes here. All of their music can be streamed as a free podcast before you buy. You can also use any of their music in your own non-commercial podcasts.

[repman]

What are some good non-RIAA, non-DRM'd sources of music? This thread could be a great resource for finding great undiscovered artists, labels. And if you have a favorite artist that is self-published, feel free. I know for a fact that there is a world of non-major label talent, excellent artists on excellent small independent labels, that haven't gone over to the Dark Side.

I've heard good things about Hyperion Records, a British-based classical label with beautiful quality packaging, great recording and mastering, and great performances. http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/. There must be others.

Thanks,
Mark

I'm guessing the sort of thing your looking for is like this Mark : http://www.indian.co.uk/about_us/

Rep

[Thump553]

Check out the streaming internet radio station, Whole Wheat Radio - http://www.wholewheatradio.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page .

All they play is non-RIAA, and its real esay to search their library and get requests played.

[Anonym97]

I am actually doing an internship for one right now. The name of the label is Sling Slang Records. They are in Connecticut. www.slingslang.com They don't offer digital downloads unless the individual band decides to put them on their website. Anyway...just thought I'd share.

Anonym97
Sling Slang Records
Indie Record Label (www.slingslang.com)