Let the Past Be the Past: A Study of Independent Record Labels in Today’s Hardcore Scene

Abstract

The methods and business practices at work in today's independent record label have changed drastically over the last fifty years. The creation of online vendors has paved the way for nearly anyone who wants to start their own label, which has saturated the market and made it more difficult for labels to make themselves distinct. In recent years, the hardcore music scene has also seen a rise in popularity and with it a new generation of entrepreneurs who look to establish a D.I.Y. business within the scene. New methods of indie label operation have manifested from the popularization of music streaming services and distribution sites, labels need to take extra steps in order to separate themselves from the competition. These business practices will be observed through in-field research to determine what is being done and how impactful these methods are.