The rise of independent artists is one of the most important changes to happen to the modern recorded music business. While traditional label models still dominate, ever more artists are pursuing non-traditional alternatives, ranging from self-releasing through to joint-venture label service deals with majors. The rise of streaming has been the catalyst for independent artists, enabling them to find global audiences and to pursue their careers on their terms. There has never been a better time to be a recording artist, but the other side of the equation is that record labels need to reimagine both their value proposition to artists and their underlying business models.

Companies and brands mentioned in this report:  Amuse, Ableton Live, ADA, Avid, AWAL, Bandcamp, Bandsintown, Believe Digital, Big Machine Music, Big Yellow Dog Music, BMG Music Rights, BuzzAngle, Caroline, CD Baby, Cooking Vinyl, Cubase, Ditto, Downtown Music Holdings, Downtown Music Publishing, EMI, Facebook, FAMM, Fast Forward, the Firepit, Fourth Floor Creative, Globe, Google, hearo.fm, Hitco, Instrumental, Kickstarter, Kobalt, Kompoz, Landr, Logic Studio, Melboss, The Music Fund, Native Instruments, NME, The Orchard, Patreon, Penske, Pledge Music, ReverbNation, Rhapsody, Rise, Rolling Stone, Sony Music, Soundcloud, Splice, Soundtrap, Trebble, Tunecore, Warner Music, Uncut, United Masters, Universal Music, Vocalizr, Wysidio, and YouTube