The Difference Between Indie and Mainstream

[Sexy Beast]

Now, I know not the only one that realized this. In terms of lyrics, I've noticed that Mainstream artists stick to the more direct approach(like "you", "I", and "we"); whereas Indie artists/lyricists mostly use metephors and symbolism. I'm just wondering why is that? Is it some kind of trend? Indie artists have to write stuff that are not really what you expect and Mainstreamists have to stick with directness and such.

Anybody else notice that?

 

[Ichigo]

Not really

The only thing that makes indie artists indie is that they aren't apart of a major label. But I think it's more that the genres that constitute what indie artists would play employ more abstract concepts.

 

[Donald Trump]

Technically it means that they aren't signed to a major record label, but in reality they usually are. They're normally signed to either a major record label or to a record label owned by a major record label. Indie now mostly means a particular aesthetic rather than being signed to independent record label. As for a difference in lyrics I doubt it. I think it's just someone trying to find an objective reason why indie music is better than mainstream music.

 

[Will Graham]

Like my dear pal said it's to do with label, when Indie was first around it stood for independent music. Music that wasn't signed onto a major label, and normally not the kind of music that would be signed. Whereas now there are many famous indie bands, all of which have a massive label backing them

 

[Stock Choengroux]

Now, I know not the only one that realized this. In terms of lyrics, I've noticed that Mainstream artists stick to the more direct approach(like "you", "I", and "we"); whereas Indie artists/lyricists mostly use metephors and symbolism. I'm just wondering why is that? Is it some kind of trend? Indie artists have to write stuff that are not really what you expect and Mainstreamists have to stick with directness and such.

Anybody else notice that?

Pretty interesting observation. I probably would have not caught that. One guess as to why that may be is the freedom of creativity. Mainstream music tends to be simple and follows a formula that meets the objective to sell records, whereas independent artists have the ability to create whatever the f they want. If it happens to go over people's heads, then so be it.

Anyway, I have a simpler approach to differentiate mainstream and independent music. It's probably been touched on it already, but it's basically someone who has the backing of a major label versus someone who does not.