Abstract:
The independent music scene is comprised of a collection of artists, label owners, promoters, and fans that maintain a strict appreciation for music that operates outside of the corporate music framework. With this study, I seek to explore this group of individuals and gain a better understanding of their cultural practices, ultimately painting a fuller portrait of how the independent music scene defines itself and functions in the digital age. In order to do this, I will first review past subcultural studies to gain a better understanding of the landscape of musical ethnography. I will then set out to explore various sounds and associated identities within the independent movement, followed by reflections on my own experiences in the scene. With my final chapter, I will include the voices and opinions regarding the indie scene of other members within the movement. In coupling my own experiences with these different interpretations, I hope to address notions such as community, authenticity, production, distribution, and distinction from the mainstream, and ultimately express how the indie scene is built upon these subjective views.
