For the last year, the Cadenza staff of Student Life has been trying to convince this student body that all indie music will forever be eliminated from the music industry due to its heightened popularity for one reason or another. I, however, have a strong belief that indie music will never be gone from the scene because there is something so fundamental about this sect of music, being that indie is primarily music that is not signed by a major label (regardless of what “traditional sounding” indie music may sound like).

I do agree, however, that the face of indie music has in fact evolved from its original meaning. And thanks to the great inventions of the iPod and iTunes, independent bands have a better way to market themselves. So, of course, with a better way to get your music to a new crowd and a larger group of the populous, independent bands are going to start gaining popularity as well as money and that eventual major label contract. The unfortunate part is that there is a greater separation between the band and their fans when this shift happens.

Arguably, the invention of iTunes is possibly both the worst and best thing to ever happen to indie music, especially indie rock. Before the inception of iTunes, a band had to tour to get recognition, thereby making the people at concerts only those truly interested in the band or those in pursuit of a great concert. What iTunes has done is make a fan-base before a band even goes on their first major-label tour, bringing not just the fans from their grassroots, but neurotic pre-teens only obsessed with what they think is the next “boy-band” phenomenon. This of course means annoying instances of 14-year-olds mistakenly yelling Zacky Vengeance’s name out instead of Sinister Gates in the middle of the guitar solo for “Bat Country” in a shrill and thoroughly ear-splitting shriek.

However, while the separation of our favorite once-indie bands from us, their true and loyal fans, is heart-breaking, stop assuming that this is the end of indie. Indie music will always be here; it is more a step into the music industry than a genre. Every band or musician must be indie before they are considered anything.

Therefore, when your favorite indie band or musician goes into the cesspool of the major labels, mourn the loss and move on. The point is to stop thinking that because your band and your kind of music is mainstream now that indie is gone. Your taste is not that innovative and I promise there is another band who is out there making the amazing music you seek. See Scary Kids Scaring Kids, see Aiden, see Atmosphere. See anything you can find if you just take the time to look, you lazy bastard. Take the time, and educate yourself.

Chelsea is a sophomore in the School of Art.

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