Blog: independent record labels

Read our latest daily deep dives, hot takes, and exciting updates about the entertainment world. Check out the latest insight from your favourite analyst, or search by coverage areas - music, entertainment and fandom, creator economy and social.

MIDiA independent label and distributor survey

Mark Mulligan

14 Mar 2024

Independent labels

market shares

Record labels

MIDiA is fielding its annual independent label and distributor survey . This is the chance for the independent sector to have its voice heard. Given all of the changes that are taking place in the streaming economy, there has perhaps never been a more important time for this.

min read

Independent labels and distributors: take our survey!

Mark Mulligan

13 Feb 2023

Independent labels

independent record labels

Independent label survey

Measuring the actual contribution of the independent sector to the global recorded music market is an important but difficult task. The traditional way of thinking about independent market share is to take the total market and remove the majors’ revenues from that.

min read

2018 Global Label Market Share: Stream Engine

Mark Mulligan

13 Mar 2019

Artists direct

DIY

DIY artists

Recorded music revenues grew in 2018 for the fourth consecutive year, reaching $18.8 billion, up $2.2 billion from 2017. Streaming was the engine room of growth, up 30% year on year to reach $9.6 billion.

min read

Spotify May Already Be Too Big for the Labels to Stop it Competing With Them

Mark Mulligan

26 Oct 2018

Artists direct

independent record labels

indie labels

Spotify’s Daniel Ek is betting big on developing a ‘two sided marketplace’ for music . With the company’s market cap on a downward trend despite strong growth metrics , Ek might find himself having to play up the disruption narrative more boldly and more quickly than he’d planned.

min read