It is the age of MP3's, Ipods, and digital everything. The vast momentum that the Internet has gained since its arrival in most homes and offices has dictated the evolution of many things, one of them being music.
For major, established acts such as Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Madonna and Paul McCartney, the digital era has enabled them to shed their major music labels in favor of independent or Internet-based distribution.
To these internationally known acts, a record label is not a necessity; they can finance and distribute their music using their own power and influence in the industry without the artistic limitations a label might impose.
Will the path taken by the aforementioned artists develop into a trend that may dictate if unsigned bands will ever have to, well, get signed? And with CD sales down 14 percent and digital track sales up 46 percent in the last year, some are wondering if the future of music is on the Internet. Will CD's soon become a thing of the past?
"Our album was self-financed and released. We're a band that puts their money where their mouth is," said Mike Perri, 22, of the band Three Card Monte. "Not that we wouldn't welcome some label support..."
Three Card Monte, based out of Goshen, N.Y., has been together for four years, and is not yet signed to a label. Perri, the band's drummer, feels that while established artists may have earned their rite of passage to free themselves of a label, the same path may not be written in the stars for his own band.
"Labels with money and advertising smarts can be the best benefit," he said. "To be truthful, a band really needs the helping hand a label can offer."
Will Adams, 21, who plays guitar for rock/metal band Midnight Pass, agrees that as an unsigned band starting out, to make it without the help of a label would be difficult.
"Without a label, there's a lot of hard work to be done, and that would take away from the musical process," said Adams. "There would have to at least be some aid from an indie label."
Adams went on to praise the concept of going label-less, citing creative freedom as a worthwhile cause. He also expressed some doubt that the actions of a few resourceful acts might snowball into a trend.
"There's always some 'tool' that has no problem playing somebody else's music."
Jon Bugasch, 26, of the rock band Safe As Houses, was slightly more optimistic about his band, which has been together just over a year, being able to one day be successful without a label. However, he agreed that a major label is worth belonging to.
"The benefits of a major label could really help us out by getting us national tours, major distribution, etcetera," said Bugasch. "It all depends on if a label hears the potential in our sound. Of course, in this day and age we could start creating a buzz that enables us to succeed without major label support."
Searching for Skylines is an alternative rock/pop band that has been together for about four years and is much more resigned about major music labels.
"As of right now, no, we're not looking to sign with anyone," said Kyle Roeger, 22, who plays bass. "Music as a business has become a completely different animal over the past 10 or so years; the kind of animal that gives artists the opportunity to release music on their own, without the help of a label. We're going to try our hand in DIY first before signing with anyone."
Damon Kost, who plays guitar, agreed.
"Anything that gets rid of creative limitations is a good thing," said Kost. "Getting rid of the middle man is something that happens in any industry attempting to streamline. If it results in more creative freedom, even better."
As for the possibility of music becoming an Internet thing, the bands had mixed feelings about whether digital was the way to go.
"I think that albums will always be around," said Perri. "Digital is a great source but you can never replace the feeling of owning something tangible like a record."
Roeger seemed slightly less optimistic and recognized that CD's are becoming less and less a favorable medium.
"I think of when it was so cool to buy a new record. When you ran to your car, threw in the CD and blasted the music 'till your ears bled," he said.
"I'm not even that old but I can't help but think these kids are missing out on something."
"CD's will probably always be around, even though they will be marginalized," added Kost. "I don't see it as a 'good' or 'bad' thing, but a matter of natural selection. Although I will miss lyrics in booklets and cover art."
In the end, Kost said it best when asked if he felt his band would make it with a label, or without.
"As for preferring the benefits of a major label, of course that would be wonderful," he said. "As long as it doesn't cost us our creative freedom or first-born children."
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