BMUSIC'97 

Most Important Artists

From Arctic Monkeys to Foster The People, here are the most important artists in the history of Indie music.

A Brief History of Indie

In popular music, indie music (from independent) is any number of genres, scenes, subcultures, stylistic and cultural attributes characterized by its degree of independence from commercial popmusic and mainstream culture and an autonomous, do-it-yourself (DIY) approach. Over the years, it has been mistaken for a musical style rather than a demarcation of status. Indie is a unique musical terms because it not only refers to label affiliation and possibly to musical style; it is attached to a system of ethics and values, like those derivative of the punk movement.

Influence on Society

The term "indie" represents the culture of separation from the commercial music scene. The culture of indie is what makes it distinct. Creative freedom and the DIY attitude, inherited from punk rock, make up the culture that will always stand in contrast to popular trends. Genre and label status both fail to encompass the definition of "indie." "Indie" is short for "Independent" and that attitude of independence, more than anything, determines if an artist is indie or not.