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We believe in independent music

We believe that independent musicians should not have to sell their soul [and their firstborn] in order to make a living from their art.

We believe in independent music — which is a vast term that refers just as much to the solitary musician in a bedsit with a tape recorder and a keyboard, to a group signed to a small label selling records in decent quantities, touring and generally taking a bet on what they have to give to their public.

We believe that the independent music scene is the place where the most interesting work is currently happening in the field of contemporary popular music.

Yet, while some mass media do occasionally cover the field of independent music and musicians, the independent scene doesn’t have the economic clout to exist besides the acts receiving heavy promotional efforts from major labels and TV networks. At the same time, the alternative music scene has seen a vast [and healthy] proliferation of blogs and websites that have appeared to fill the gap.

In order for independent music to flourish, and, ultimately, in order that independent musicians can earn a decent living from their music, we need a vibrant and creative, eco-system to nourish and feed the independent music scene.

That is the philosophy driving Tuneside and IndyGo.

IndyGo is a free promotional network designed to provide access to outlets and media, sympathetic to independent music. IndyGo is also part of a series of initiatives that we have on the books to contribute to, and participate further in the independent music scene here in Europe.

IndyGo is designed to link independent musicians, labels and collectives with the sites and blogs that inform their public. It is designed to provide a real alternative to commercial advertising networks. It is also free [as in beer] for independent musicians, and we will work hard to keep it that way. IndyGo is also open to those outlets — blogs, webzines, and other sites — to promote their endeavours. We need all these voices, opinions, and the diversity that a healthy debate brings to the scene.

The indyGo advantages

• We are built from the ground up to be a non-commercial alternative. In this way, we can’t be bought out. We just need to cover costs [and these are pretty low, believe you me].

• We are built from the ground up for Europe. We can publish ads in most of the major European languages, and as we progress, we will also be displaying our site and providing support in those languages too.

• We are small, reactive, and flexible.

• Most of all, we love independent music, and want to do our best to give something back to all those bands and musicians who give us so much pleasure.

Let us know what you think: if you meet a glitch, if a message or text is not clear, we need to know in order to improve matters. If you have suggestions or ideas for improvements or additional elements, tell us about it. Only by working together can we make this thing work.