The State of Independence in 2024 and Beyond

Speakers: Roland Leesker (Managing Director, Get Physical Music), Chris Goss (CEO, Hospital Records), Beks (Artist), Silvia Montello (CEO, Voicebox Consulting), Keir Tyrer (CEO, Shogun Audio Group), Brian Miller (CRO, TuneCore), James Palmer-Bullock (The Wild Seeds), Aly Gillani (European Artist and Label Representative, Bandcamp), Linnea Sundberg (Chief of Staff, UnitedMasters), Robin Braum (Head of Label Management, !K7 Music), Kees van Weijen (STOMP), Anyasa (Artist), AMÉMÉ (Artist)

Moderator: Carly Wilford (Artist)

In 2023, the annual global revenue figure for the 'Artists Direct' segment of the business (i.e. artists not releasing music through record labels) rose to $1.8 billion, according to a MIDIA report. With the very idea of artistic/creative independence being both helped and threatened by technological advances, how do you get the best from your autonomy in terms of artistic originality? It's patently clear that the indie sector is changing, and even the definition of independence is very different compared to what it was even five years ago. This is the ADE guide to the next phase of musical and creative independence, what it could mean for artists and their teams, as well as examining in-depth whether working with no label is right for you.

James Palmer-Bullock, who was set to join us on this item, has sadly passed away. His enthusiasm and positive impact on the music industry were unmatched, and we honor his memory and contributions. Our thoughts are with his loved ones as we remember his legacy.