In the current New Yorker Sasha-Frere Jones extolls the virtues of the Independent labels like Merge, the folks who released the new Arcade Fire and are celebrating 20 years of existence with a 3 day music fest in Las Vegas.
All well and good.
But let’s get real here.
What the majors do is not just handle hits. THEY DISTRIBUTE THE PRODUCT for fuck’s sake.
Merge records use ADA (Alternative Distribution Alliance) and ADA have a deal with Warner Bros.
Oh, and yeah, sure AF have complete artisic control, what about everybody else.
Finally, I deal with indie labels all the time and foun Merge unfriendly and they don’t answer their mail.
Can’t we find somebody else to fellate? Saddlecreek are much cooler.