15 Hidden Gems of the Music Industry

@charlidamelio

September 28, 1990

Hidden gems of the music

industry By: Frank Piegari Staff Writer

Beneath the commercialized glitz and glamor of artists such as Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Bruno Mars lies an underbelly of music. Those lucky enough to find it are rewarded with sounds that are off the beaten path but can connect with us on a personal level. In finding this, you would have found a more indie and alternative style of music.

“The most obvious interpretation of the word indie is music made by independent artists, without the support of a record label” according to www.musicindustryhowto.com.

Where does the appeal for this genre of music come from? An article from www. udiscovermusic.com credits much of the popularity of indie and alternative music to the 90s: “The 90s, though, are generally regarded as the golden age for indie music, both creatively and commercially. During the early years of this especially seismic decade, grunge music spearheads Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden broke into the mainstream.”

In correlation to the Golden Era beginning in the 90s, on September 28, 1990, an article by Cindy Eager was published entitled “WCSF Radio Explores Alternative Mode.” The article effectively served as a battle cry for the school station, making it clear they would be playing music that you simply could not hear anywhere else. Now, all these years later, the college station is still thriving using the same format.

Reaching out to station DJ and co-host of “The Sports Matchup,” Matt Lauterbach, we asked him why indie and alternative music is so important to the station. He explained, “To me, it’s important to the station because it gives us an identity and something new to listen to other than what everyone else may listen to.” WCSF Station Director, Anthony Musiala, added to this by saying, “The reason WCSF focuses on independent music is because it gives our students the hands-on experience of working within the music industry and with accessible artists. Our station prides itself by sharing with our listening community new music before it hits the mainstream.”

Discovering a new indie band makes the listener feel like they are a part of a huge secret, a private band that only they know about. The Atlantic expands on this idea by stating, “Everywhere, the line between fan and performer was paperthin.” This again shows why this genre of music means so much to so many. When you listen to indie bands and support indie artists, you aren’t supporting some huge production team or record label. You are supporting individual artists who just want a chance to make their voices heard.

By choosing to specialize in broadcasting indie and alternative music, WCSF is cementing its legacy as a true music discovery station. The songs that you can discover are not just simple music; it’s much more than anything you can hear from the Top Twenty. These are anthems for the outcasts — labors of love sung by the losers, for the losers. These songs help give people a voice. It’s reassurance that even when we feel like we don’t fit in, we still belong. It’s music that is not just notes and vocals; they are ballads of personal feelings where the artists share a piece of themselves with the listener.

Simply put, the indie and alternative genre forms a relationship between musician and audience. With the genre being more popular now than it has ever been, your next favorite band might be just around the corner, so don’t be afraid to give the underdogs of the music industry a chance.