En Sound Music Awards

In the past, the independent artists have attempted to create a sound and a demo to present to a major label in hopes of being discovered. The music industry was a much closed society which did not allow these artists to produce quality products or to obtain distribution or recognition. One of the greatest obstacles was the inability of the independent artists to gain access to the technology necessary to make their music competitive. Another challenge the independent artists face were the limited access to radio due to politics and the pay-for-play mentality that existed in radio promotion.

In recent years, the plain field has become much more level. The independent artists now have access to technology that they can only previously dream of. Entire albums can be created in a home studio. Additionally, these advances in technology have driven pricing down, therefore making the studio experience a more realistic possibility. The internet has opened up a new method for distribution and so the independent artists are no longer dependent upon the major labels to move their products. In addition to these facts, the government crackdown on pay-for-play policies in the radio industry has once again opened the airwaves to the independent artists.