The Guardian's article "Independents' Day" is a good way to spend a few minutes. It rehashes those often rehased topics: indies, Franz Ferdinand, indies, MySpace, indies, Artic Monkeys, etc.

About two-thirds into the article is a mention of UK band Enter Shikari, a "test case for whether a band can do it on their own." The techno-metal band has a different DIY model. It is doing its own publishing and has signed with a distribution company's marketing divison. PIAS-owned Vital, the distributor, set up a marketing division called Integral to help out independent acts.

Integral has taken one step further -- by creating an official entity -- what Warner Music Group's ADA Distribution had done with indie Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised if an American indie distributor set up a similar division. Right now, there are independent companies that handle sales and marketing for indie labels and some independent artists. Cutting out one of the intermediaries would make sense if done correctly.

[music jobs] The Beggars Group & Matador Records is seeking a Paralegal