The Rise of the Independent Label: stronger than ever
As many of you know, some of the heavy hitters on the label side of things are now run by bigger corporate conglomerates. There are pros and cons to this business structure, as we all know, as well as a learning curve as the once independent labels join forces with “the bigger fish”. This ultimately always results in big changes, for better or worse.
We’ve seen some big shifts in 2025 with some of these labels dropping a lot of artists as they restructure and grow. This wasn’t restricted only to artists being dropped, but also to staff.
So, what to do when a company you’ve been working with for years decides to drop you or they no longer need or want you? Is this the end of life as you know it?
Hell no! There are plenty of independently run labels out there that do things their own way and who are often looking for new and established talent. And what if your dream label doesn’t exist yet? Then why not start one yourself? Is it better to be a little fish in a big sea? Or do you prefer being a big fish in a little sea?
As our industry is ever-changing, it’s important to remember that a major label isn’t the be-all, end-all of your career. Independent labels never went out of style, but they are on the rise as more and more artists are looking for different kinds of structures based on their needs.
We are proud to present these independent labels to you so you can see that there are choices out there beyond only fishing in the big sea.
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Otto Egil Sætre (NO)
Karisma & Dark Essence Records / Apollon Records / Gymnocal Industries
Otto Egil Sætre works for Karisma & Dark Essence Records, co-owns and co-runs Apollon Records, and has been running his own record label Gymnocal Industries since 2004. He's had his hands in a few hundred album releases, and is still hungry for new music, new bands and as many concerts as possible. As a musician, being signed to a few really bad deals in the past has played a big part in how he himself deals with bands.
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JJ Tartaglia (CA)
Boonsdale Records
JJ Tartaglia is the owner of Canadian label Boonsdale Records. Founded in 2008, the label has been a resilient player in the independent rock/metal sector, releasing albums via worldwide distributors, exporting bands to Europe, and championing Canadian metal overall. DIY methods have been the prominent strategy in helping Boonsdale push forward in our always changing industry. Over the years the company has expanded into management, concert promotion, tour booking, music video production and also organizes the Wacken Metal Battle in Canada since 2013. JJ combines a deep passion for music with business savvy to produce results using an artist-conscious approach. As a musician and songwriter, JJ is a longtime endorsee of Pearl Drums, 2x JUNO award nominee, member of heavy metal band Skull Fist, and vocalist/drummer for his own group Thunderor.
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Philipp Schulte (DE)
Vesperian
With 24 years of experience in the music industry, Philipp Schulte most recently served as International Label Head at Century Media Records until June 2025. He is the founder of Vesperian, a newly established label working with artists such as Múr, Forsmán (both appearing at the Inferno Festival), Stormkeep, Wayfarer, Polymoon, Dry Wedding, and Dreadnought, among others. His work is shaped by the conviction that parts of the modern music industry have drifted into a dead end — and by a practical desire to build healthier, more rewarding ways of working: better conditions for artists, more sustainable approaches for labels, and a deeper, more enjoyable connection for fans.
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Roger Andersson (SE)
Suicide Records
For 20 years, Suicide Records has been a steady part of the underground in Sweden, later expanding the network outside of the borders. A label built on stubbornness, integrity, and not wanting to compromise. For two decades, Suicide Records have been releasing records because they are great and they felt right - not because of trends, not because of numbers, not because of what was expected.
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Mod: John Giulio Sprich (DE)
Euroblast Festival / Bands Management
John Sprich is a German, now UK-based, artist manager, festival promoter, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of metal music, artist development, and live events.
Artist manager since 2011 and founder of the UK Artist management company “Bands Management” in 2021, he manages the careers of Allt, Humanity’s Last Breath, Manuel Gardner Fernandes, Unprocessed, Vildhjarta, and Vola. His focus is on combining a creative vision with a highly strategic approach to touring, partnerships, and long-term career-building, empowering artists to grow in parallel with their careers.
As co-founder and promoter of Cologne, Germany-based Euroblast Festival, he has helped shape one of Europe’s key homes for progressive and experimental heavy music since its founding in 2008.