The Independence Paradox: Why Artists Still Need the System

The indie dream is seductive: own your masters, keep your money, answer to nobody. But here's the reality check — the music industry doesn't actually work that way anymore, and pretending it does sets artists up to fail.

Richard Leach, CEO of Curve Royalty Systems, just dropped a perspective piece breaking down the contradiction at the heart of modern music business. You can go independent, sure. But you're still tangled up in a web of streaming platforms, distributors, payment processors, and analytics tools that have their own interests. That's not freedom — that's just a different kind of dependence.

The point isn't that independence is a bad move. It's that "independent" doesn't mean what it used to. Today's artists need to understand the ecosystem they're operating in, whether they're signed or DIY. You trade one set of obligations for another. The key is knowing which game you're actually playing and why.

It's a solid reality check for anyone thinking independence is just a flip of the switch.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide → https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/independence-in-an-interdependent-industry/