The live room of Tarquin Studios in Bridgepor, Conn. is where record producer Peter Katis has recorded groups including indie rockers Interpol, who have had several top 50 hits in the U.S. and UK. Photo by Ned Gerard (courtesy of Peter Katis)

Peter Katis is a record producer for recording artists on all levels.  He operates from his home studio Tarquin Records. The studio is based in Connecticut and works closely with recording artists to produce a final product that will be distributed to indie labels. At the moment, Katis is producing a band called Long Ways. Katis has helped produce other bands such as Tokyo Police Club, Mates of State and Interpol to name a few.

How do independent labels offer more creative control?

“On an independent label you get to do what you want to do. At a big major label there is going to be a much more bottom line. The record has to make money and if the people in charge don’t believe they are going to make money they are going to weigh in with their opinion. At an indie label that is usually not the case. Obviously most bands work with indie labels because they don’t mess with what the band is trying to do.”

Would it be possible for an independent artist to sell millions of albums without changing for the mainstream?

“What makes a major label a major label is they have money and the infrastructure. It’s not so much that they don’t have the major label budget to make records, I’m sure they do, you find a way to make records. It’s more when the record’s done there is not enough to promote a record. The music industry is certainly changing a lot now so I think the major labels are a lot more scared than independent labels are.”

With the corporate mergers of record labels increasing, and the sales of music, as well as the variety of genres decreasing, what do you think the future of music is?

“Everything is shifting but for many years the major record labels could get things played on the radio, then they can get things in the major record stores. They have money to put them in the front racks. They pay publicists to make sure that the records are written about. They do it in a coordinated way so when the record comes out it will be in the stores that day, it will be written about in magazines, it will be playing on the radio and the band will be on tour. An independent label tries to do all those things but it’s very likely non of those things will happen at the same time.”

Major labels are frequently being criticized for being unwilling to adapt to the changes that new media have brought. Do you think they will ever become willing to adapt?

“Definitely things have changed with the Internet. You can download music for free so easily. I don’t know what this is going to mean in the future for record companies of any size. Obviously people are going to need to keep hearing music but it’s definitely tricky if they can’t make any money from the record. The existing paradigm is shifting. I think this is going to effect all labels. I know some really great indie labels that have secretly gone away and it’s really sad. It’s definitely not just the major labels that are going to get hurt. In fact, you could say they are in better shape because they are a major cooperation. They will figure something out. I don’t think anybody is safe with the way things are going, it’s strange.”

History In The Making

“I think the most important thing about being on an independent label is being able to have a fan base that believes in every record you put out in something they are interested in. That’s really hard to do because at some point you got to start trying to find different kinds of music. I think that majors are definitely going to last longer but independents have a good shot at trying to continue as long as those different outlets are continuing to come up.”25 -Brian Asplin A&R, Marketing, Publicity, Harmonized Records

For all that has been said, the music scene that was once making profit off of CD sales is slowly adapting to the new media. Due to this decline, record labels are noticing this shift and are beginning to understand that changes need to be made. With this change, major labels are failing to produce music that is not necessarily radio friendly, but able to compete in online music stores that are at the forefront of music distribution today, and putting indie artists on a more level playing field with the major recording artists.

Independent artists rely on the internet to sell their CDs and get in touch with labels and promoters to market their music. For Jamie Bright, having a Web site with his music and tour information, fans can access this information more readily. The fact of the matter is, it is becoming less about physical CDs and more digital distribution. Technology is adapting and independent artists are beginning to shine right alongside mainstream artists.

“In the industry, there are dollar signs in hip hop, but that is also part of the problem. Everybody has a mixed record collection where hip hop is next to rock and jazz. I don’t know rappers that don’t listen to rock and vice versa.  The industry is pigeon holing their consumers and that is closed minded.” Keith Saunders, vice president, Exotic Recordings

Written by Jon Stewart with Brittany Hutton & Ryan Lowell