5 Reasons You Should Listen to Indies Only

Well, I could honestly think of over one hundred reasons you should listen to the show but I'll break it down to just five. 

Indies Only airs on Alt 101.7 in Tuscaloosa each Saturday night from 9 pm-midnight. The premise behind the show is that we play nothing but unsigned and independent artists. NO major labels get any action on Saturday nights!

The definition of "indie" as described on Wikipedia states,

Independent music (often referred to as indie music or indie) is music produced independently from commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, a process that may include an autonomous, do-it-yourself approach to recording and publishing.

It's not necessarily a sound. Although I've been told on more than one occasion, "I just don't like indie music." Well, indie is not a genre. What we play on Indies Only each week spans many styles of music. From rock and pop to hip hop and blues. It's all inclusive... as long as no major label is involved.

Now, what makes a label a major label? According to another Wikipedia article,

The Association of Independent Music defines a 'major' as "a multinational company which (together with the companies in its group) has more than 5% of the world market(s) for the sale of records or music videos." As of 2012, there are only three labels that can be referred to as "major labels" (Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group). 

Now, let me give you 5 reasons (In no particular order) you should listen to Indies Only. There are more, as I said before, but here are five songs that started out on Indies Only and ended up being hits in regular rotation on Alt 101.7.

1. SHAED Trampoline

One of the first songs to flip from the show to the station, Trampoline reached number one on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart and number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019. It is still in rotation as I type!

2. RISE AGAINST Nowhere Generation

This one from Rise Against didn't stay long on Indies Only before it took the leap to everyday plays. I expect it may be around for a while longer too!

3. JAPANESE BREAKFAST Be Sweet

On March 2, 2021 Michelle Zauner released the song Be Sweet, the first single from the third Japanese Breakfast album, Jubilee, which was released by Dead Oceans. It can still be heard on Alt 101.7 today!

4. BLACK PUMAS Colors

On November 24, 2020, Colors received Grammy Award nominations for Record of the Year and Best American Roots Performance, while their self-titled album received a nomination for Album of the Year.

5. BEACH BUNNY Cloud 9

This is one of the more recent tracks to be sent into rotation and is definitely one of my favs after several weeks spinning on Indies Only!

Other names from the show you might be familiar with include: Beabadoobee, Girl in Red, I Don't know How But They Found Me, Bakar, Rex Orange County, and others. So, see, Indies Only is a pretty cool show!

I hope you check it out on Saturday (9 pm-12 am) and find something you like!