Is Indie Dead? by Rachael Maddux

Traditionally Indie is defined as being independently in revolt to the mainstream or pop culture; indie is dead because people sold out.

It was built around a counter-culture, but has grown and mutated to such an extent that it has virtually lost all meaning. It is empty, hollow, dead. 

I disagree: if Indie can be understood as the artifacts of a counter-culture community, then it is not dead. It just might be hard to find. We're all fairly greedy, {honestly, if you make a record you have expectations--you're not just making music for music's sake} and if a record deal came our way we'd probably take it {even if just to "to get our stuff out there, change the world etc"}. It's a bit sad that the instant a local band gets recognition and signed, it get's written off as "sold out." 

I recently read of Waylon Jennings, a musician who started out playing within his community, within his subculture. And they understood him, they were exactly like him; and there was a sort of give and take in equality and like-mindedness. And then he became more famous, or “sold-out” and began to play for people who wanted to be like him; to understand him, to know him—but they probably never would. And the people who really got him, didn’t want to listen or connect with him anymore. 

Outside of the indie label style, or wave, this is some independently made music: this is Chameleon Circuit: they are pioneers in the TROCK genre {Time Lord Rock} and they write songs about the BBC series Doctor Who. They are signed with DFTBA records {YouTube's label}; but I don't think any of their fans think they have sold out. They are the product of a sub-culture and they make music for a sub-culture. 

This is {I'm really letting my nerd out in this post} Harry and the Potters, one of the first WROCK {Wizard Rock} bands. It's a growing genre, and there are far better wrock bands out there to be sure; but Harry and the Potters are classic :) 

Queries:

1. Do you think Indie is dead? or just hiding really well? 

2. Why do we say that once a band has "made it" it has sold out? Isn't it assumed that most groups want to be "discovered"?