Independence Is Our Only Choice: Associations and Collectives as Micro-Independent Record Labels in Galicia (2010-20)

Abstract

During the last decade, Galician alternative music has lived a time of intense activity and increasing prestige, despite working from the cultural periphery of a state also peripheral in relation to anglo-saxon countries. Galician artists have been praised by the Spanish music press (mostly based in Madrid and Barcelona). Some professional labels and management agencies emerged but, most importantly, many cultural associations and collectives started to appear: these projects served as venues, as cultural programmers, started fanzines, radio and video programms and also functioned as micro-independent record labels. This chapter studies this tendency but focusing in a sample of significant non-professional initiatives that were active in the period 2010-2020: Seara Records, Ferror Records, Caracol Negro, PORNO, La Melona, Discos da Máquina, Prenom, FØ Records, Lixo Urbano and CGTH Records. Through interviews and the study of their different activities, I will try to explain their nature and the causes of their emergence by observing their role as labels within the scope of activities they carry out and the different models of organization they use, as well as the discourses they maintain, with the aim of tracing their connection to the general context of independent music, the tradition of DIY and music industries in Galicia.