Why Indies Still Matter: Independent Music & Consolidation

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  "date": "2026-03-17",
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      "details": "Jess Page is co-founder of the independent artist services company Rareform, which she started with industry peer Hallie Anderson. Rareform represents global artists such as Royel Otis, Julia Jacklin, L’Imperitance, The Blaze, Dorian Electra, Loukeman, Kara Jackson, Genesis Owusu, Keli Holiday and Obongjayar to build custom direct marketing, digital, DSP, and release strategy campaigns that support long-term growth. Page previously served as co-GM of Mom+Pop Music alongside Anderson, where the two led the label through a transformative period. During her six-year tenure at Mom+Pop, Page built and executed digital strategies for Courtney Barnett, Porter Robinson, Tom Morello, Orion Sun and Flume, including his GRAMMY-winning 2016 album Skin. Prior to her time at Mom+Pop Music, Page was part of the digital marketing team at Caroline Distribution (now Virgin). She is an expert in digital and DSP strategies with an instinctual understanding of how artists tick – a quality that allows her to be a trusted advisor to artists and their teams.\n\n",
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      "details": "Alexis Brown is an Artist Manager at September Management, which represents artists like Adele, Glass Animals, Rex Orange County and more. In addition to artist management, her background includes experience in A&R and artist relations. Prior to joining September Management, Alexis worked at Sony Music Entertainment supporting Salaam Remi, EVP of A&R and Production. Earlier in her career, Alexis gained experience in artist relations while working in the Talent Relations department at Viacom. Alexis was named to Billboard's 40 Under 40 list in 2022 and earned an Emmy award for her work on the 2021 CBS special \"Adele One Night Only.\"\n",
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  "description": "The recorded music industry is becoming more consolidated, with major labels acquiring independent music organizations at a faster clip, and the role of the independent sector is shifting as a result. UMG’s proposed acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings is just one example of this, though the trend has been increasing in recent years. In this changing landscape, what does independent music mean in 2026, and is it still important? What resources and strategies can independent artists use to build their careers as the industry continues to evolve?",
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  "long_description": "The recorded music industry is becoming more consolidated, with major labels acquiring independent music organizations at a faster clip, and the role of the independent sector is shifting as a result. UMG’s proposed acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings is just one example of this, though the trend has been increasing in recent years. In this changing landscape, what does independent music mean in 2026, and is it still important? What resources and strategies can independent artists use to build their careers as the industry continues to evolve?",
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