Collectivism, Synergies and Artistic Value: The Space of Independent Micro-labels in Portugal in the 21st Century

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the values and practices of a group of small independent labels called micro-labels within the field of popular music. These have emerged in Portugal in a context of disintegration of the record industry in its traditional model. Our approach considers four dimensions: editorial line and policy; distribution practices, synergies with other structures within the subfield of small-scale musical production; and synergies with the media. For the purpose, we define a sample of independent labels based on some common aspects, such as their small size and distribution, as well as different aspects between them, such as the musical styles and genres in which they are specialized. In the end, we conclude that the independent space which corresponds to a sub-field of small-scale cultural production (Bourdieu 1996) is characterized by important synergies between labels and other structures within the same field as well as with the media specialized in music. Common aspects among publishers do not obfuscate though the diversity of strategies and practices between them. The article aims to be a contribution to the study of the independent sector of music production in contemporary Portugal, signaling Portugal in the map of popular music studies on the music industry(s).