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The independent music market grows giddily at a world level, above all in the digital era and through homemade production. However, in underdeveloped countries like Chile the independent scene is not an option, but the only alternative to the limited number of big record labels available.

An alternative outlet for national musicians, who do not have money behind them, is to be associated with small and independent record labels, whose function is not to supply money to finance the record process, but more to help in the marketing of the music to radio stations, television channels and to provide some equipment for those “not so crowded” concerts. So, these small labels are more akin to a manager than a source of monetary backup for the production of the artist’s records.

Production duties are being done these days by the humble computer and its CD burner. Those musicians who go on to then remaster the CD in a professional recording studio and then make copies of the album with the different companies that offer such services, face an approximate cost of one thousand dollars per 500,000 copies, with an estimated profit of 300%.

On the other hand, many record stores are reluctant to buy ‘unknown or alternative music’, so many of these artists keep boxes full of CDs made by themselves or try to sell them on the Internet.

In Chile, the artist can’t survive as an indie musician alone. It is all done for the love of art and most have to alternate playing music with other work unrelated to the world of music (banks, stores, restaurants, etc), and playing live in pubs or small concerts venues for some extra cash.

Few have the luck to be approached by a prestige record label such as EMI, Sony Music, BMG or Warner Music, and many of those that are chosen can not accept the commercial and publicity conditions that come with the big money.

Some remarkable names of artists in the Chilean scene of independent music are:

Leo Quinteros: With two works in his discography (Fallando, 2002 & 1A, 2004), this lawyer by profession and musician by vocation was acclaimed by national music critics for his second work 1A. The so-called ‘orchestra-man’ executes minimal rock music, although the lyrics are a piece of art. You should watch this young talent perform live: most of the time the “I do it all by myself boy” is alone with his guitar surrounded by effects, samplers and a drummer, composing sonorous atmospheres that make a hologram of pleasure.

Visit www.leoquinteros.cl if you want to know more about this musician. Download tracks and read a little bit more about him and how he started it all.

Manuel “Pollo” Huerta: The troubador of Buin (a small town close to Santiago) is a good example of Chilean folk music. With five CDs in his collection (Elegía, 1986; Azul, azul, 1994; Manuel huerta en vivo, 1998; Música de Manuel Huerta en vivo, 2003; Manuel Huerta en vivo, ciclo de la trova joven, 2004), this remarkable music teacher and composer manufactures songs that have a certain resemblance to folk songs once executed by the legendary Chilean songwriter Víctor Jara, but suffused with contemporary energy — comparable to the Kings of Convenience.

If you want to know more about this great performer of the Chilean trova, visit his website: www.manuelhuerta.cl, where you can download tracks of his discography, find out about his beginnings and post some messages in his forum.

Legua York: originating in La Legua, a popular neighbourhood in southern Santiago. They perform hip hop, with highly socially aware lyrics fighting to rescue true values in a society where money is the most important goal. With two independent CDs (Legua York, 1999; Esto Kon mayo, 2001) this band of rappers are revered inside the alternative hip hop music movement and in 2003 they sealed a deal with Alerce Record Label to publish the compilation album Antología underground.

To discover more about Legua York, visit their website: www.leguayork.tk, where you can read up on their beginnings, visit the discography and sign the visitors’ book.