Since the birth of the music industry, artists have consistently been dependent on music studios and producers to get their music out to the public. However, due to developments in modern music production, artists are becoming increasingly independent. This new wave of music production allowed for artists like Skrillex and Deadmau5 to become increasingly popular with mainstream audiences in the early 2010s.

This trend has shown no signs of stopping, with more new artists like Post Malone and Lil’ Pump having topped music charts in recent months. The subtle infiltration of the mainstream music industry by these independent artists owes its success to modern music production software, which is cheaper and more user-friendly than ever. When these tools were combined with free music sharing services like Spotify and Soundcloud, the rise of independent music became inevitable.

Personally, I am very happy with this turn of events, even though I don’t much care for the resulting music itself. These independent artists have begun a sort of “liberation” of the music industry from music studios and corporate influences. In the past, only music which gained the approval of producers became mainstream, and this approved music was often similar to what had come before in order to ensure its popularity amongst the general public.

With the rise of independent music production and distribution, artists whose music would have never been produced by studios in the past are having their music heard by millions each month. Musical styles that wouldn’t have had a chance for success in decades past are being welcomed by consumers.

What appears to be happening is a gradual decentralization of the music industry, where artists gain popularity through their music alone, without being forced on the public by producers or music studios. I can’t wait to see what kind of new trends this freedom will lead to, and I plan to keep my eyes (and ears) open for what’s coming next.