##
Indy Music Ecosystem[[Read on nham.co.uk](https://nham.co.uk/2025/01/indy-music-ecosystem/ )]
I’ve been pondering some ideas since a [Mastodon post](https://topspicy.social/@meljoann/113543686931415634 ) by Meljoann (npub1nuu…gjr3) spawned a discussion with a lot of energy as to how all of the listeners, music-makers and platform owners in the (specifically Fedi) indy music space can better support and promote one another.
Naturally lots of people have lots of ideas and there had been good attempts to get some of these down via conversation rooms, group documents etc. until Christmas (and perhaps a general feeling of downbeat from the sunsetting of Radio Free Fedi) seemed to stem the tide.
Then earlier this week keef (npub1akg…8c0s) posted an [excellent article](https://blog.key13.uk/a-new-hope ) on his excitement and hope for the future, based on the first steps of interoperability between Bandwagon and The Indie Beat Radio (TIBR).
*(Platforms developed by Ben Pate 🤘🏻 (npub17gq…8hhz) and MizKirsten (npub1r7c…2mc5) respectively – two people that I know, having spoken directly with them, are building the things they’re building for all of the right reasons).*
Keef’s article has got conversation flowing again and it’s at this point I want to share some of the notes I’ve made. I was going to write it in article format but was finding it hard to find a coherent structure to put many interlinking thoughts together. So instead I’ve [scribbled down some stuff on this whiteboard](https://excalidraw.com/#json=aSAQD6QWDQoaZEYy8UylO,9r5ApzARebzBpilqTse5wQ ).
TLDR; If we can develop the ecosystem which envelopes all of the platforms that currently support indy artists, bringing along all of the good things that Pitchfork, Bandcamp and Spotify combined* did (**discovery**, **distribution** (inc. **attribution**), fair artist **payment**, **consent** and **trust**. *(Thanks Keef for articulating these labels in your post!)*) then I think we could be on to something. **Interoperability** and **community** are key to making that work.
**Pitchfork-wise*: Quality reviews people enjoy reading and feel they can trust.
*Bandcamp-wise*: Radio discoverability, access to previews, full purchases, catalogues, fair artist payment etc.
*Spotify-wise*: Standalone player and ability to create playlists and now-playing queues.
My whiteboard isn’t comprehensive (I’m sure I’ve missed out a lot of initiatives that should be included, apologies!) It’s just down as an illustration of my understanding of things at present. My hope is that it helps develop further progression.
I’ll sign off by saying I share Keef’s optimism and I too feel excited by the prospect of what lies ahead. There’s a lot of work to be done and there will be quite a few technical issues to solve but where there’s a will (and I see a lot of will in this community) there’s a way (and there is a [*******](https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=jhjNS0-onm0 ) way!)
Sam
[[⬇ All here 🎧]](https://nham.co.uk/2025/01/indy-music-ecosystem/ )
NHAM
npub1ht…vfq0v
2025-01-31 15:17:33 UTC
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"content": "## \n\nIndy Music Ecosystem[[Read on nham.co.uk](https://nham.co.uk/2025/01/indy-music-ecosystem/ )]\n\nI’ve been pondering some ideas since a [Mastodon post](https://topspicy.social/@meljoann/113543686931415634 ) by nostr:npub1nuuauk3mt2t8fqmzfeq3xvxzq0u0malqtepk54gvvjm7yzyaprtqqcgjr3 spawned a discussion with a lot of energy as to how all of the listeners, music-makers and platform owners in the (specifically Fedi) indy music space can better support and promote one another.\n\nNaturally lots of people have lots of ideas and there had been good attempts to get some of these down via conversation rooms, group documents etc. until Christmas (and perhaps a general feeling of downbeat from the sunsetting of Radio Free Fedi) seemed to stem the tide. \n\nThen earlier this week nostr:npub1akgwgw7t7klvl93evmpvvlax9ye5pj8gctxcu7h8g7xfgnaulruq9d8c0s posted an [excellent article](https://blog.key13.uk/a-new-hope ) on his excitement and hope for the future, based on the first steps of interoperability between Bandwagon and The Indie Beat Radio (TIBR). \n*(Platforms developed by nostr:npub17gq5ww2fth3xnatp8sjra949u2mjqqr7n063ddvfqwnczrznhp0qyz8hhz and nostr:npub1r7cctu5qak7um4vxlq64x6yyxgs3kje7g2huljkn2ff2en4k2v7sn22mc5 respectively – two people that I know, having spoken directly with them, are building the things they’re building for all of the right reasons).*\n\nKeef’s article has got conversation flowing again and it’s at this point I want to share some of the notes I’ve made. I was going to write it in article format but was finding it hard to find a coherent structure to put many interlinking thoughts together. So instead I’ve [scribbled down some stuff on this whiteboard](https://excalidraw.com/#json=aSAQD6QWDQoaZEYy8UylO,9r5ApzARebzBpilqTse5wQ ). \n\nTLDR; If we can develop the ecosystem which envelopes all of the platforms that currently support indy artists, bringing along all of the good things that Pitchfork, Bandcamp and Spotify combined* did (**discovery**, **distribution** (inc. **attribution**), fair artist **payment**, **consent** and **trust**. *(Thanks Keef for articulating these labels in your post!)*) then I think we could be on to something. **Interoperability** and **community** are key to making that work.\n\n**Pitchfork-wise*: Quality reviews people enjoy reading and feel they can trust.\n*Bandcamp-wise*: Radio discoverability, access to previews, full purchases, catalogues, fair artist payment etc.\n*Spotify-wise*: Standalone player and ability to create playlists and now-playing queues.\n\nMy whiteboard isn’t comprehensive (I’m sure I’ve missed out a lot of initiatives that should be included, apologies!) It’s just down as an illustration of my understanding of things at present. My hope is that it helps develop further progression.\n\nI’ll sign off by saying I share Keef’s optimism and I too feel excited by the prospect of what lies ahead. There’s a lot of work to be done and there will be quite a few technical issues to solve but where there’s a will (and I see a lot of will in this community) there’s a way (and there is a [*******](https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=jhjNS0-onm0 ) way!)\n\nSam\n\n\n\n\n\n[[⬇ All here 🎧]](https://nham.co.uk/2025/01/indy-music-ecosystem/ )",
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