More and more artists and bands are putting out music without the help of record companies? So does this mean that these mammoth corporate machines are facing their final death march, or will there still be room for them in a predominantly independent marketplace?

It has never been easier for acts to release their own music. With home recording studios being extremely cost-effective, the high costs associated with creating an album have dropped dramatically and self-funding a release is not only attainable, but probably even more cost-effective than going traditional routes. With CD duplication at an all-time low, the whole process of making an album through to it being ready to sell is now, quick, easy and cheap. In turn, artists can sell their music easily through iTunes or even their own online shops, whilst selling merchandise at gigs suddenly becomes hugely lucrative.

By undertaking CD printing yourself, you will not owe record companies anything and will proceed to make a profit instantly without worrying about not only the record company clawing back their original expenditure, but also about them taking a hefty cut beyond this point.

However the home studio and CD printing route does have certain limitations. Record companies are now mostly good for their publicity machines and their ability to get new acts seen by the masses. This can of course be done by the bands themselves, but it can be costly and also a great deal of work. However, for many it will be equally as lucrative to get their own CD duplication going and produce CDs themselves, not to mention a great deal quicker. In turn, they may well find they come to the attention of the right labels, whilst being in a far better position to negotiate very favourable terms.

So record companies are not dead – but they’re also not necessarily needed either.