NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ eMusic) - From
Johnny Cash and Miles Davis to newly liberated Radiohead, independent artists and their labels have broken molds and pushed boundaries for decades. eMusic, the world's largest digital retailer of independent music and the world's second largest digital music service after iTunes, invites music fans around the world to join in celebrating Independents Day '08 - the first global event to generate awareness of independent labels and their rich contributions to music, art and culture, July 4 - 7.
Independent music currently controls a 27.5% share of the global music market, encompassing some of the world's most exciting and diverse artists. These include Arcade Fire, Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Spoon, James Taylor, My Morning Jacket, Bjork, Tom Waits, M.I.A., Sufjan Stevens, Cat Power and thousands others. eMusic has been proud to heavily promote and feature these artists' amazing work, and are thrilled to be a longtime proponent of serious music for serious music fans.
"Independents Day '08 celebrates music that transcends rules, boundaries and commercialism. It's the antidote to every Johnny-come-lately seeking 15 minutes of fame on 'American Idol,'" said David Pakman, eMusic President and CEO. "More than any other retailer's customers, eMusic subscribers understand this and we know they will join us in supporting this event and the endless riches of independent music."
eMusic will put heavy marketing muscle behind the event, promoting it to more than 400,000 customers across North America and Europe. Efforts will include a mass email campaign to subscribers encouraging them to download a digital-only compilation of independent music available on eMusic during the celebration, pervasive onsite merchandising, and prominent onsite links to the largest-ever independent music and music collectibles worldwide auction to be held on eBay, July 4 - 14.
Under the auspices of the World Independent Network (WIN), Independents Day '08 will benefit independent label associations including the U.S.'s American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), the Recording Academy's charity MusiCares, and a special fund that supports those working to create their own independent label groups in regions like the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. eMusic is a longstanding member of A2IM, a non-profit organization of independent music labels dedicated to protecting and advancing the place of independent labels in the national marketplace.
The full track listing for the U.S. independent album compilation, including artist, song title and label, available at www.emusic.com, is as follows:
Ani DiFranco - Alla This, Righteous Babe
Atmosphere - You (Live Acoustic Version), Rhymesayers Entertainment
Black Milk featuring Fat Ray - Take Control, Fat Beats
Busy Signal - Unknown Number, Greensleeves Records Ltd.
Charlatans UK - Murder, Cooking Vinyl
Christian Scott - Rewind That (DJ Logic Remix), Concord Jazz
Dave Barnes - On A Night Like This, Razor & Tie
Devendra Banhart - Don't Look Back in Anger, XL Records/Beggars
Dr. Dog - The Ark, Cornerstone RAS
Elizabeth Cook - El Camino, Thirty Tigers
Feeder - Public Image, The Echo Label
Frank Black - The Seus (Charles Norman Remix), Cooking Vinyl
Hamell On Trial - Halfway, Righteous Babe
Hanson - Your Illusion (Live), 3CG Records
James Hunter - Don't Do Me No Favours, Hear Music/Concord
Jeff Hanson - Your Only Son, Kill Rock Stars
Jim Lauderdale - You Loved me Too, Yep Roc Records
Khia - Geeked Up, TommyBoy Entertainment
Living Legends - That Looks Good (Jones Remix), Cornerstone RAS
Pacifika - Me Cai (The Da Cruz Ragga Mix Radio Edit), Six Degrees Records
Slipknot - Purity, Roadrunner Records
The Donnas - Wasted, Purple Feather Records
The Mighty Underdogs - War Walk, Definitive Jux
Tift Merrill - Tell Me Something True, Fantasy Records/Concord
Tokyo Police Club - In a Cave (Great Lenin's Ghost vs. Octopus Rex Remix), Saddle Creek Records
The Independents Day 08 auction will feature rare, autographed or otherwise appealing recordings, artist memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Confirmed items include a four-hour rare-record quest around New York City with DJ Spooky, a Thom Yorke signed CD and test pressings belonging to Kim Deal (Pixies/Breeders) and Zach Condon (Beirut).
