UK’s Independent Label Market launches first Easter edition

The Independent Label Market (ILM), the large-scale outdoors fair dedicated to all things indie and vinyl recordings, returns to its spiritual home in London’s iconic Old Spitalfields Market for the third year.

Taking place on 28 March, the event will see about 160 independents and their owners set up their own stalls to sell souvenirs, collectors’ items, and limited editions directly to music fans of all kinds to celebrate the industry’s independent spirit.

Among the labels that have agreed to take part are Warp, Hospital Records, Heavenly Recordings, Domino and All Saints Records from the UK. Also present will be Germany’s !K7 Records and Brussels-based Factory Benelux.

On the ILM’s Facebook page, we learn that All Saints Records will be selling a limited number of test pressings featuring Brian Eno. And like the vinyl format, cassettes might be en vogue again. London label Post/Pop Records will bring cassettes of the new single from Irish punk rock band Ash.

The ILM (logo pictured), which is being sponsored by UK independent labels trade body AIM, was co-founded by its organisers Joe Daniel and Katie Riding in 2011. One of its missions has been to offer fans an opportunity to meet the labels’ founders and managers. Until this year, it has taken place twice a year, during the summer and winter.

However, 2015 will see the first Easter ILM next month, meaning there will be three this year. It is possibly a reflection of independent labels’ growing influence in the business. Last year, industry observers noted that independents now account for an estimated 30% of the global music market.

[Juliana Koranteng]