Independent Label Consolidation refers to the ongoing trend of mergers, acquisitions, and market concentration within the independent music sector. This phenomenon involves larger independent labels acquiring smaller ones, private equity firms investing in indie catalogs, and major labels purchasing successful independent operations¹. The trend creates a paradox where the independent sector experiences both fragmentation (with over 13,000 labels globally) and consolidation simultaneously². This consolidation raises concerns about preserving artistic diversity and the traditional indie ethos while potentially offering greater resources and market reach³.