I believe independent production budgets in the U.S. are quite different from the budgets we get this side of the Atlantic.
Most of the time a band here has enough to pay for 12 hour studio time and, in that time, they have to record 10 to 12 songs, mix and master all of them. Finished product in a couple of days. That's about a US$400 budget.
The albums are released and, quite often, they're getting airplay and some credit from their public and music critics.
How much do independent labels invest on studio time in the US?
And, what really is an "independent production/label" over there?
The one that is now considered the most important independent label in Portugal (
www.bor-land.com) is run by two students, from the apartment of one of them and has a budget of, i guess, some US$10.000 per year to invest in production (recording) and CD manufacturing.
None of the albums they release is profitable in sales and i believe most of the income results from concerts they promote through the released CDs.
CD distribution is independent, of course, and is mostly based on bona-fide display in a few record stores or internet sales.
So, when they bring a band to my studio it usuallly means: get it done in a couple of days for 500 bucks.
Do you get anything similar?
What i mean by this is: working fast, capturing the performance, the whole band playing at once and recording simultaneously, overdubbed vocals... al in one day. Mix and master the following day.
Everyday.