KEY POINTS:
A major figure in the 1990s "grunge" rock movement says the distinction between major and independent music labels has vanished with the emergence of the internet.
Co-founder and chief executive of Seattle-based record label Sub Pop, Jonathan Poneman, visited Brisbane for the three-day Big Sound Music Industry Summit to give music industry people an insight into how to drive an independent record label to the top.
Celebrating Sub Pop's 20th birthday this year, Poneman can claim to have discovered bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes and Flight of the Conchords.
However, like people's musical tastes, Poneman said the music industry was continually evolving.
"When I would attend similar conferences throughout the 90s, the major discussion was always indie labels versus major labels," Poneman said.
"Well, that distinction is no longer relevant.
"Anybody can be a record label and anyone can be a pop star and the recording process is now more accessible than ever before.
"I think everybody should be a record label or pop star at least once in their life. It is a truly a time of egalitarianism in the music industry. There is no hierarchy."
However, Poneman warned others looking to start up their own labels not to follow his exact footsteps.
"It's important for people to create their own models, in creating a new record label particularly, because the times are so different in terms of both accessibility and distribution channels, access to radio, access to internet and recording."
- AAP