The genre of indie rock is perhaps among the most challenging of all music genres to define; while it has its origins in the 1980’s with band that eschewed major labels, the term has come to apply to a variety of music characteristics that often defy mainstream tastes and which are more linked by philosophy than musical elements or approach.

Originally interchangeable with “alternative rock,” indie rock rose in the 1990’s, acquiring its name from “independent” labeling and marketing. Many artists of the indie rock label during this time stuck to do-it-yourself recording and distribution approaches. Today, many indie rock artists do sign with major labels, but nearly seek to do so under terms which will allow them to continue to retain autonomy creatively. The result has been a collection of “indie rock” artists who defy any unified characterization: from punk to psychedelic, from emo to slowcore, from artists like Ani DiFranco to artists such as Pavement.

The 1990’s saw the rise of alternative artists such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains; depending on the progression of their careers, some would later go on to be re-classified as also “indie rock,” although all signed with major labels and enjoyed staggering commercial success. By the turn of the new millennium, bands such as The White Stripes and The Strokes had also achieved a significant amount of commercial success as indie rock bands. Other bands, adopting a more “lo-fi” approach to music and avoiding polished recording techniques, included Beck and Elf Power.

By the new millennium, indie rock grew to become a large, eclectic genre featuring Grammy Award nominated acts such as Modest Mouse (“Float On”) and Death Cab for Cutie (“I Will Possess Your Heart.”) The groups The Strokes, The Vines, The Hives, and The White Stripes (“Seven Nation Army”) are often credited for bringing indie rock to the forefront commercially and critically, with a string of successful albums between 2000 and 2002. Groups such as Jimmy Eat World (“The Middle”) and Dashboard Confessional (“Vindicated”) also enjoyed success in the earlier part of the new millennium, often characterized as not only indie rock but also “emo,” a term applied to independent bands with a strong adolescent appeal and music which expresses emotion.

Today, indie rock continues to enjoy success with bands such as The Black Keys (“Fever”), Kings of Leon (“Use Somebody”), Fall Out Boy (“Uma Thurman”), and the Australian group My Chemical Romance (“Sing”) all enjoying success not only on the indie charts, but also often in the mainstream as well. The genre appears to be thriving, and with little sign of slowing down any time soon.

An indy rock band booking price can range from $10,000 to over $1,000,000.  Booking fees for indy rock bands are usually based on their popularity and the number of tickets they can sell for a public performance.