Symphonic’s Jorge Brea and Randall Foster were named to Billboards 2026 Indie Power Players List!
Jorge Brea, CEO, Symphonic
How are changes in the industry right now affecting the indie space?
Independence is growing, but it’s not getting easier, it’s getting more sophisticated. The barriers to entry are low, but the barrier to building a real business is higher than ever. There’s more music, more noise, and more bad actors in the system, which makes trust, transparency, and infrastructure critical. At the same time, artists are more informed. They want ownership, flexibility, and partners that actually add value beyond distribution.
We’re also heading into a period of consolidation. The indie sector has real power now, and the companies that combine global scale with flexibility and strong technology are going to pull ahead. For indies, it’s less about access and more about execution. The ones who win are the ones who can deliver both reach and real strategic value.
What excites you most about the indie world right now?
Independence is no longer the alternative, it’s the center of gravity. Artists and labels are building real, scalable businesses while keeping control of their rights. That shift is permanent. Even in the face of AI and all the noise, the most forward-thinking independents are focused on what actually matters: ownership, audience, and long term growth. That combination of control, ambition, and global access is creating a much stronger and more sustainable indie ecosystem.
Randall Foster, Chief Creative Officer, Symphonic
How are changes in the industry right now affecting the indie space?
Independent music today truly feels like the Wild West. Direct-to-fan marketing, along with the rapid adoption of AI across both the creative process and marketing, has introduced a wave of new and unexpected tools. These innovations are enabling independent labels and artists to compete more effectively with major label marketing teams and campaigns. Simply put, independent artists and labels now have more tools than ever to not just compete, but to win!
The continued democratization of the music industry has also fueled an influx of new players across distribution, influencer marketing, promotion, and social media. This expanded ecosystem is allowing artists to reach audiences in ways that were previously unimaginable.
Perhaps most telling is the growing number of former major label artists returning to the independent space later in their careers. We’ve seen significant growth in this shift firsthand, with more of these artists choosing to partner with Symphonic in recent years.
What excites you most about the indie world right now?
There has never been a more powerful time to be independent. What was once defined by flexibility and artistic freedom has evolved into something far more formidable. Independence is now about infrastructure, scale, and control.
The modern independent artist has access to the same data, tools, and global reach that were once exclusive to major labels. The playing field hasn’t just leveled, it’s been rewritten. Gatekeepers are no longer the barrier they once were; today, the only real limitation is capital. With the right investment, an independent artist can execute at a level that rivals or exceeds any major label campaign.
And the results speak for themselves. Independent music is no longer on the fringes of success, it’s at the center of it. From commercial radio to the Grammy stage, and across global market share where independents now account for nearly half the industry, this is no longer a shift. It’s a takeover.