In the dawn of a new era of music, one in which millions of songs are publicly available online for free, sub-genres of music have emerged that are more popular than ever. Indie music, the newer successor of the alternative music genre, has become exceptionally popular among younger demographics, and has sparked an intense culture situated around music that diverges from the mainstream. However, beneath this surface culture lurks a much more nefarious issue.

In the recent months, many band members of indie music groups have been accused of sexual misconduct allegations. Many of these musicians were signed by the music label Burger Records, which caused the label to shut down.  In the aftermath of these allegations arising on social media, many are left to wonder how the indie music scene perpetuates these behaviors. These allegations are all case examples of the music and entertainment industry’s ability to silence and enable sexual assault. As a society, we need to do a better job holding these abusers accountable, create a safer culture within the music industry, and push apt consequences for these predators. 

As social media has allowed these allegations to come to light, patterns have emerged in how these victims are treated. On the instagram page @lured_by_burger_records, many victims have been able to share their experiences to a wider audience. The account has amassed over 35,000 followers, and within these posts there are some common themes among survivors’ stories. More often than not, these are young girls under the age of 18 who are given drugs and alcohol, and then lured into hanging out with these band members. One post from July 18 of this year states that Burger Records enabled trauma “by inviting these underaged teenagers to be a part of something they felt honored to be ‘allowed’ into, placing predatory men on pedestals and giving them access to potential victims.” By establishing a power dynamic like this, it makes it so much more difficult for victims to speak out about these experiences, and it is thanks to social media accounts like this that so many survivors finally have a voice in the matter.

Indie music as a culture can be especially dangerous in terms of fan and artist relationships. Often, a fanbase will feel more connected to a musician due to the more casual and less “mainstream” nature of their fame. The relatable subject matters presented in their songs, along with presenting laid-back aesthetics, creates a persona that can often disarm fans, allowing them to be more trusting. Lydia Night, lead singer of the punk band “The Regrettes,” released a statement on Instagram earlier this year describing her abusive relationship with Joey Armstrong, a member of the band SWMRS. The relationship started when Night was only 16 and he was 22, and described in her post that she was excited to go on tour with them as she perceived them as being “vocal feminists,” and “having a message I thought aligned with mine.” This is another dangerous aspect of artists like these. Often, they are perceived as being “woke” and progressive in their intentions, however it only creates a more disarming effect that allows for manipulation and grooming.

The music and entertainment industries as a whole need complete reform, as the trauma caused by their carelessness is extremely damaging to so many people. Letting this behavior go unchecked has detrimental consequences. The first step in creating change is to create a culture in which everyone feels safe enough to speak on their experiences. And as for myself, considering I am an indie music fan as well, it was shocking and extremely nauseating to see these allegations from bands that I have listened to. Obviously, I will not be supporting these artists anymore. For a more comprehensive list of indie sexual misconduct allegations, visit this website.