1. The Flaming Lips
Label: Warner Brothers
As pointed out by Sam Beam, Warner Brothers Records encourages the career artist, and The Flaming Lips run with the major is fuel for this view. No other band has been on a major for longer while still being viewed as an independent. A relationship that began when an A&R man witnessed a show where the Lips almost burnt down the venue, has continued and thrived for more than 20 years. An early breakthrough single allowed the band some freedoms, but the belief in the band to deliver, through releasing four albums to be played simultaneously, by watch Wayne Coyne let his eccentricities loose in their live show, by indulging world record attempts and gummy vaginas and movies about Mars and crazy stunt after crazy stunt, we can say that the majors are responsible for the most original and spirited band of the past 20 years, with The Flaming Lips reminding us that independent musicians are important and so is the distinction, but the ideals of that community can really be found in anyone who puts what they believe in over their bank account.
