Erykah Badu said it was bigger than religion, bigger than the government, but when it comes to the sounds dominating the airwaves (metaphorically speaking), the question is always: has it peaked? Is it over? What’s new?

Over the last few years, hip hop has more than controlled the mainstream music scene around the world, but even with Lil’ Wayne still near the top of his game, the release of Jay-Z’s anthem-heavy Blueprint 3, and innovative cats like Kid Cudi and B.O.B. coming out of ATL and middle America, I often wonder if we haven’t already seen the best of this business come and go.

And then, a few weeks ago, Jay Electronica dropped the Just Blaze-produced Exhibit C, and for some reason, the track’s got everybody thinking about what hip hop can become again.

Jay Who?

His fans range from enthusiastic to obsessed, but so far, most people who don’t follow the underground hip hop scene have never heard of Jay Electronica, and those who have, have only heard the name attached, in celebrity gossip fashion, to Erykah Badu (the couple live Tweeted the home birth of their daughter last February).

DigiMusicBids.com is the first online marketplace that is geared toward the music business. Independent bands need to take advantage of this great opportunity to grow their projects.

The Web site’s mission is to connect musicians and the people who want to work with them in the music industry.

The online platform gives artists and labels a platform to post projects for services they need completed.

Daniel Kobialka played Principal Second Violin with the San Francisco Symphony for decades, and has his own record label, LiSem Enterprises Inc. He has recorded and produced 16 albums, including three children’s albums and four guest albums with artists such as soprano Silvia McNair, David Grisman, Norton Buffalo, Enrique Coria, Jerry Garcia, and many others. Find out more about Daniel’s independent music at DanielKobialka.com.

Musicians develop their own labels for many different reasons. My reason is partly because of a challenge I took on at a young age, to take what I was told was an unmarketable instrument, the violin, and create music that expressed emotions, touched hearts, and ultimately, sold. Whatever the reason for creating their own labels, musicians sometimes forget the advantages they hold and focus instead on the multitude of challenges.

As a gentle reminder to artists as well as their potential customers, I’m sharing my personal favorite reasons why I enjoy having my own label, and why music lovers should consciously choose to buy music from independent labels.

1. Independent musicians can freely express their passion and unique talent. They can express their own personal stories, follow their own instincts, and not have to follow orders from major label executives as to what they must create. From the customer’s perspective, by exploring radio stations and other sources of independent music, they too are now free to make their own decisions as to what is hot and what is not.