Pitchfork

What was your introduction to indie rock? Think back. Was it seeing the Replacements on "Saturday Night Live"? An R.E.M. video? A band t-shirt Kurt Cobain wore? Garden State? Hearing "Float On" on the radio?

We've all had those turning points in our lives (you probably wouldn't be reading Pitchfork right now if you hadn't!), but what about the next generation? What about those kids out there right now who don't know who Sonic Youth are (gasp!) or don't care about the Arcade Fire (shock!)? Who or what is going to be the gatekeeper for them?

According to Entertainment Weekly and Billboard, a group of independent (and "independent") labels are teaming up to put out a series of compilations aimed at seducing the newbie listener over to our way of life.

EW.com says that the comps will feature the likes of Bloc Party, the Shins, Bright Eyes, Air, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, M. Ward, Ted Leo, Cat Power, Silversun Pickups (UPDATE: Silversun Pickups have said that they are NOT involved in these compilations), the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Sonic Youth, and that labels such as Vice, Matador, and Sub Pop will take turns putting out each volume.

However, both Matador and Sub Pop would not confirm their involvement in the series. Vice's label manager Adam Shore was quoted in Entertainment Weekly's article, but told Pitchfork that "those comments went out prematurely and all the information in there is not 100% confirmed."

Said information included Shore saying, "We're partnering with MTV2, and the focus is going to be Wal-Marts, big box stores, red states, and TV advertising-- to really go beyond... We don't really expect indie rock stores to support this record. It's for the casual fan."

MTV acknowledged that they have discussed the possibility of becoming involved in the series, but that nothing had been confirmed yet.

Billboard.com reports that the entire project is being "spearheaded" by the Alternative Distribution Alliance (or ADA, if you're cool), the Warner Music Group-owned company that distributes Vice, Sub Pop, Matador, and countless others. ADA had not responded to questions at the time of this story's publication.

So. Are these compilations actually coming out? Probably. Will they be on Vice, Matador, and Sub Pop? Maybe. Will MTV be involved? Not so sure.

But the most uncertain thing of all? Whether anybody will actually buy the things.