Beginning in January of 1999 with Eskil Simonsson (Covenant), Johan Van Roy (Suicide Commando), Bryan Erickson (Velvet Acid Christ), Ronan Harris (VNV Nation) and Stefan Herwig (sometimes A&R of OffBeat) the new label Dependent is born.

Dependent is more than another alternative label; it's a unique company with a new and innovative concept. Dependent considers the artists to be an intergral part of the label, consulting them on some of the most basic and fundamental issues, and attempts through a "quality before quantity" motto to serve as a countersign to the current state of alternative music. "The marketing strategies of most of the industry has really hurt the market in the last several years and in the process created a impassable jungle of mediocre releases. We're trying to do the exact opposite of what the rest of the so-called independents are doing. Hence the name..." (Stefan Herwig)

After 8 years of existence Stefan Herwig decided to call it quits. Dependent Records will stop releasing new CDs in summer 2007.

In May 2009 Stefan Herwig announced that he will re-open the label including physical releases.