Music Metrics Vault

Indie rock

Most popular artists in Indie rock

This chart is based on the monthly listeners metric for all artists tagged with the genre indie rock by Spotify. It may contain some errors or some data may not be up to date. You can check the artist profile to update data if necessary.

# Artist Monthly Listeners Followers
1
14,219,870
6,244,970
2
10,046,067
1,489,084
3
9,684,793
2,869,536
4
9,547,770
1,441,173
5
8,660,959
3,400,689
6
7,561,300
2,629,791
7
5,952,249
1,146,667
8
5,443,227
604,090
9
5,134,226
1,041,605
10
4,899,887
591,166
11
4,573,732
2,370,601
12
4,253,714
1,536,610
13
3,663,928
1,668,919
14
3,503,166
890,354
15
3,390,222
1,037,281
16
3,177,245
1,186,966
17
2,985,040
614,712
18
2,978,577
1,581,216
19
2,893,924
695,070
20
2,885,169
1,364,903
21
2,723,041
641,283
22
2,681,049
1,854,554
23
2,497,964
787,982
24
2,119,690
1,790,003
25
1,942,667
798,880
26
1,808,287
343,290
27
1,788,489
985,885
28
1,692,546
856,815
29
1,673,186
666,500
30
Car Seat Headrest
1,626,773
851,417
31
Thom Yorke
1,612,822
1,173,529
32
1,504,119
662,575
33
1,486,277
672,779
34
1,461,629
570,869
35
1,257,545
672,132
36
1,255,459
880,546
37
1,195,826
798,577
38
1,178,167
195,051
39
Sylvan Esso
1,145,721
581,546
40
The Libertines
1,060,379
910,384
41
Kurt Vile
931,536
531,518
42
White Lies
916,212
529,534
43
Editors
865,381
760,464
44
The Bravery
841,118
265,884
45
Courtney Barnett
839,848
609,946
46
Broken Social Scene
791,755
389,735
47
Whitney
766,921
274,269
48
Tennis
761,434
313,573
49
Momma
688,622
84,933
50
Angel Olsen
683,146
501,104
51
Kevin Morby
658,229
307,336
52
Generationals
653,544
155,466
53
The Maccabees
510,301
373,309
54
Animal Collective
478,750
556,289
55
Albert Hammond Jr
463,961
253,345
56
In The Valley Below
459,555
50,273
57
Sleigh Bells
456,211
284,447
58
The Walkmen
436,867
207,698
59
Coconut Records
410,917
167,525
60
Maximo Park
407,992
250,218
61
Built To Spill
395,538
327,296
62
Conor Oberst
365,764
167,043
63
Rogue Wave
365,160
120,664
64
Parquet Courts
332,879
292,840
65
Hamilton Leithauser
332,466
60,800
66
Pinback
331,856
162,378
67
The Beths
283,216
160,120
68
The Cribs
269,407
202,879
69
The New Pornographers
261,574
209,535
70
Yeasayer
256,010
215,812
71
Guided By Voices
255,403
186,591
72
Frightened Rabbit
247,348
246,547
73
Night Moves
241,844
59,403
74
Better Oblivion Community Center
235,221
134,654
75
Tokyo Police Club
235,072
204,024
76
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
226,217
186,858
77
We Are Scientists
218,681
232,146
78
Sleater-Kinney
215,767
274,539
79
The Boxer Rebellion
212,456
115,437
80
The Pigeon Detectives
207,723
208,655
81
Babyshambles
202,799
281,310
82
Dirty Pretty Things
192,521
149,475
83
The Antlers
178,717
204,685
84
Wolf Parade
161,361
164,263
85
Tomas Chris
155,388
1,515
86
Bad Books
136,136
58,625
87
Sebadoh
124,637
122,825
88
The Mysterines
110,748
67,152
89
Hop Along
92,846
114,588
90
Girls
85,258
110,857
91
Archers Of Loaf
84,602
57,552
92
Superchunk
81,707
82,360
93
Plastic Picnic
79,502
19,475
94
The Dodos
75,469
80,119
95
The Morning Benders
72,297
39,860
96
Dear and the Headlights
68,387
45,050
97
The Unicorns
64,780
87,588
98
EL VY
58,965
76,087
99
Varsity
57,639
63,659
100
Stephen Malkmus
55,714
72,995
101
Menomena
55,004
56,616
102
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
51,448
72,369
103
Islands
51,391
60,055
104
The Black Heart Procession
43,278
38,213
105
Tyler Boone
40,692
7,122
106
Mothers
40,436
50,983
107
Tapes 'n Tapes
38,991
34,210
108
Palma Violets
36,452
60,770
109
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
36,205
37,723
110
The Wrens
32,206
25,037
111
Big Lava
29,120
668
112
Crooked Fingers
28,803
11,516
113
Todd Morton
28,105
407
114
Daniel sun Krief
24,907
2,936
115
Tourism
18,381
5,014
116
Active Bird Community
17,818
13,905
117
The Rotten Bastards
17,615
900
118
Wolfgressive
16,355
1,373
119
Ned Hawkins
12,037
146
120
Jax Fleming
10,880
206
121
IONA SKY
10,809
1,044
122
Branland
10,691
630
123
Preston Scott
10,613
136
124
Dugway
10,447
66
125
The Rust Belt
10,334
2,589
126
Buke & Gase
9,906
15,275
127
Void Experience
9,143
23
128
Dave Stefanic
8,476
2,088
129
My Mojo
8,471
631
130
Petey
7,444
1,181
131
Jason Robert Miller
6,631
53
132
Silkworm
6,482
12,657
133
The Mighty Child
6,075
123
134
New Town Ghosts
5,945
127
135
Adrian Underhill
5,933
1,536
136
Accidental Martyr
5,721
190
137
Greyshadow
5,582
818
138
Koser
5,308
733
139
Stuart Lawrence
5,288
70
140
Shell Games
5,191
178
141
Learn to Drive
4,648
105
142
Often Easy
4,645
460
143
Rudey
4,630
104
144
Michael Walsh
4,430
14
145
The Masterminds
4,391
1,451
146
Broken Waves
4,320
418
147
Jonathan Something
4,308
3,104
148
AhhWoo
4,261
591
149
egobox
4,126
9
150
Holm
4,118
276
151
Samuel Avery
4,031
100
152
The Trouts
3,887
215
153
Zach Bair
3,871
339
154
Backstrom
3,863
203
155
Kotonic
3,767
121
156
Cos
3,750
27
157
The Remainders
3,540
3,625
158
Waterlog
3,522
95
159
Mary Ann
3,520
222
160
Nathan Whitt Band
3,470
49
161
Frankie & The Heartstrings
3,453
5,792
162
Blaqk Van
3,417
172
163
Solace
3,386
553
164
The Avenues
3,355
1,283
165
I Me Mine
3,294
1,902
166
Thinking about
3,277
75
167
Positivity Club
3,259
209
168
Jesse Stuart
3,239
926
169
The Fiends
3,223
984
170
Ethan Martel
3,133
266
171
Pennyroyal
3,128
308
172
Black Pulp
3,114
1,673
173
Urban Printz
3,055
94
174
Alex Ray
3,034
11
175
HAPPY
2,949
4,948
176
beechgrover
2,834
282
177
Vincent, Truly
2,807
48
178
KONISHI
2,803
55
179
Masque
2,765
1,438
180
Sumthing Strange
2,756
6,020
181
Now.
2,747
526
182
Sean Massaro
2,719
216
183
Waverly Drive
2,667
839
184
S.A.M
2,565
2,247
185
The Michael Perspective
2,555
211
186
Arlo Indigo
2,537
2,713
187
TOY CAR
2,503
404
188
General Mack's Grapeshot
2,487
55
189
JC Holt
2,470
142
190
Team Genius
2,337
589
191
Lives
2,311
239
192
The Lightning Struck
2,283
19
193
Opossom
2,267
4,813
194
Carson Lewis
2,244
417
195
Echoes of Dublin
2,238
44
196
AdaĂŻna
2,201
69
197
Zipper Club
2,190
1,702
198
Day Sleeper
2,186
99
199
Orion Shoals
2,167
678
200
ben silby
2,161
214
201
Steam Donkey
2,158
1,128
202
Jiminy
2,150
71
203
Arcwelder
2,137
2,723
204
Unfamiliar Things
2,132
1,401
205
Bedhed
2,107
548
206
Ahacoma
2,084
165
207
PJ Orr
2,078
220
208
Ryan Hahn and The Believers
2,063
114
209
Pankhurst
2,056
444
210
Ford the River
2,017
628
211
Wild Sweet Orange
2,008
3,513
212
SaffeK
2,007
1,840
213
Fauna
1,997
326
214
The Comas
1,991
932
215
Derairaise
1,968
468
216
Leo Trovato
1,966
146
217
auraentrance2024
1,903
21
218
ANIMI VOX
1,892
417
219
Who Are You Lutra Lutra ??
1,878
212
220
Scissors For Lefty
1,863
1,333
221
Terry Barnett
1,850
2
222
Edgar Everyone
1,816
363
223
Kelp
1,805
172
224
Jamie Dunphy and True North
1,780
61
225
Wezmer
1,763
358
226
Danko
1,741
1,214
227
Fleeting Paris
1,715
100
228
poor york
1,711
206
229
Out The Window
1,707
41
230
Damien Darr
1,706
178
231
Psychic Poppies
1,677
93
232
Opero Fergo
1,676
83
233
Mars Hall
1,676
310
234
cholopunx
1,675
196
235
Oli Barton
1,649
423
236
OFF-KNOWNEOUS
1,629
127
237
Ben Lorentzen
1,622
441
238
Roman Joon
1,612
26
239
Lost Beach
1,598
1,062
240
Al Briggs
1,590
1,743
241
Brielzaid
1,548
4,615
242
SCREENS
1,548
54
243
Robot Heart Throb
1,511
188
244
Hotel Cola
1,507
135
245
Jasmin OMEARA
1,489
184
246
Aaron Friend & the Enemies
1,485
123
247
Zoo Policy
1,482
16
248
The Greater Good
1,467
5,356
249
JADED PREACHER
1,451
35
250
Lou Hickey
1,434
512
251
Griffen Handshake
1,416
430
252
The Matchbox
1,404
817
253
Palace of Fine Arts
1,397
22
254
Cherry Sucker
1,383
248
255
Sam Koster
1,380
16
256
Helen Debaker-Vorce
1,376
347
257
Reid Voltus
1,370
320
258
The Busketeers
1,357
763
259
The Enoch Karpenter Project
1,343
19
260
Mad Radio
1,340
232
261
Moonlight Roller Rink
1,339
116
262
Present Peasant
1,334
69
263
Someone's Champion
1,322
107
264
Mother Culture
1,310
572
265
Jimi C & The Waves
1,290
346
266
Scrimshaw Porn
1,287
36
267
Craig Cassler
1,269
60
268
TAPLIN
1,257
241
269
Cusker
1,227
75
270
Former Friend
1,225
340
271
Sample Text
1,221
210
272
A Big Yes and a small no
1,217
321
273
FAT SALAD
1,214
264
274
bridges and powerlines
1,205
599
275
Beldon Haigh
1,198
1,544
276
Dande and The Lion
1,190
805
277
Stealing Society
1,188
173
278
Bonnie Lola
1,153
332
279
coffin key
1,150
61
280
RetroBright
1,143
55
281
Steve French
1,135
961
282
UNDRCVRS
1,133
582
283
Ranger
1,129
282
284
Madeleine
1,129
393
285
Riskaverse
1,126
163
286
BITTER KISSES
1,123
504
287
Jens Haarnagel
1,113
176
288
Erik Earth
1,104
174
289
PiFu
1,104
6
290
Joy Buzzer
1,103
53
291
Bloody Bananas
1,101
586
292
Shane Fallon
1,092
269
293
Stick Figures In Love
1,092
89
294
SlackRebel
1,087
43
295
Guy Hurd
1,083
205
296
Julian Lines
1,083
412
297
HORNETS!
1,082
280
298
Ross Thompson
1,082
170
299
Quaker Gun Club
1,081
94
300
two words
1,078
275
301
Colin Caulfield
1,077
1,798
302
The Rooks
1,074
848
303
Ricki Lynn
1,071
8
304
Buzz Zeemer
1,066
283
305
What's In The Box
1,057
202
306
Restwater
1,056
99
307
THE DOLPH LUNDGREN
1,053
113
308
Killian Hough
1,051
140
309
OverTone Rise
1,049
82
310
1991-VG
1,045
17
311
Pale Rider
1,041
108
312
Cat's Pajamas
1,039
751
313
Six Day Burn
1,028
30,238
314
Jared Munday
1,028
114
315
Oh800
1,022
497
316
Wet Leather
1,022
875
317
bacci pouch
1,021
303
318
Juniper Park
1,017
1,528
319
Sister
1,016
894
320
Junk 64
1,013
2,507
321
Jarpsy
1,012
1,042
322
Haunted X Humans
1,011
333
323
The Pricks
1,010
628
324
Alez
1,006
149
325
HomeAgain
1,006
142
326
Dogvma
999
122
327
Amrish Chhaliya
976
60
328
Space Ranger Gus
862
2
329
Bad Endeavor
777
28
330
Lucy Trina
358
33
331
The Lunar Diamonds
286
225
332
The Corduroy Gangsters
273
41
333
The Last Parade
268
73
334
The Devz
258
112
335
3321
187
5
336
Wilkerson
172
15
337
The Same Way
158
185
338
Back To Babel
155
35
339
JK
128
71
340
Gigi Abbott
116
2
341
Ron-Ian Cottam and Hotdog4theMoon
110
24
342
PrivateRoom
94
47
343
aftercare
88
17
344
Heart
84
16
345
Russell Jamie Johnson
83
251
346
CJ Ball
82
19
347
Celarent
79
91
348
Goth Soul
75
45
349
exit youth
66
111
350
Feram
64
93
351
Matt Stanyer
63
82
352
Kailan McGee
62
56
353
Tall People
58
240
354
Spencer Brill
52
85
355
My Next Planet
49
83
356
Bumba
48
38
357
Maldito Nombre
48
87
358
BLU
44
52
359
Phil Neary
41
70
360
The Palavra
40
94
361
Eric Levy
39
51
362
The Ringer Soundtrack
37
25
363
The Stories
36
41
364
Stylianos Ou & The Cortisol Cows
36
19
365
ObbDat
35
19
366
Seymore Saves the World
34
72
367
The Brilliant Mistakes
33
81
368
Fortuneteller
32
33
369
Matt Logan
31
75
370
The Motes
30
113
371
wiillssonnn
30
108
372
PaceYourself
30
47
373
Jonas Greene
30
26
374
Hello Sapien
28
86
375
Tommy All Along
28
65
376
echo_orange
28
13
377
Black Churches
27
75
378
Kill the Bats
27
41
379
We're All Gonna Make It
27
71
380
Xn Rowe
27
294
381
Justus C.A. Löwe
26
114
382
Upstairs Downstairs
25
86
383
wHITE pLASTIC tAPE
25
72
384
Sam Maloney
24
69
385
Nervous Boyfriend
24
42
386
River Six
23
61
387
Alan McCartney
23
15
388
Bribes
23
34
389
ETÉRICO
22
63
390
GROMKO
22
13
391
Sverrir Valgeirsson
21
39
392
Kingdon
21
10
393
The Dead Bodies
20
93
394
Andy Fillmore
20
24
395
Tony Martelle
20
84
396
Die Flöte
19
114
397
Black Tree Crow
19
33
398
Athletic Arabs
19
38
399
Rivereign
19
25
400
Wonderlovely
19
17
401
Camelopardo
18
214
402
Big Pleasure
18
114
403
Fetriz
17
366
404
Cool King Chris
17
62
405
Bo Pepper
17
21
406
Jim Offerman
17
390
407
OsoGothaHollix
17
3
408
Jf Soul
16
3,013
409
Feed The Fox
16
37
410
Positive.
15
28
411
Reverse Apache Master
15
13
412
Symbol 85
15
42
413
Alyx Astryx*
14
33
414
UNIT_13
14
28
415
Frwel
13
11
416
Colossal Orange
13
28
417
Mutombo
13
31
418
Moss Garden
13
2
419
Dave Tamkin & Co.
11
41
420
Brorowe
11
89
421
Dustin Tucker
11
54
422
Tiffany Ann
11
72
423
Fresh Tar
11
27
424
Snow Caps
11
14
425
Barking Stars
11
56
426
Biscuit Tin
10
148
427
Father
10
21
428
Guillermo Sexo
10
71
429
The Virgin Marys
10
126
430
Thomas Rohr
10
19
431
iFalter
10
14
432
Brass Nail
9
39
433
Twilight Muse
8
46
434
Kai Ghost
8
34
435
Jenny Jenkins
8
59
436
Raj and The 100's
8
26
437
Men Without Shame
8
19
438
Gauss
8
36
439
Westshore
8
12
440
titta.x
8
16
441
FREAK
8
0
442
Golya
8
0
443
Channel 8
7
28
444
The Barbary Sound
7
39
445
Utero
7
83
446
The Knock Knocks
7
105
447
Crimes On Art
7
37
448
Doktor Franz
7
25
449
Indigo Jewel
7
2
450
Maxwell Anderson
7
7
451
Scarborough
7
2
452
Jane Booke
7
2
453
Banned
6
46
454
LĂĽst
6
955
455
Mail Order Messiahs
6
216
456
Master Slash Slave
6
46
457
Gilgongo
6
7
458
Beatinpath
6
37
459
Louise Shirley
6
38
460
iyv
6
85
461
gintoni
6
36
462
Mahatma Gangue
6
52
463
PPL Inside Us
6
15
464
Hearts & Sounds
6
13
465
Mike Mooney
6
19
466
Jetson
6
34
467
Pino
6
12
468
EJECT
6
43
469
SAM HUDSON
6
59
470
Jarret Cooper
5
16
471
The Wailin' Smithers
5
25
472
Ricochet Rabbit
5
48
473
Red Rattles
5
21
474
The Reference
5
77
475
The 1st Line
5
39
476
Fork in Socket
5
26
477
Small Foot
5
45
478
The Honest Rest
5
43
479
Who the Hell Are You?
5
24
480
euqigwgd
5
1
481
The Shrews
4
10
482
Ruse of Fools
4
25
483
Young Urban Parasites
4
23
484
The Restless Hearts
4
108
485
Chuck Charles
4
8
486
Vultures
4
395
487
The Breaking Lakes
4
9
488
Acid Westerns
4
13
489
Bernie Fawcett
4
17
490
Alive in Theory
4
32
491
Sitcom
4
15
492
Bau
4
41
493
The Screaming Geckos
4
13
494
Nok
4
9
495
Punk Kai Erxontai
4
52
496
Tinnita
3
8
497
Clarence B Thunborg
3
70
498
Unidimensional
3
59
499
Vodsel
3
20
500
Morgans Baby
3
20
501
Suburban Saints
3
23
502
Peer Pressure
3
72
503
Morris The Kid
3
36
504
Mana Eating Monster
3
25
505
Digging Up Freedom
3
7
506
Moray Newlands
3
12
507
The Death Cat Empire
3
29
508
The Bicks
2
13
509
cheriwaves
2
10
510
Stone White Elephants
2
39
511
Analogue Earth
2
20
512
Jonathan Amphlett
2
8
513
Alice and the Rampant Trio
2
9
514
Meet the Sky
2
14
515
The Most Powerful Telescope In The Universe
2
21
516
Oh, I Taste the Queen
2
21
517
Silent Movie Criminal
2
25
518
Brea
2
29
519
Noble War
2
54
520
The Supernova
2
50
521
Sadoceanspacebear
2
1
522
3 Cheers to Misery
2
1
523
DMZ//38
2
8
524
WHYBE
2
20
525
Knights of the Sun
2
8
526
Arma Blanca
2
8
527
Dead Leg and the Fractures
1
1
528
Dreamerland
1
9
529
Scream Shout
1
22
530
Radio Orange
1
54
531
Senseless Beatings
1
5
532
Search the Ruins
1
3
533
Over the Effect
1
28
534
The Worthy Ghosts
1
23
535
Esdem
1
10
536
The Pet Ghost Project
1
25
537
Harmoniah
1
15
538
Tom Stone's Audio Collection
1
2

Some info about indie rock

Indie rock, a genre that emerged in the 1980s from the shifting sands of the underground music scene, primarily captivated audiences in the United States and the United Kingdom with its eclectic sound and defiant autonomy from major record labels. Derived from the term "independent," indie rock encompasses a diverse range of music that predominantly shies away from mainstream musical trends, embracing a DIY ethic that is as much about attitude as it is about a specific sound.

The roots of indie rock can be traced back to the post-punk era, where bands began to eschew the prevailing music industry's constraints by releasing music on independent labels. This period saw the rise of pioneering bands such as R.E.M. and Sonic Youth in the United States, and The Smiths and Joy Division in the United Kingdom. These early bands not only defined a new sound—characterized by an emphasis on authenticity and experimentation—but also established a template for operating independently of major labels.

In the United States, indie rock was incubated in local scenes with Minneapolis, Chapel Hill, and Seattle being notable hotspots. Minneapolis's Husker Du and The Replacements famously rejected the polished sounds of mainstream rock, while Seattle later birthed the grunge movement, closely related to indie rock, with Nirvana initially emerging from the independent Sub Pop label.

The 1990s heralded a golden era for indie rock, with the emergence of bands that would leave a lasting impact on the genre. Pavement, guided by Stephen Malkmus, brought an element of slacker cool to their music, blending intelligent lyrics with lo-fi aesthetics. Similarly, bands like Guided by Voices and Built to Spill defined themselves through prolific output and a signature lo-fi sound that challenged mainstream production values.

The arrival of the new millennium saw indie rock's continued evolution and increased mainstream acceptance, with bands like The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys gaining significant commercial success and critical acclaim. These bands managed to maintain their independent credentials while engaging larger audiences, a testament to the powerful blend of authentic musical expression and accessible appeal found in indie rock.

In the UK, the genre was propelled into mainstream consciousness during the late '80s and '90s by record labels such as Rough Trade and Creation Records, who helped launch careers for bands like The Stone Roses and Oasis. These bands, while often straddling the line between mainstream and independent, significantly contributed to the 'Britpop' movement, although maintaining a distinct sound and ethos from their American counterparts.

Internationally, indie rock has taken root in various forms, influencing scenes and artists around the world, from Australia's Tame Impala to Japan's Shonen Knife.

As of today, indie rock continues to thrive with newer bands such as Mitski, and Tame Impala who continue the tradition of innovative, genre-blending sounds, and independent operation. The genre's embrace of internet platforms for distribution and promotion has only amplified its global reach and influence, proving that indie rock's core ethos of artistic freedom and innovation continues to resonate across generations.

In conclusion, indie rock is not just a genre but a vibrant, evolving expression of musical independence. Its history is a tapestry of artistic defiance and creative progression, offering a compelling alternative to the commercial music industry. For music enthusiasts, indie rock provides a rich vein of artistic exploration, marked by a commitment to authenticity and boundary-pushing soundscapes.