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
14,107,304
6,194,424
2
9,730,632
1,483,663
3
9,156,608
1,431,371
4
9,094,012
2,845,926
5
8,580,831
3,389,632
6
7,154,046
2,621,397
7
5,738,770
1,113,978
8
5,321,144
597,379
9
4,879,364
588,395
10
4,728,896
1,035,640
11
3,771,612
2,357,907
12
3,749,195
1,664,468
13
3,433,321
1,529,046
14
3,381,447
884,356
15
3,121,832
1,033,779
16
3,031,636
1,181,756
17
3,023,531
1,575,703
18
2,924,332
609,977
19
2,778,605
1,360,936
20
2,607,896
773,656
21
2,606,639
638,052
22
2,565,962
1,849,754
23
2,056,549
1,783,019
24
1,941,051
793,975
25
1,874,497
981,613
26
1,855,380
680,101
27
1,750,352
341,175
28
1,740,126
855,387
29
Thom Yorke
1,693,512
1,165,723
30
Car Seat Headrest
1,669,779
840,336
31
1,572,879
660,226
32
1,559,691
566,504
33
1,540,959
661,606
34
1,433,323
670,340
35
1,266,198
879,683
36
1,233,455
668,259
37
1,206,392
797,353
38
1,074,558
193,684
39
The Libertines
1,015,925
907,599
40
Kurt Vile
944,633
529,503
41
Sylvan Esso
933,800
579,340
42
Editors
904,827
758,799
43
Courtney Barnett
903,051
607,821
44
The Bravery
841,118
265,884
45
Broken Social Scene
792,557
386,946
46
White Lies
735,995
527,739
47
Whitney
710,030
273,703
48
Angel Olsen
705,088
499,707
49
Generationals
691,127
154,894
50
Kevin Morby
684,873
306,456
51
Tennis
625,075
310,574
52
The Maccabees
501,454
372,325
53
Animal Collective
492,868
554,650
54
Momma
482,166
78,852
55
Sleigh Bells
428,567
282,584
56
In The Valley Below
427,106
49,941
57
The Walkmen
424,262
206,295
58
Coconut Records
403,232
166,966
59
Maximo Park
392,159
249,490
60
Conor Oberst
388,780
166,519
61
Hamilton Leithauser
385,440
59,774
62
Rogue Wave
383,927
120,238
63
Built To Spill
369,292
323,736
64
Albert Hammond Jr
347,874
252,141
65
Parquet Courts
328,146
291,864
66
Pinback
308,326
159,988
67
Guided By Voices
274,414
184,928
68
The Beths
270,500
158,272
69
The Cribs
265,150
202,278
70
Yeasayer
257,462
215,626
71
Frightened Rabbit
253,858
245,858
72
Better Oblivion Community Center
252,845
134,142
73
Tokyo Police Club
230,753
203,666
74
Sleater-Kinney
215,239
273,343
75
Night Moves
208,366
58,652
76
The Boxer Rebellion
207,358
114,453
77
The Pigeon Detectives
206,931
208,307
78
Babyshambles
199,330
280,191
79
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
197,241
185,816
80
We Are Scientists
194,603
231,752
81
Dirty Pretty Things
188,773
148,984
82
The Antlers
180,575
204,239
83
The New Pornographers
176,996
207,847
84
Wolf Parade
171,938
163,864
85
Tomas Chris
169,119
1,458
86
Bad Books
137,795
58,486
87
Sebadoh
123,624
122,044
88
The Mysterines
110,942
66,838
89
Hop Along
103,660
114,204
90
Plastic Picnic
88,099
19,410
91
Girls
82,899
110,621
92
Archers Of Loaf
82,507
56,919
93
The Morning Benders
72,297
39,860
94
The Dodos
69,510
79,891
95
Dear and the Headlights
67,843
44,835
96
Superchunk
64,627
81,889
97
The Unicorns
61,722
87,330
98
Varsity
61,630
63,618
99
EL VY
58,974
75,914
100
Menomena
58,301
56,384
101
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
53,682
72,164
102
Stephen Malkmus
52,875
72,724
103
Islands
52,054
59,961
104
The Black Heart Procession
44,939
37,881
105
Tapes 'n Tapes
40,639
34,069
106
The Wrens
38,340
24,792
107
Mothers
38,095
50,862
108
Palma Violets
38,069
60,715
109
Tyler Boone
37,533
7,106
110
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
36,912
37,565
111
Crooked Fingers
25,488
11,434
112
Daniel sun Krief
23,714
2,891
113
Big Lava
21,943
632
114
IONA SKY
21,198
1,025
115
Tourism
19,752
4,981
116
Active Bird Community
18,598
13,892
117
Todd Morton
16,359
391
118
Branland
10,691
630
119
Dave Stefanic
10,393
2,074
120
Wolfgressive
9,735
1,371
121
Jax Fleming
9,053
194
122
Adrian Underhill
7,656
1,532
123
Petey
7,444
1,181
124
Buke & Gase
7,252
15,228
125
Silkworm
7,116
12,497
126
Void Experience
6,851
22
127
Sumthing Strange
6,074
6,010
128
Waverly Drive
5,831
826
129
S.A.M
5,791
2,244
130
Shell Games
5,637
169
131
Zach Bair
5,279
337
132
Rudey
5,234
89
133
SaffeK
5,124
1,801
134
Broken Waves
4,947
407
135
Fleeting Paris
4,876
100
136
Accidental Martyr
4,701
186
137
Jason Robert Miller
4,699
51
138
Michael Walsh
4,667
13
139
Learn to Drive
4,648
105
140
Danko
4,535
1,186
141
The Masterminds
4,477
1,404
142
Ned Hawkins
4,322
138
143
Jonathan Something
4,294
3,101
144
Cos
4,286
23
145
The Remainders
4,175
3,625
146
Holm
4,118
276
147
Backstrom
4,117
192
148
Black Pulp
3,926
1,669
149
The Trouts
3,887
215
150
Arlo Indigo
3,879
2,701
151
I Me Mine
3,741
1,905
152
The Avenues
3,648
1,261
153
AhhWoo
3,506
588
154
Frankie & The Heartstrings
3,423
5,763
155
Blaqk Van
3,417
172
156
Solace
3,386
553
157
Edgar Everyone
3,380
360
158
The Greater Good
3,322
5,340
159
Stuart Lawrence
3,309
61
160
Positivity Club
3,259
209
161
The Rotten Bastards
3,249
474
162
The Fiends
3,223
984
163
Nathan Whitt Band
3,187
46
164
HAPPY
3,177
4,921
165
Derairaise
3,147
460
166
Ethan Martel
3,133
266
167
Sam Koster
3,122
15
168
The Rooks
3,067
789
169
Pennyroyal
3,026
299
170
Waterlog
2,816
93
171
Jesse Stuart
2,804
863
172
Koser
2,764
720
173
Al Briggs
2,681
1,725
174
The Rust Belt
2,653
2,590
175
Jiminy
2,602
68
176
Carson Lewis
2,600
408
177
Jasmin OMEARA
2,550
180
178
RetroBright
2,519
54
179
beechgrover
2,483
272
180
Jarpsy
2,376
1,041
181
Alex Ray
2,374
11
182
Lives
2,311
239
183
Sean Massaro
2,292
199
184
The Lightning Struck
2,283
19
185
Greyshadow
2,274
809
186
Team Genius
2,254
540
187
Opossom
2,235
4,809
188
Stealing Society
2,206
166
189
AdaĂŻna
2,201
69
190
Zipper Club
2,198
1,702
191
Day Sleeper
2,186
99
192
Arcwelder
2,183
2,706
193
The Billionaires
2,182
524
194
The Comas
2,163
920
195
ben silby
2,161
214
196
Unfamiliar Things
2,151
1,404
197
Ford the River
2,143
625
198
Lost Beach
2,135
1,058
199
Orion Shoals
2,103
683
200
PJ Orr
2,078
220
201
Ryan Hahn and The Believers
2,063
114
202
Pankhurst
2,056
444
203
Ahacoma
2,052
163
204
My Mojo
2,014
650
205
Bonnie Lola
2,003
322
206
Oli Barton
1,991
421
207
Leo Trovato
1,966
146
208
Out The Window
1,916
38
209
auraentrance2024
1,903
21
210
ANIMI VOX
1,892
417
211
Who Are You Lutra Lutra ??
1,878
212
212
New Town Ghosts
1,868
120
213
Mars Hall
1,864
310
214
Terry Barnett
1,850
2
215
Wild Sweet Orange
1,832
3,492
216
Kelp
1,805
172
217
Scissors For Lefty
1,797
1,320
218
Amrish Chhaliya
1,792
60
219
Damien Darr
1,706
178
220
Griffen Handshake
1,704
427
221
The Real Imaginary
1,677
71
222
HORNETS!
1,674
276
223
Guy Hurd
1,641
203
224
OFF-KNOWNEOUS
1,629
127
225
Roman Joon
1,612
26
226
Dande and The Lion
1,594
802
227
Masque
1,592
1,438
228
KONISHI
1,588
49
229
Brielzaid
1,548
4,615
230
SCREENS
1,548
54
231
Madeleine
1,519
385
232
Shane Fallon
1,517
269
233
Ben Lorentzen
1,516
442
234
Robot Heart Throb
1,511
188
235
Hotel Cola
1,507
135
236
Aaron Friend & the Enemies
1,485
123
237
Now.
1,452
502
238
JADED PREACHER
1,451
35
239
Lou Hickey
1,434
512
240
JC Holt
1,414
151
241
Reid Voltus
1,410
319
242
Palace of Fine Arts
1,397
22
243
Gorgon
1,396
106
244
Cherry Sucker
1,383
248
245
Helen Debaker-Vorce
1,376
347
246
Often Easy
1,364
441
247
The Matchbox
1,361
803
248
The Busketeers
1,357
763
249
poor york
1,349
200
250
The Enoch Karpenter Project
1,343
19
251
bridges and powerlines
1,341
594
252
Mad Radio
1,340
232
253
Moonlight Roller Rink
1,339
116
254
Present Peasant
1,334
69
255
The Michael Perspective
1,333
200
256
cholopunx
1,333
174
257
Someone's Champion
1,322
107
258
OverTone Rise
1,320
82
259
Mother Culture
1,310
572
260
Ranger
1,306
281
261
Jimi C & The Waves
1,290
346
262
Scrimshaw Porn
1,287
36
263
Craig Cassler
1,269
60
264
TAPLIN
1,257
241
265
Cusker
1,227
75
266
Former Friend
1,225
340
267
Vincent, Truly
1,224
48
268
Sample Text
1,221
210
269
A Big Yes and a small no
1,217
321
270
FAT SALAD
1,214
264
271
Beldon Haigh
1,198
1,544
272
Bedhed
1,161
544
273
coffin key
1,150
61
274
Steve French
1,135
961
275
UNDRCVRS
1,133
582
276
Riskaverse
1,126
163
277
Opero Fergo
1,125
71
278
BITTER KISSES
1,123
504
279
Jens Haarnagel
1,113
176
280
Erik Earth
1,104
174
281
PiFu
1,104
6
282
Bloody Bananas
1,101
586
283
Stick Figures In Love
1,092
89
284
SlackRebel
1,087
43
285
Julian Lines
1,083
412
286
Ross Thompson
1,082
170
287
Quaker Gun Club
1,081
94
288
Colin Caulfield
1,071
1,794
289
Buzz Zeemer
1,066
283
290
Urban Printz
1,065
92
291
What's In The Box
1,057
202
292
Restwater
1,056
99
293
THE DOLPH LUNDGREN
1,053
113
294
Killian Hough
1,051
140
295
1991-VG
1,045
17
296
Pale Rider
1,041
108
297
The Pricks
1,036
627
298
Oh800
1,035
493
299
Six Day Burn
1,028
30,238
300
Jared Munday
1,028
114
301
Wet Leather
1,022
875
302
two words
1,021
271
303
bacci pouch
1,021
303
304
Juniper Park
1,017
1,528
305
Sister
1,016
894
306
Haunted X Humans
1,011
333
307
Alez
1,006
149
308
HomeAgain
1,006
142
309
Dogvma
999
122
310
The Lunar Diamonds
286
225
311
The Last Parade
268
73
312
The Devz
258
112
313
Wilkerson
172
15
314
The Same Way
158
185
315
JK
128
71
316
Gigi Abbott
116
2
317
PrivateRoom
94
47
318
Russell Jamie Johnson
83
251
319
Celarent
79
91
320
Goth Soul
75
45
321
Feram
64
93
322
Matt Stanyer
63
82
323
Tall People
58
240
324
Spencer Brill
52
85
325
My Next Planet
49
83
326
Bumba
48
38
327
Maldito Nombre
48
87
328
BLU
44
52
329
The Palavra
40
94
330
The Stories
36
41
331
ObbDat
35
19
332
Seymore Saves the World
34
72
333
The Brilliant Mistakes
33
81
334
Fortuneteller
32
33
335
Matt Logan
31
75
336
The Motes
30
113
337
wiillssonnn
30
108
338
PaceYourself
30
47
339
Hello Sapien
28
86
340
Tommy All Along
28
65
341
Black Churches
27
75
342
Kill the Bats
27
41
343
We're All Gonna Make It
27
71
344
Xn Rowe
27
294
345
Justus C.A. Löwe
26
114
346
Upstairs Downstairs
25
86
347
wHITE pLASTIC tAPE
25
72
348
Sam Maloney
24
69
349
River Six
23
61
350
Alan McCartney
23
15
351
Bribes
23
34
352
ETÉRICO
22
63
353
GROMKO
22
13
354
Sverrir Valgeirsson
21
39
355
Kingdon
21
10
356
The Dead Bodies
20
93
357
Die Flöte
19
114
358
Black Tree Crow
19
33
359
Athletic Arabs
19
38
360
Camelopardo
18
214
361
Big Pleasure
18
114
362
Fetriz
17
366
363
Cool King Chris
17
62
364
Bo Pepper
17
21
365
Jim Offerman
17
390
366
Jf Soul
16
3,013
367
Positive.
15
28
368
Reverse Apache Master
15
13
369
Symbol 85
15
42
370
Alyx Astryx*
14
33
371
UNIT_13
14
28
372
Frwel
13
11
373
Colossal Orange
13
28
374
Mutombo
13
31
375
Dave Tamkin & Co.
11
41
376
Brorowe
11
89
377
Dustin Tucker
11
54
378
Tiffany Ann
11
72
379
Fresh Tar
11
27
380
Snow Caps
11
14
381
Barking Stars
11
56
382
Biscuit Tin
10
148
383
Father
10
21
384
Guillermo Sexo
10
71
385
The Virgin Marys
10
126
386
Thomas Rohr
10
19
387
Brass Nail
9
39
388
Twilight Muse
8
46
389
Kai Ghost
8
34
390
Jenny Jenkins
8
59
391
Raj and The 100's
8
26
392
Men Without Shame
8
19
393
Gauss
8
36
394
Westshore
8
12
395
Channel 8
7
28
396
The Barbary Sound
7
39
397
Utero
7
83
398
The Knock Knocks
7
105
399
Crimes On Art
7
37
400
Doktor Franz
7
25
401
Indigo Jewel
7
2
402
Maxwell Anderson
7
7
403
Banned
6
46
404
LĂĽst
6
955
405
Mail Order Messiahs
6
216
406
Master Slash Slave
6
46
407
Gilgongo
6
7
408
Beatinpath
6
37
409
Louise Shirley
6
38
410
iyv
6
85
411
gintoni
6
36
412
Mahatma Gangue
6
52
413
PPL Inside Us
6
15
414
Hearts & Sounds
6
13
415
Mike Mooney
6
19
416
Jetson
6
34
417
Jarret Cooper
5
16
418
The Wailin' Smithers
5
25
419
Ricochet Rabbit
5
48
420
Red Rattles
5
21
421
The Reference
5
77
422
The 1st Line
5
39
423
Fork in Socket
5
26
424
Small Foot
5
45
425
The Honest Rest
5
43
426
Who the Hell Are You?
5
24
427
The Shrews
4
10
428
Ruse of Fools
4
25
429
Young Urban Parasites
4
23
430
The Restless Hearts
4
108
431
Chuck Charles
4
8
432
Vultures
4
395
433
The Breaking Lakes
4
9
434
Acid Westerns
4
13
435
Bernie Fawcett
4
17
436
Alive in Theory
4
32
437
Sitcom
4
15
438
Bau
4
41
439
The Screaming Geckos
4
13
440
Nok
4
9
441
Tinnita
3
8
442
Clarence B Thunborg
3
70
443
Unidimensional
3
59
444
Vodsel
3
20
445
Morgans Baby
3
20
446
Suburban Saints
3
23
447
Peer Pressure
3
72
448
Morris The Kid
3
36
449
Mana Eating Monster
3
25
450
Digging Up Freedom
3
7
451
Moray Newlands
3
12
452
The Bicks
2
13
453
cheriwaves
2
10
454
Stone White Elephants
2
39
455
Analogue Earth
2
20
456
Jonathan Amphlett
2
8
457
Alice and the Rampant Trio
2
9
458
Meet the Sky
2
14
459
The Most Powerful Telescope In The Universe
2
21
460
Oh, I Taste the Queen
2
21
461
Silent Movie Criminal
2
25
462
Brea
2
29
463
Noble War
2
54
464
The Supernova
2
50
465
Sadoceanspacebear
2
1
466
3 Cheers to Misery
2
1
467
DMZ//38
2
8
468
WHYBE
2
20
469
Knights of the Sun
2
8
470
Dead Leg and the Fractures
1
1
471
Dreamerland
1
9
472
Scream Shout
1
22
473
Radio Orange
1
54
474
Senseless Beatings
1
5
475
Search the Ruins
1
3
476
Over the Effect
1
28
477
The Worthy Ghosts
1
23
478
Esdem
1
10
479
The Pet Ghost Project
1
25
480
Harmoniah
1
15
481
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.