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
14,242,240
6,137,339
2
9,415,306
1,415,485
3
8,885,486
2,819,875
4
8,823,489
3,376,345
5
7,718,586
1,478,741
6
7,435,335
2,612,709
7
5,949,433
1,079,665
8
5,284,622
590,596
9
4,716,754
584,496
10
4,605,696
1,031,081
11
3,982,453
1,659,881
12
3,794,832
2,350,269
13
3,708,210
1,521,788
14
3,467,200
878,023
15
3,265,321
1,569,834
16
3,152,051
605,131
17
3,108,502
1,175,520
18
2,985,536
1,030,239
19
2,762,606
1,356,369
20
2,755,422
635,057
21
2,544,419
1,844,104
22
2,088,744
1,775,548
23
2,045,065
757,435
24
1,963,604
560,370
25
1,875,760
788,829
26
1,844,290
338,859
27
1,804,096
674,312
28
1,800,063
976,871
29
1,675,435
853,947
30
Thom Yorke
1,666,487
1,155,903
31
1,557,422
660,487
32
Car Seat Headrest
1,408,802
827,343
33
1,383,328
653,056
34
1,334,097
667,798
35
1,249,839
795,617
36
1,232,456
878,517
37
1,152,699
664,822
38
1,083,137
192,388
39
The Libertines
1,056,555
904,489
40
Sylvan Esso
919,987
577,706
41
Kurt Vile
904,630
527,695
42
Editors
894,430
756,690
43
Courtney Barnett
853,694
605,086
44
The Bravery
838,062
264,544
45
Broken Social Scene
786,569
384,555
46
Whitney
778,304
273,160
47
Angel Olsen
735,217
497,697
48
White Lies
712,197
525,812
49
Kevin Morby
694,934
305,085
50
Generationals
686,815
154,493
51
Momma
608,681
76,476
52
Tennis
542,907
308,416
53
The Maccabees
524,285
371,601
54
Animal Collective
463,548
552,225
55
Rogue Wave
445,231
119,826
56
The Walkmen
444,365
205,412
57
Sleigh Bells
437,952
280,984
58
Conor Oberst
417,414
165,950
59
Coconut Records
403,687
166,461
60
Hamilton Leithauser
374,882
58,607
61
Maximo Park
373,867
248,698
62
Albert Hammond Jr
364,796
251,820
63
Built To Spill
363,571
322,644
64
In The Valley Below
335,010
49,679
65
Parquet Courts
332,624
290,888
66
Pinback
320,057
158,833
67
Guided By Voices
296,028
184,402
68
Better Oblivion Community Center
292,153
133,597
69
The Cribs
277,887
201,768
70
The Beths
268,259
157,290
71
Yeasayer
254,659
215,210
72
Frightened Rabbit
249,418
245,068
73
Tokyo Police Club
249,026
203,293
74
Sleater-Kinney
213,938
272,109
75
The Pigeon Detectives
210,585
207,897
76
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
208,429
185,429
77
The Boxer Rebellion
203,470
114,329
78
Babyshambles
202,207
279,931
79
We Are Scientists
192,212
231,465
80
Night Moves
185,074
58,410
81
Dirty Pretty Things
183,456
148,619
82
Tomas Chris
179,359
1,415
83
The New Pornographers
178,753
207,718
84
The Antlers
177,452
203,591
85
Chastity Belt
176,599
109,375
86
Wolf Parade
144,295
163,401
87
Bad Books
141,815
58,337
88
Sebadoh
126,921
121,439
89
The Mysterines
122,421
66,218
90
Hop Along
110,228
113,842
91
Girls
82,911
110,444
92
Archers Of Loaf
81,352
56,128
93
Plastic Picnic
71,890
19,315
94
The Dodos
69,900
79,864
95
Dear and the Headlights
66,378
44,742
96
The Unicorns
63,093
87,171
97
Superchunk
62,276
81,448
98
The Morning Benders
58,585
39,773
99
Tyler Boone
57,726
7,081
100
Varsity
55,701
63,555
101
Tapes 'n Tapes
53,930
33,760
102
EL VY
51,464
75,813
103
Stephen Malkmus
51,420
72,464
104
Menomena
49,807
56,217
105
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
48,944
72,046
106
Islands
48,201
59,849
107
The Black Heart Procession
47,324
37,720
108
Mothers
36,759
50,764
109
The Wrens
36,064
24,511
110
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
35,880
37,382
111
Palma Violets
33,790
60,644
112
Titus Andronicus
30,849
61,628
113
Daniel sun Krief
29,714
2,833
114
Crooked Fingers
24,476
11,367
115
Todd Morton
23,218
381
116
Tourism
22,072
4,920
117
The Rotten Bastards
18,764
451
118
Dave Stefanic
17,986
1,807
119
Active Bird Community
16,559
13,868
120
Petey
14,954
1,112
121
IONA SKY
13,396
973
122
Wolfgressive
12,830
1,367
123
Branland
12,765
589
124
S.A.M
8,939
2,244
125
Vivek Raj
8,498
65
126
Fleeting Paris
8,153
55
127
Danko
7,341
673
128
Adrian Underhill
7,225
1,507
129
Rudey
7,161
89
130
Buke & Gase
7,066
15,201
131
Often Easy
6,766
437
132
The Avenues
6,666
1,247
133
Silkworm
6,453
12,417
134
Shell Games
6,308
156
135
Sumthing Strange
6,099
5,972
136
Accidental Martyr
5,604
186
137
SaffeK
5,245
1,759
138
The Remainders
5,206
3,649
139
Stuart Lawrence
4,845
32
140
Jason Robert Miller
4,832
49
141
Orion Shoals
4,820
464
142
Dande and The Lion
4,679
800
143
Learn to Drive
4,648
105
144
Black Pulp
4,466
1,652
145
My Mojo
4,230
651
146
Bonnie Lola
4,182
291
147
Jonathan Something
4,066
3,101
148
The Greater Good
4,054
5,316
149
New Town Ghosts
3,990
104
150
Nathan Whitt Band
3,893
46
151
Big Lava
3,665
571
152
HAPPY
3,639
4,853
153
Backstrom
3,515
178
154
Derairaise
3,446
459
155
Frankie & The Heartstrings
3,412
5,747
156
Solace
3,386
553
157
Positivity Club
3,347
210
158
Cos
3,247
22
159
Out The Window
3,152
35
160
Ethan Martel
3,133
266
161
Edgar Everyone
3,083
357
162
The Trouts
3,013
208
163
Pennyroyal
2,978
291
164
The Real Imaginary
2,949
63
165
Day Sleeper
2,917
98
166
I Me Mine
2,904
1,902
167
Greyshadow
2,888
804
168
Restwater
2,869
94
169
Who Are You Lutra Lutra ??
2,843
169
170
Wild Sweet Orange
2,710
3,478
171
Arlo Indigo
2,652
2,703
172
The Fiends
2,596
934
173
Oli Barton
2,591
420
174
Jesse Stuart
2,563
75
175
Scrimshaw Porn
2,553
36
176
Unfamiliar Things
2,532
1,395
177
Griffen Handshake
2,496
308
178
Lives
2,492
227
179
Opero Fergo
2,365
64
180
KONISHI
2,353
45
181
Sean Massaro
2,309
192
182
AhhWoo
2,245
592
183
Adaïna
2,201
69
184
coffin key
2,199
60
185
Opossom
2,193
4,802
186
Team Genius
2,187
540
187
ben silby
2,161
214
188
Ryan Hahn and The Believers
2,063
114
189
Ford the River
2,053
621
190
The Comas
2,039
909
191
The Michael Perspective
2,000
191
192
beechgrover
1,934
270
193
auraentrance2024
1,903
21
194
Quaker Gun Club
1,897
78
195
Sample Text
1,869
161
196
OverTone Rise
1,868
38
197
Bedhed
1,837
541
198
TAPLIN
1,819
237
199
Kelp
1,805
172
200
Scissors For Lefty
1,792
1,315
201
Shane Fallon
1,781
267
202
The Billionaires
1,773
490
203
SCREENS
1,763
50
204
SITB
1,707
324
205
Damien Darr
1,706
178
206
Buzz Zeemer
1,660
262
207
Guy Hurd
1,641
203
208
JADED PREACHER
1,632
35
209
Alex Ray
1,631
10
210
OFF-KNOWNEOUS
1,629
127
211
Roman Joon
1,612
26
212
Leo Trovato
1,599
142
213
Jasmin OMEARA
1,591
174
214
Six Day Burn
1,571
30,239
215
Vincent, Truly
1,562
22
216
Brielzaid
1,548
4,615
217
The Matchbox
1,534
788
218
Moonlight Roller Rink
1,509
106
219
Aaron Friend & the Enemies
1,485
123
220
JC Holt
1,460
151
221
The Masterminds
1,458
1,380
222
Zipper Club
1,439
1,675
223
Lost Beach
1,421
1,031
224
bacci pouch
1,402
284
225
Carson Lewis
1,402
341
226
Palace of Fine Arts
1,397
22
227
The Enoch Karpenter Project
1,396
18
228
Helen Debaker-Vorce
1,376
347
229
Mad Radio
1,340
232
230
Urban Printz
1,307
89
231
Sam Koster
1,299
10
232
Gorgon
1,242
103
233
Sister
1,235
892
234
Cusker
1,227
75
235
Former Friend
1,225
340
236
FAT SALAD
1,214
264
237
Beldon Haigh
1,198
1,544
238
bridges and powerlines
1,198
587
239
Jared Munday
1,154
113
240
Jiminy
1,151
64
241
Now.
1,148
470
242
1991-VG
1,136
17
243
BITTER KISSES
1,123
504
244
Erik Earth
1,104
174
245
UNDRCVRS
1,104
582
246
SlackRebel
1,087
43
247
Colin Caulfield
1,084
1,790
248
Holm
1,074
250
249
two words
1,070
267
250
Bloody Bananas
1,063
570
251
What's In The Box
1,057
202
252
THE DOLPH LUNDGREN
1,053
113
253
Reid Voltus
1,047
307
254
Oh800
1,042
492
255
Zach Bair
1,039
317
256
Ranger
1,025
256
257
Wet Leather
1,022
875
258
Alez
1,006
149
259
Pankhurst
1,004
428
260
The Lunar Diamonds
286
225
261
Haunted X Humans
283
307
262
The Last Parade
268
73
263
The Same Way
158
185
264
JK
128
71
265
Gigi Abbott
116
2
266
Russell Jamie Johnson
83
251
267
Celarent
79
91
268
Feram
64
93
269
Matt Stanyer
63
82
270
Tall People
58
240
271
Spencer Brill
52
85
272
Bumba
48
38
273
BLU
44
52
274
The Stories
36
41
275
Seymore Saves the World
34
72
276
The Brilliant Mistakes
33
81
277
Fortuneteller
32
33
278
The Motes
30
113
279
wiillssonnn
30
108
280
Hello Sapien
28
86
281
Tommy All Along
28
65
282
Black Churches
27
75
283
Kill the Bats
27
41
284
Upstairs Downstairs
25
86
285
wHITE pLASTIC tAPE
25
72
286
Sam Maloney
24
69
287
River Six
23
61
288
ETÉRICO
22
63
289
Sverrir Valgeirsson
21
39
290
The Dead Bodies
20
93
291
Die Flöte
19
114
292
Black Tree Crow
19
33
293
Athletic Arabs
19
38
294
Camelopardo
18
214
295
Big Pleasure
18
114
296
Fetriz
17
366
297
Cool King Chris
17
62
298
Bo Pepper
17
21
299
Jim Offerman
17
390
300
Jf Soul
16
3,013
301
Positive.
15
28
302
Frwel
13
11
303
Colossal Orange
13
28
304
The Lightning Struck
12
17
305
Dave Tamkin & Co.
11
41
306
Brorowe
11
89
307
Dustin Tucker
11
54
308
Biscuit Tin
10
148
309
Father
10
21
310
Guillermo Sexo
10
71
311
Twilight Muse
8
46
312
Kai Ghost
8
34
313
Jenny Jenkins
8
59
314
Raj and The 100's
8
26
315
Men Without Shame
8
19
316
Channel 8
7
28
317
The Barbary Sound
7
39
318
Utero
7
83
319
The Knock Knocks
7
105
320
Banned
6
46
321
Lüst
6
955
322
Mail Order Messiahs
6
216
323
Master Slash Slave
6
46
324
Gilgongo
6
7
325
Beatinpath
6
37
326
Louise Shirley
6
38
327
iyv
6
85
328
gintoni
6
36
329
Jarret Cooper
5
16
330
The Wailin' Smithers
5
25
331
Ricochet Rabbit
5
48
332
Red Rattles
5
21
333
The Reference
5
77
334
The 1st Line
5
39
335
Fork in Socket
5
26
336
Small Foot
5
45
337
The Shrews
4
10
338
Ruse of Fools
4
25
339
Young Urban Parasites
4
23
340
The Restless Hearts
4
108
341
Chuck Charles
4
8
342
Vultures
4
395
343
The Breaking Lakes
4
9
344
Acid Westerns
4
13
345
Bernie Fawcett
4
17
346
Alive in Theory
4
32
347
Sitcom
4
15
348
Stick Figures In Love
4
22
349
Tinnita
3
8
350
Clarence B Thunborg
3
70
351
Unidimensional
3
59
352
Vodsel
3
20
353
Morgans Baby
3
20
354
Suburban Saints
3
23
355
Peer Pressure
3
72
356
Morris The Kid
3
36
357
Mana Eating Monster
3
25
358
The Bicks
2
13
359
cheriwaves
2
10
360
Stone White Elephants
2
39
361
Analogue Earth
2
20
362
Jonathan Amphlett
2
8
363
Alice and the Rampant Trio
2
9
364
Meet the Sky
2
14
365
The Most Powerful Telescope In The Universe
2
21
366
Oh, I Taste the Queen
2
21
367
Silent Movie Criminal
2
25
368
Brea
2
29
369
Noble War
2
54
370
The Supernova
2
50
371
Dead Leg and the Fractures
1
1
372
Dreamerland
1
9
373
Scream Shout
1
22
374
Radio Orange
1
54
375
Senseless Beatings
1
5
376
Search the Ruins
1
3
377
Over the Effect
1
28
378
The Worthy Ghosts
1
23

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.