independent
what it is
In popular music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie", is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing. Independent labels have been known to strive for minimal influence on the artist they represent, avoiding the artist-cultivating behavior of many major labels.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 1 · mainstream
the pop everyone knows
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make independent a playlist
turn these 21 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is independent?
In popular music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie", is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing. Independent labels have been known to strive for minimal influence on the artist they represent, avoiding the artist-cultivating behavior of many major labels.
What are good independent albums to start with?
Try Saturday Night Rave by Coyote running wild, Bea(s)tmaster by Ricarda79, Let Me Come Over by Buffalo Tom, and The Digging Remedy by Plaid.
Who are some women making independent?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/independent/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making independent, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20