India’s Indie Music Revolution: What TuneCore’s Five-Year Report Reveals
snapshot of how India’s independent music scene has transformed. Over 64,000 tracks from domestic artists have been released through its Accelerator program, generating more than 13 billion streams. One in every 20 streams of Indian indie music now comes from outside the country.
Gone are the days when Indian indie music meant a Hindi singer-songwriter with acoustic guitar. TuneCore’s data shows a 12-fold surge in Hindi releases, a threefold rise in Punjabi and Tamil tracks, and growing contributions in Bengali, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Urdu. English still accounts for about 33% of releases, mostly albums, while Hindi artists tend to favor singles.
Cities across India have turned into indie hubs. Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, and Jaipur top the charts for streams and releases. That said, growth is no longer metro-centric. Artists from tier 2 and tier 3 regions are increasingly visible, especially in languages like Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, and Haryanvi.
Genre-wise, indie India is breaking stereotypes. While hip-hop, Punjabi pop, and electronic still dominate, folk and instrumental artists now release music at five times the global average. This trend reflects a revival of regional sounds and an appetite for music that doesn’t fit the typical pop mold.
TuneCore also introduced tools and grants to support independent careers. The TuneCore Grant offers ₹1 lakh to emerging talent, and initiatives like One-Min Concerts, mentorship events, and community showcases provide networking and visibility. These programs emphasize artist autonomy and help build sustainable careers.
The platform’s Head of TuneCore South Asia, Akhila Shankar, sums up the shift best: independent music is no longer niche, it’s mainstream culture. Both she and Believe India’s leadership stress that TuneCore empowers artists from every corner of India, in every genre and language.
Top tracks released via TuneCore include “Ved” by Ritviz, “Excuses” by AP Dhillon, “G.O.A.T.” by Diljit Dosanjh, and Restless | Relentless by Sutej Singh. These songs represent not just success stories but a new belief that artists can thrive outside traditional industry channels.
TuneCore’s impact is clear. It’s not just distributing music. It’s nurturing a movement. One that celebrates regional backgrounds, supports varied genres, and turns geography into musical opportunity. The diversity and cultural depth emerging from India today would not be possible without platforms willing to challenge traditional gatekeeping.
For independent artists, the message is powerful. You don’t need a metro label, a film contract, or a major studio to build a global audience. You need clarity, tools, community, and the courage to use them. TuneCore’s five-year story makes one truth undeniable. India’s indie scene is no longer a side act. It’s the main event.
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