AP Dhillon in a still from the docu-series ‘AP Dhillon: First of a Kind.’ Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video
TuneCore India has released its Five Years of Independent Voices report, highlighting the major trends, artist achievements, and growing global footprint of India’s indie music scene.
Since launching in 2020, TuneCore India has helped thousands of artists release music across over 200 platforms globally. According to the report, some of the most notable indie tracks distributed via TuneCore over the last five years include “Ved” by Ritviz, “Dilbar” by Tech Panda, Kenzani and Rusha & Blizza, “Excuses” by AP Dhillon, “G.O.A.T” by Diljit Dosanjh, and “Restless” by Sutej Singh.
The data also reveals a sharp rise in releases across multiple Indian languages—including Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, and Hindi—with English still remaining a popular choice.
English accounts for 33 percent of all TuneCore releases in India since 2020. The report also highlights a 12X increase in Hindi music, and a 3X increase in Punjabi and Tamil releases over the past five years. These regional-language artists, the report notes, “aren’t just rising, they’re changing the face of independent music in India.”
Top cities driving the indie boom include Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, and Jaipur, indicating a strong presence in both metro and smaller creative hubs.
In terms of genre, Indian independent artists are increasingly exploring folk, instrumental, indie pop, and classical, with folk and instrumental genres being released at five times the global average rate.
The report also outlines how artists are diversifying their release formats—opting for a mix of singles, EPs, and albums to build sustained momentum across digital platforms. 39 per cent of all Hindi releases through TuneCore are singles, while 67 per cent of English-language releases are full-length albums, pointing to varying content strategies based on language and audience behavior.
International reach has grown significantly as well. TuneCore’s Accelerator program has released over 64,000 tracks by Indian artists globally, generating 13 billion+ streams. Today, one in every 20 streams of Indian indie music comes from outside the country.
To support this growing ecosystem, TuneCore has launched several initiatives over the years, including the TuneCore Grant (a ₹1 lakh artist support award), One-Min Concerts, NMF mixers, and showcase events. A special milestone event was held in Mumbai last week featuring live performances by Long Distances, Dorwin John, and Anoushka Maskey, along with panels and networking sessions focused on the future of indie music.
Head of TuneCore in South Asia, Akhila Shankar, says, “This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about what independent artists have achieved. We’re celebrating the growth of independent music in India not just as a trend, but as a part of the cultural zeitgeist.”
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