TuneCore India Marks 5 Years Of Championing Independent Musicians Nationwide

In 2020, TuneCore,owned by global digital music giant Believe,entered the Indian market with a clear mission: to empower local independent musicians with the tools, resources, and freedom to build global careers on their own terms. Five years later, that mission has evolved into a nationwide movement that’s reshaping the sound and structure of India’s music industry.

As TuneCore India marks its five-year anniversary, the company is looking back at a half-decade that has radically expanded access and amplified the voices of artists from every corner of the country. Whether it's bedroom producers breaking into international charts or regional artists releasing music in their native languages, TuneCore has helped build an artist-first ecosystem in one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic music markets.

To commemorate the milestone, TuneCore is releasing a comprehensive, data-led report titled “From India, To the World”. The report explores the evolution of independent music in India, spotlighting the artists who are rewriting industry norms,from hip-hop innovators and singer-songwriters to electronic producers and folk revivalists.

“This isn’t just about numbers, it’s about what independent artists have achieved,” said Akhila Shankar, Head of TuneCore, South Asia. “We’re celebrating the growth of independent music in India not just as a trend, but as a part of the cultural zeitgeist.”

Vivek Raina, Managing Director of Believe India, echoed that sentiment. “Independent music is no longer the alternative,it’s the main stage. Over the last five years, TuneCore has helped Indian artists take charge of their creative journeys, build sustainable careers, and reach audiences worldwide. At Believe, we’re proud to support a platform that fuels both artistic freedom and cultural growth. This is just the beginning, we’re committed to making India a global powerhouse for independent music.”

The data from TuneCore’s report reflects a major shift in India’s music landscape. Today, one in every 20 streams of Indian music comes from outside the country, with the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. leading international engagement. The TuneCore Accelerator program alone has seen over 64,000 tracks released by Indian artists, generating more than 13 billion streams.

India’s linguistic and genre diversity continues to flourish. Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Urdu, and Tamil are among the top languages in TuneCore’s catalog, while hip-hop, indie pop, electronic, and folk music are driving the indie sound forward.

“This milestone isn’t just about TuneCore. It’s about a movement that belongs to the artists of India. Our job is to amplify them,loud, local, and limitless,” Shankar added.

To close out the celebrations, TuneCore hosted an exclusive showcase event in Mumbai on June 26, titled A Celebration of Sound. The evening featured performances by independent artists Long Distances, Dorwin John, and Anoushka Maskey, alongside key conversations around the future of India’s independent music scene.

More than just a celebration, the evening served as a cultural checkpoint,honoring the journey of independent music in India and the collective force of artists, fans, platforms, and communities who continue to shape it.