Ever tried DMing Taylor Swift? Yeah, good luck with that. But an indie artist? They might actually answer you. That’s the magic of indie music. It’s not some untouchable industry where artists live in golden castles, guarded by record label executives in suits.

Indie music is made by real people who don’t have a label breathing down their neck. No one tells them what song to release, what hairstyle to adopt, or what fake controversy to stir up for engagement. They make music because they want to. Not because some algorithm said sad acoustic songs are trending this month.

Indie artists are just like you

An indie artist isn’t flying around in private jets and swimming in piles of streaming revenue (because let’s be honest, Spotify pays in Monopoly money). They’re normal people, trying to survive while making music. They answer DMs, they remember who shows up at their gigs, and sometimes, they’ll even crash on your couch if the tour budget is tight.

Ever dreamt of becoming friends with your favorite artist? In the indie world, that’s not crazy at all. You send them a message, they reply, you start talking, and before you know it, you’re chatting like old friends. Try doing that with a mainstream artist. The closest you’ll get is a bot replying, “Thanks for your support”, with a heart emoji right after.

Indie isn’t folk Guys in beanies

If you think indie means soft acoustic tunes played by someone who looks like they were born in a thrift store, you're probably wrong. Indie can be anything. Rock, electronic, orchestral doom metal with a flute solo. The only rule is that the artist is in control. Some manage everything themselves, some work with small labels that let them keep their freedom. Either way, no suits are involved.

But why is Coldplay still called indie?

Great question. Some bands get labeled as "indie" long after they’ve sold their souls to major labels. Coldplay, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys… they all started as indie but left that world a long time ago. They’re about as independent as a McDonald's franchise. But for some reason, people still call them indie. Maybe because it sounds cooler than saying “corporate alternative pop-rock.”

Real indie bands? You’ll find them grinding it out on Bandcamp, playing tiny venues, and still answering your messages personally. That’s the difference.

How to actually support indie artists (without giving all your money to Spotify’s CEO)

Streaming is easy, but it does nothing for indie artists. Spotify pays around $0.003 per stream, which means your favorite artist has to get a million streams just to afford a studio recording session. And even that depends on where they live, if they’re in London or New York, they might need a few million more.

If you actually want to help indie artists survive, here is what you can do:

> Buy their music on Bandcamp (Especially on Bandcamp Friday, when the platform waives its cut and artists get 100% of the revenue). It happens the first Friday of most months, and if you were gonna spend $10 on coffee, maybe throw it at an artist instead.

> Support them on Patreon: Some artists offer exclusive content, early access to songs, behind-the-scenes stuff, or just a way for fans to contribute. Even $1 a month makes a difference.

> Watch them on Twitch or YouTube: Some artists do live sessions, and platforms like Twitch actually pay them properly compared to Spotify. Plus, you get to interact with them in real-time.

> Buy merch: T-shirts, vinyl, posters, even a single sticker helps. Merch is one of the few ways indie artists make real money.

> Go to gigs: If they’re playing in your town, show up. Bring friends. Have a drink. And if they’re not playing nearby, maybe check out their live streams.

> Share their music: Word of mouth is still the best promo tool. Tell your friends. If you use social media: post about them. If you use streaming platforms: add their songs to playlists. Help them reach people who actually care.

> Organize home concerts: yes, you can invite artists to perform directly at your place! And then invite your friends and family as a fantastic audience. We will post a special article about this soon!

Indie music survives because of people like you

Indie music isn’t a corporate product, designed to be consumed and forgotten. It’s built by artists who actually care about their listeners. It’s sustained by fans who go the extra mile to support them.

Next time you find an indie artist you love, don’t just stream their song once and move on. Reach out. Support them. Be part of their story.

Because in the indie world, that actually means something.