K-Indie and K-Rock artists gain global traction as Spotify’s 2025 data shows a surge in streams.
K-Indie and K-Rock Surge in Spotify’s 2025 Data
K-indie and K-rock streams are reshaping how global platforms prioritize other Asian genres.
- Korea’s indie and rock genres are seeing strong global momentum on Spotify this year.
- Targeted programs are helping new artists reach wider audiences.
- Local partnerships further boost visibility for emerging acts.
Spotify's new 2025 Wrapped data suggests that Korea's indie and rock music genres have grown significantly this year. K-indie songs streaming surged 68% year-on-year, while K-rock rose 16%. Despite the fact that K-pop continues to dominate the world, this development indicates rising global interest in more types of Korean music.
K-indie and K-rock’s Audience Expansion
K-indie and K-rock’s current rise transcends the genre's historically narrow reach. Spotify’s 2025 Wrapped data shows that interest in Korea's indie and rock genres reaches far beyond domestic audiences. DAY6, The Black Skirts, Bolbbalgan4 (BOL4), Hanroro, and 10 CM were the platform's top acts. Damons Year's Yours was the most-streamed tune in Korean indie music, followed by Happy (2024), Time of Our Life (2019), and You Were Beautiful (2017) by DAY6, as well as Closely Far Away (2021) by Car the Garden.
Programs and Partnerships Fueling Discovery
According to industry observers, Spotify's specialized promotional efforts for non-mainstream music are a contributing factor to its rise. Initiatives like Fresh Finds and RADAR, as well as enhanced editorial playlists, have introduced lesser-known indie and rock performers to new audiences in Korea and around the world.
Spotify additionally deepened its local partnerships, most notably with the CJ Cultural Foundation through initiatives like Tune Up Meets Fresh Finds. The initiative highlighted artists such as jisokuryClub, can't be blue, and New Zealand's There's A Tuesday through live performances that combined creative interaction and increased visibility.
"We will continue our support to help promote artists of diverse genres to global listeners," Spotify said in a press release, emphasizing the company's dedication to expanding Korean music's reach beyond its pop flagship, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily.
Author
Diya Mukherjee is a Content Writer at Outlook Respawn with a postgraduate background in media. She has a passion for writing content and is enthusiastic about exploring cultures, literature, global affairs, and pop culture.
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