Think There’s No Money in Music? These Indie Artists Prove You Wrong.

Think There’s No Money in Music? These Indie Artists Prove You Wrong.


Think There’s No Money in Music? These Indie Artists Prove You Wrong. You’re Not Broke, You’re Uninformed. This is the truth about the Indie Music Industry (And How You Can Win Too) ;->

 

If you’ve been hearing the narrative that the music industry is dead—especially for independent artists—let me set the record straight:

the indie music industry is not dead. 

It’s simply transforming, and those who know how to pivot, monetize creatively and tap into their unique voice are not just surviving… they’re thriving.

We recently posted a TikTok that sparked this exact conversation.

A commenter said:

“There’s money in owning music, not making music anymore.”

And honestly? They’re half right.

Yes, ownership is power but there are still multiple ways to make money from music

 and

 even more ways to make money because of your music. 

Let’s dive into how modern indie artists are flipping the script and creating sustainable incomes.

 

 

 

🚀 First, What Does It Mean to Be Indie in 2025?

Being indie today isn’t just about being unsigned. It’s about being:

 

  • Entrepreneurial

  • Multi-talented

  • Community-driven

  • Digital-savvy

  • Business-minded

 

Indie artists aren’t waiting to be chosen. They’re building their own brands, monetizing their own content and owning their paths. The traditional model may not serve everyone anymore but the indie model has room for growth, freedom and yes, money.

 

 

💡 These Indie Artists Prove It’s Possible 💡

Let’s look at some artists—known and rising—who are doing it their way and making it work:

 

 

🧨 KenTheMan

  • Status: Fully independent
  • Known For: Viral tracks like "He Be Like"
  • How She’s Winning: Built her buzz on social media with unapologetic bars and personality. Handles her own branding, works with distribution deals (not label signings), and keeps her profits tight.
  • Why She Resonates: She represents the everyday woman bossing up, sexy but smart, self-made, and HOUSTON gritty.


💸 Russ

  • Status: Independent by choice (initially partnered with Columbia, but owns all his masters now)
  • Known For: Dropping a song a week on SoundCloud until his audience blew up
  • How He’s Winning: Owns everything — production, engineering, lyrics, publishing. Teaches others how to win too.
  • Why He Resonates: Preaches ownership, money smarts, and consistency. A true “blueprint” artist.


💅🏽 Kash Doll

  • Status: Had label ties but operates with a heavy independent spirit
  • Known For: Songs like “For Everybody”, TV appearances, and fashion
  • How She’s Winning: Built a brand, not just a music career. Does acting, brand deals, and pushes her own lane.
  • Why She Resonates: Real hood boss chick energy, turned her story into a movement — beauty and bars with business sense.

💥 Rico Nasty

  • Status: Former label ties, now doing her thing with full creative control
  • Known For: Raw punk-trap aesthetic, DIY visuals, and a cult-like fanbase
  • How She’s Winning: Monetizes merch, visuals, collabs, and branding — more than just streams.
  • Why She Resonates: Alt girls, rebels, and Black girls who feel “othered” find themselves in her.
 

🎤 DREEZY

Status: Semi-mainstream / Indie powerhouse
Known For: Lyricism, versatility, and her hit “Body” with Jeremih
How She’s Winning:
  • Took back control of her career after label delays
  • Consistently drops fire music independently
  • Built her fanbase with a mix of bars and beauty
  • Why She Resonates:
    She shows women you can be lyrical, sexy, and self-sufficient — and that leaving a label doesn’t mean you fall off.


🎤 TIERRA WHACK

Status: Critically acclaimed indie darling
Known For: Her genre-bending debut Whack World — 15 one-minute songs, each with a visual
How She’s Winning:
  • Builds buzz with artful, quirky creativity
  • No major label pressure = total freedom
  • Collabs with big brands and artists (e.g., Apple, Beyoncé’s Ivy Park)
    Why She Resonates:
    She’s proof that being your weird, real self is more powerful than playing by industry rules.



🎤 LEIKELI47


Status: Underground icon with cult following
Known For: Always masked, raw lyrics, blending beauty & bass
How She’s Winning:

  • Built mystery as a brand
  • Her Beauty Series albums doubled as cultural commentary & marketing gold
  • Brand-safe but bold, allowing sync/licensing wins
    Why She Resonates:
    Leikeli empowers Black women to claim space, stay mysterious, and still win — showing you don’t have to be overexposed to be impactful.



🎤 BABY TATE (formerly Yung Baby Tate)


Status: On the rise / Viral indie star

Known For: Confidence anthems like “I Am,” catchy visuals, genre-switching

How She’s Winning:

  • Leveraged TikTok and social media to push songs

  • Produces, writes, and styles herself

  • Balancing indie work with smart partnerships

    Why She Resonates:

    She’s young, bold, and making music for the girls who manifest, hustle, and slay — just like your target audience.





🎤 BIA


Status: Charting artist with mainstream features, indie roots
Known For: Hits like “Whole Lotta Money” (especially with Nicki Minaj remix)
How She’s Winning:

  • Spent years grinding before the breakout
  • Maintains creative control and brand voice
  • Taps into high fashion, beauty, and performance
    Why She Resonates:
    Her calm confidence, boss talk, and slow-burn success show it’s okay if your win takes time — just stay consistent.



 

Artist Why They're Thriving Independently
Larry June Smooth West Coast entrepreneur rap, owns his brand, invests in real estate
LaRussell Drops high-volume music/content, does shows in his backyard, sells NFTs and books
Symba Mentors under legends like Dr. Dre, but moves independently and speaks truth to power
Kaash Paige R&B meets chillwave — maintains creative freedom and drops when she wants
Don Toliver (early) Before Cactus Jack ties, was self-publishing and bubbling out of Houston
      

All unique levels of independence Known For Being multi-hyphenate artists — rappers, singers, performers, and entrepreneurs. These artist are defining a new lane — they build brands, not just drop songs. They tap into fashion, beauty, digital products, and content like podcasts or vlogs. 

 

 

___________________________________________________________________

 

💼 What We Can Learn From Them

 

These artists are proof that:

  • Music still pays when you own it and leverage it

  • Building a brand matters more than ever

  • You don’t need to be famous to be full-time

  • Your audience is your greatest asset

They’ve each carved their own lane and they monetize it in multiple ways—streaming, licensing, syncs, merch, digital products, live shows, and partnerships.

🛠 So What’s the Problem Most Indies Face?

 

It’s not that the music industry is dead—
It’s that most artists don’t know how to make a business out of their music.

That’s why Artistpreneur Hub was created, a resource library and digital product store designed for artists like you to:

  • Learn how to build your business

  • Get plug-and-play digital tools

  • Start earning money even before your next release

Whether you’re just starting or already building, this site is your shortcut to making music make money.

 

🔗 Want the Blueprint?

The artists we mentioned didn’t wait on a label.
They studied the game. They got strategic.
They bet on themselves.

You can too.

📌  Explore D.A. Hub for :
✔️ Resellable resources
✔️ Custom merch ideas
✔️ Tools to build your brand
✔️ Courses and guides to monetize your music

🎶 The indie game isn’t dead. It’s just different.
And if you learn how to play it right — it might just change your whole life.

Back to blog