As 2025 draws to a close, we’re celebrating standout statistics and stories from the year. Explore fun facts from this year’s releases, hear from fellow CD Baby artists, and uncover trends you might just factor into your strategy for next year.
It was a big year for independent music releases
From singles to EPs to albums, independent artists released music at an incredible pace. We’re proud to support a growing community eager to be heard around the world.
Three really is a magic number
As Schoolhouse Rock prophesied, there’s something about this number! The average song length also landed right in classic pop territory.
Friday remains the most popular music release day
Independent musicians fell right in line with the industry-standard Friday release day. We know there’s another song to reference here, but we’ll resist the urge.
Love reigned supreme
From heart-throbbers to heart-breakers, everyone was writing about love this year. Across all release titles, “love” appeared more than any other noun.
Rock, pop, hip-hop, and rap led the way
Familiar favorites continue to anchor independent releases. Rock, Pop, and Hip-Hop & Rap topped our most popular genres, proving their staying power across generations of artists and fans.
Independent artists came from all over the world
Artists from around the world brought new voices and sounds to CD Baby this year. From the United Kingdom to Brazil, these top countries highlight just how international independent music has become.
Cowboy hats, odd time signatures, and industrial textures are on the rise
Genre growth this year reflected both innovation and revival, as artists pushed boundaries and reimagined familiar sounds. From high-energy, aggressive club tracks to jazz experimentation and modern country, these styles gained momentum fast.
Artists are always working at the fringes of genre
Beyond the mainstream, artists continued carving out niche sounds and scenes of their own. These obscure genres show just how adventurous and creatively fearless independent musicians can be.
Artist Reflections
Of course, behind the top level stats and trends from this year are real artists doing the work. In what follows, hear from CD Baby artists about their proudest moments of 2025.
LukHash
Polish-British independent electronic music artist, LukHash, is known for his distinctive blend of retro sounds and contemporary styles that utilize his own custom-modified retro hardware such as the Commodore 64, Amiga, NES, and Game Boy.
In 2025, LukHash had the opportunity to contribute music to the Terrorbytes OST, a documentary about the evolution of horror gaming. LukHash’s latest album “Home Arcade” also reached number 16 on the UK official Downloads Chart.
The Frst
The Frst (pronounced “the first”) is an alternative rock and metal core collaborative project run by Mikei Gray, based in Nashville, Tennessee. The project has seen a rotating lineup of notable collaborators including Kellin Quinn & Matty Best of Sleeping With Sirens and Jaret Reddick of Bowling For Soup.
In 2025, The Frst was featured in Guitar World magazine, received several longstanding editorial playlist placements on streaming platforms, and had several music videos go viral.
Olivia King
Olivia King is a pop/soul singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur from Rhode Island. King has amassed over 450,000 followers across social platforms and takes a uniquely collaborative approach to her music, allowing her fans to co-write songs and help choose artwork, mixes, release titles and more.
In 2025, King’s song “Who me?” was used in the Dancing with Sharks segment of Shark Week, she held a special concert at Petco Park in San Diego, and she rounded out her editorial placements to an all-time total of 50.
Luisa Marion
Luisa Marion is a rising indie folk artist based in Nashville, Tennessee, crafting original songs while also touring as a violinist with Sam Barber.
In 2025, Marion released her first self-produced EP, Juniper, and received numerous editorial playlist placements.
Thank you for a wonderful year, CD Baby artists!
From all of us at CD Baby, thank you for an incredible 2025. Being an independent artist means setting your own path while adapting to an ever-changing industry—and staying true to your identity. Your dedication, creativity, and art inspire us every day to support your goals and provide the resources you need to take your music further. We can’t wait to see what 2026 will bring.
If you’re ready to release music, grow your audience, and build your career on your own terms in the year ahead, join the CD Baby community and start distributing today.