5 budding singers in India who own social media without big-label backing
A new wave of independent singers is taking over social media and proving that authenticity matters more than big labels. From viral reels to chart-topping hits, here are five rising stars who have built loyal fandoms one song at a time.
No big labels, no celebrity face – all one needs to climb up the music charts in 2026 is a song that is authentic and unique. Across steaming platforms, musicians dominating the charts are names you may not have heard before. These are all singers who have emerged from literally nowhere and risen to become social media sensations, or are on their way.
From reels and YouTube shorts to our playlists, these youngsters are everywhere and are building their fandom one song at a time. Let's have a look at five rising music stars:
Maan Panu
Follower count: 526K
The 25-year-old singer dropped out of college to pursue his musical dreams. After an initial struggle, he got recognition with the singing reality show iPopstar. His song I'm Done (2025) not only resonated with audiences but also got a shout-out from celebrities like Salman Khan and Ayushmann Khurrana.
"Most of my songs mirror reality and what happens in my life. It then ventures into the space of imagination on what happened and what will happen," he said in an exclusive conversation with India Today.
Maan's I'm Done has 59 million views, while his latest song, The Last Letter (2026), already has 7.2 million views on YouTube.
Aditya Rikhari
Follower count: 473K
There is hardly anyone on the Internet who hasn't heard Sahiba (2023). With 306 million views on YouTube, the song brought the Delhi-based pop singer to the spotlight. His other songs, like Paaro (2024) and Faasle (2021), are crowd-pleasers and have racked up millions of views.
He made his Bollywood debut in 2024 with the song Jaana Samjho Na in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, which was a recreation of his 2022 song with the same name.
RawMe Hooda
Follower count: 203K
The breakout singer of 2026, who has climbed the music charts, is RawMe Hooda. His Haryanvi pop vocals combined with realist and desi lyrics in the song Total have struck a chord with music lovers, including Yo Yo Honey Singh. After getting a shout-out on Instagram, he recently performed at the rapper's concert in New Delhi. Total vibe!
As per an India Times report, he was born in Jindran village near Haryana's Rohtak before moving to Jhajjar. Before pursuing music, he was drawn to cricket and even played Ranji Trophy for Haryana in 2015 under Virendra Sehwag's captaincy. However, a series of injuries forced him to pivot his career towards Haryanvi rap.
Banjaare
Follower count: 144K
The voices behind the soulful romantic track Bairan (2026), are of brothers Sumit and Anuj from Haryana. The song has garnered 104 million views in just two months.
Interestingly, the duo recalled in an exclusive conversation with India Today that the song wasn't recorded in a fancy studio but at home on a mobile phone.
"Labels can't stop you," said Sumit. He expressed that since one can upload their song on social media these days, there is simply no need to bank on recording labels any longer. "If you truly have the drive to do this, it will happen. Everyone will eventually come forward to support you and stand by your side," he added.
Raghav Kaushik
Follower count: 19.9K
Singer Raghav Kaushik, who rose to fame with Khaare Raaste (25 million YouTube views), moved to Mumbai five years ago and has not looked back since. Some of his hits include Jiya Jaise, Koi Jaane Na, Tum and Door Kahin. He made his Bollywood debut with Begaraar from the film Loop Lapeta and has sung for several OTT shows on JioHotstar and Netflix.
Speaking to India Today, Raghav admitted that the biggest challenge as an indie singer is to stay original. He said that there is often the temptation to create music that is already working for someone else, but he doesn't think that’s the right approach.
"Audiences today are extremely perceptive and deeply engaged. They can sense honesty in music. The more raw and authentic an artiste is, the more distinct their voice becomes – both to themselves and to listeners," he said.
When asked if a singer can build a stable career today purely through indie music, he said many singers have built successful careers through independent music – Prateek Kuhad and Anuv Jain being the best examples. However, he admitted they still represent a fraction of the many such singers working consistently every day. As an ecosystem, he said, independent musicians still have some way to go, and he emphasised that music that breaks away from convention often takes time to find its place, but that’s perfectly okay.
So, which singer has captured your attention?