Underrated artists are taking over the music industry
By Jordan Jones - Contributor on September 19, 2025
Graphic by Audrey Garcia
The mainstream music industry loves numbers.
With every song and project that drops, conversations around streams and Billboard charting control the conversation. But outside the spotlight, there are underrated artists ready to dominate.
Without the pressure of mainstream expectations, fresh indie pop and alternative genre musicians are changing their sound and creating new content for their fanbase.
Creativity knows no limit in the underground music scene, and artists are quietly setting the stage for the future of music. Leon Thomas and Malcom Todd are some of the clearest examples of how underrated artists can push boundaries.
Thomas has been one of music’s unsung powerhouses, transitioning from actor to songwriter, then producer, before landing on solo artist.
In an interview with Portraits Digital, he shared what being an underrated producer felt like and how it impacted his mental state in 2023.
“It was so much frustration, I’ll be honest. I felt like I wasn’t really being heard,” Thomas said. “I was being heard by a lot of people’s favorite artists, and could get my ideas out through them, but I wanted to be heard as myself and embody the vision of myself I see in my head.”
Thomas’ 2024 album “Mutt” was an experimental mix of R&B, alternative soul and hip hop. The title track became one of the biggest songs of that summer, and the album displayed his refusal to be boxed into one genre.
“Mutt” didn’t just showcase Thomas’ incredible vocal range and songwriting skill, but it positioned him as a trendsetter.
Where Thomas leans into soul and R&B experimentation, Todd thrives in the alternative space, blending funk, indie and bedroom pop. Todd’s balance between authenticity and raw production has placed him amongst the most notable names in the current alternative music genre. For many of his listeners, Todd represents exactly what they crave: personal, unfiltered and creative music.
The shift in the music industry isn’t just about the artists. It’s about the fans too.
Streaming platforms and social media have shifted how people discover music. Instead of waiting for the next Taylor Swift on the radio, young listeners are building their own playlists by finding breakout talent through viral TikToks or giving recommendations a shot.
Fans are gravitating towards smaller, lesser-known artists. Voices like Leon Thomas and Malcolm Todd feel more connected to the current generation because they aren’t weighed down by restrictive industry formulas; they embody what listeners want.
Listeners idealize music that pushes boundaries rather than enforcing them. The current shift in music shows that audiences are hungry for change.
What’s happening now is bigger than an individual artist’s career. A rebalancing of power is coming within the industry. While the mainstream dominates the charts, the underground tunes the music everyone follows.
In an era where listeners hold more influence than labels, being underrated is no longer a limitation—it’s an advantage. These artists take a chance to shape the future of music.
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Underrated artists are taking over the music industry
The mainstream music industry loves numbers.
With every song and project that drops, conversations around streams and Billboard charting control the conversation. But outside the spotlight, there are underrated artists ready to dominate.
Without the pressure of mainstream expectations, fresh indie pop and alternative genre musicians are changing their sound and creating new content for their fanbase.
Creativity knows no limit in the underground music scene, and artists are quietly setting the stage for the future of music. Leon Thomas and Malcom Todd are some of the clearest examples of how underrated artists can push boundaries.
Thomas has been one of music’s unsung powerhouses, transitioning from actor to songwriter, then producer, before landing on solo artist.
In an interview with Portraits Digital, he shared what being an underrated producer felt like and how it impacted his mental state in 2023.
“It was so much frustration, I’ll be honest. I felt like I wasn’t really being heard,” Thomas said. “I was being heard by a lot of people’s favorite artists, and could get my ideas out through them, but I wanted to be heard as myself and embody the vision of myself I see in my head.”
Thomas’ 2024 album “Mutt” was an experimental mix of R&B, alternative soul and hip hop. The title track became one of the biggest songs of that summer, and the album displayed his refusal to be boxed into one genre.
“Mutt” didn’t just showcase Thomas’ incredible vocal range and songwriting skill, but it positioned him as a trendsetter.
Where Thomas leans into soul and R&B experimentation, Todd thrives in the alternative space, blending funk, indie and bedroom pop. Todd’s balance between authenticity and raw production has placed him amongst the most notable names in the current alternative music genre. For many of his listeners, Todd represents exactly what they crave: personal, unfiltered and creative music.
The shift in the music industry isn’t just about the artists. It’s about the fans too.
Streaming platforms and social media have shifted how people discover music. Instead of waiting for the next Taylor Swift on the radio, young listeners are building their own playlists by finding breakout talent through viral TikToks or giving recommendations a shot.
Fans are gravitating towards smaller, lesser-known artists. Voices like Leon Thomas and Malcolm Todd feel more connected to the current generation because they aren’t weighed down by restrictive industry formulas; they embody what listeners want.
Listeners idealize music that pushes boundaries rather than enforcing them. The current shift in music shows that audiences are hungry for change.
What’s happening now is bigger than an individual artist’s career. A rebalancing of power is coming within the industry. While the mainstream dominates the charts, the underground tunes the music everyone follows.
In an era where listeners hold more influence than labels, being underrated is no longer a limitation—it’s an advantage. These artists take a chance to shape the future of music.