Electronic music dethrones indie on TikTok for the first time in app’s history: “Dance music has become more accessible and big in the commercial sphere”Views of electronic music videos on TikTok have overtaken those from the indie genre for the first time in the app’s history.
According to The Guardian, posts tagged with #ElectronicMusic attracted more than 13 billion views in 2024 — a 45 per cent jump from the previous year, which itself had seen a 100 per cent increase compared to 2022.
That breakneck growth has outpaced both the “indie and alternative” and “rap and hip-hop” categories, marking a significant moment for the genre’s presence online.

READ MORE: Over 60% of emerging producers and DJs feel “the electronic music industry is a closed club”, with social media presence prevailing over skill

TikTok says electronic music, including popular subgenres like techno and house, has become the go-to soundtrack for creators posting content related to sports, fitness, fashion, travel, and summer holiday recaps. Artists like Joel Corry and Disclosure are among those who’ve seen viral success on the platform.
Toyin Mustapha, TikTok’s Head of Music Partnerships for the UK and Ireland, says of the genre’s surge in popularity: “TikTok users tend to tag the genres of music, especially genres like electronic music. It shows the community they are trying to build and are part of, and electronic music is very much a community-led thing.”
“Dance music has become more accessible and big in the commercial sphere,” he adds. “We are seeing the breaking down of boundaries for artists, and TikTok is part of that. It’s not just reflected in festival bookings, you can see it in the official charts as well.”
Notably, recent figures published by the International Music Summit’s Business Report for 2025 reveal that global electronic music generated $12.9 billion over the last 12 months — a 6 per cent increase.
The report, authored by MIDiA Research’s Mark Mulligan, notes that while this is a slowdown from the 9 per cent growth seen the previous year, it reflects a return to more stable, post-Covid rates, especially in the live sector.
“Global music industry revenue grew again in 2024, though at a slower rate than in 2023 due to maturing streaming revenues and the post-Covid live resurgence lessening,” says Mulligan. “Electronic music however, continued to increase its share of both revenues and culture.”
“Driven by the rise of new genres like Afro House, a renaissance for genres like Drum & Bass, and the rise of a new generation of fans, creators and scenes remaking electronic music in their own image, electronic music finds itself at the start of a brave new era of culture resonance.”
The post Electronic music dethrones indie on TikTok for the first time in app’s history: “Dance music has become more accessible and big in the commercial sphere” appeared first on MusicTech.