Indie Music Stations on Sirius XM
Looking for more indie radio stations? Here are 7 you'll love.

You've probably heard of Pandora, one of the biggest music streaming services in the world. Well, Pandora is owned by an American broadcasting company called Sirius XM. Since being formed in 2008 after the merger of two big satellite radio networks, Sirius XM has grown from strength to strength. With about thirty-four million subscribers as of July 2022 and a revenue of over $9 billion, Sirius XM has become a true giant in the music industry.

Apart from owning Pandora, Sirius XM also hosts a ton of radio stations. You can find pop, rock, jazz, country, Christian, and classical music radio stations. And that's only in music. It would be no exaggeration to say Sirius XM is radio heaven both for listeners and artists. You, however, are here looking specifically for indie radio stations, and I have come up with a list of seven indie music radio stations you would love. Let's have a look...

Seven Indie Stations

The Village

The Village is the home of folk music, both traditional and contemporary. Think music by Ellis Paul, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, and other similar songwriters. Now that's not necessarily independent music, but it's that alternative sound that many indie lovers enjoy listening to. There are all sorts of shows like the Celtic Twilight, a six-hour blend of traditional folk music from the UK.

Another show you would enjoy is one called Live Performances, which involves live shows and interviews with some of your favorite folk artists. You might recognize one of the hosts, a certain John McEuen, a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

The Spectrum

The Spectrum offers you amazing music from different eras but with the same effect. Mumford and Sons, Leon Bridges, and Coldplay are all heavy features of this indie rock station. Grammy winner Brandi Carlile also hops on once every month to share some of her favorite songs with you in her show Somewhere on the Radio. It's an amazing listening experience for any indie rock music lover.

Influence Franco

Are you an indie pop artist or enthusiast in Canada? Influence Franco is the place for you. This radio station doesn't do talk shows or news bulletins, it's all about the music. So if you're looking for a place to just enjoy listening to music nonstop, you'll want to try out Influence Franco. Influence Urbaine is on all the time playing new, indie, and unique music from artists all over francophone Canada.

You can submit your music to be played or just go and listen. Influence Franco is the place to go if you're looking for a platform for French, indie pop music.

Lithium

If you're a grunge rock lover, Lithium is the radio station for you. It also features 90s alternative music so it's double joy for you if you enjoy that. You enjoy different shows that entertain and educate you on rock music too. For example, there's a show called Tom Morello's One Man Revolution by Tom Morello who's been actively involved in music since 1979. In this show, Morello shares stories and insights from over thirty years of experience in making music.

If you're an upcoming artist looking for some tips, there's no telling how much you could learn from a show like that. You also hear from top DJ Kat Corbett and others who've been involved in the music industry. That's without mentioning all the music you'll enjoy. Whether you're an artist or just a listener, Lithium is one to check out.

Sirius XMU

At Sirius XMU, contemporary indie music bands meet the old indie classics that inspired them. If you'd like a sweet mix of old indie classics and modern music from new and emerging indie artists, look no further than Sirius XMU. One of my favorite shows is Download 15, a countdown of the top fifteen indie songs on the internet. It also features leaks, new releases, and a touch of gossip.

Old School is a show where old, vintage music from pioneer indie bands is played for two hours straight. Sirius XMU Sessions is another show where you can hear some of your favorite songs performed bare and stripped down. It also features conversations with some successful indie artists.

The Verge

The Verge features some of the very best upcoming indie acts coming out of Canada and brings you closer than ever to them. If you're an indie lover and Influence Franco is too francophone for you, this is the way to go. You'll also enjoy live performances straight out of the studio and listen to their concerts streamed live on air. That's without mentioning the amazing lineup of shows they've got. The Wrap-Up with Siobhan Woodrow gives you weekly news of released music and other events in the indie rock community.

You can also enjoy Verge Music, a show dedicated to playing indie and alternative music from Canada. You can also join Sarah Burke every weekday to talk about how different kinds of music are all valid and not to be ashamed of.

Alt Nation

As the name implies, this is where you can listen to the very best of alternative rock music. Think bands like the Black Keys and the 1975, and artists like Bastille and Billie Eilish. As you would expect, they have a wicked lineup of shows to keep your ears happy. The Alt-18-Most Requested Countdown features eighteen alternative songs chosen by you and thousands of other listeners each week.

There's also a monthly show by Mark Foster, frontman of Foster the People, where he shares music from different genres and eras that help activate the creativity in us.

Final Thoughts

Sirius XM is home to hundreds of radio stations about a myriad of topics, and indie music isn't left out. Honorable mention goes to Shade 45 where you can listen to the very best of underground hip-hop with absolutely zero censorship.

Now you know where to go if you're looking for indie music on the radio.