Five Artists Under 10,000 Monthly Listeners to Watch in 2026
2025 served us with a multitude of small artists to have their big break: Sydney Rose, Sadie Jean, Erin LeCount. All artists who have garnered millions of streams over the year by promoting on social media and securing their place by betting on intimacy and connection with their audience.
With the new year approaching rapidly, the cycle begins again. Somewhere beneath the algorithm, artists are building worlds small enough to feel secret, but strong enough to spill into mainstream. If this past year has taught us anything, it's that today's under-10k listeners are tomorrow's sold-out shows. So, let me put you onto five more artists that you might want to keep an eye on, come 2026.
Allison Keeley
Have you ever listened to a song and thought, "So how did this artist find my diary, and how dare they make a song out of it?" To me, that artist is Allison Keeley. Her sound leans into soft-folk with subtle indie pop edges, but it's her lyricism that hits hardest. Her songs have a lived-in sort of edge, vulnerable and unfiltered but not dramatic to the point of no return. If 2026 becomes the year of quiet honesty over polished perfection, Allison Keeley is set to thrive. My personal favorite is her 2023 drop, "Richie", which has managed to sneak its way into my rotation for two years now, but be sure to also check out her newest song "Ten", if you're looking for a bit more upbeat production, or her debut album "Carter", which came out in 2020, for a longer experience.
Cloudy Blue
At 25 monthly listeners and two published songs, Cloudy Blue is by far the smallest artist to feature on this list, making him the perfect example for why numbers don't translate into quality. "Oh, whatever" and "Postcard" so beautifully showcase a love for the craft and intimacy in their lyrics that sometimes seem to go missing in bigger releases. If you're a fan of the likes of Alexander23 or Jeremy Zucker, Cloudy Blue should definitely be the newest addition to your playlists!
EMiDORA
If you're looking for something bolder, EMiDORA might be for you. Blending alt-pop with electronic and RnB influences, her music is that perfect mash between cinematic and slightly unhinged. Her songs "polariZed" and "but i can't cry" make a great show of her strong artistic identity. EMiDORA lays deep lyrics on top of a synth-heavy upbeat production, sometimes even layering everything live on stage for an intimate performance. Be sure to check in on her website or her TikTok to be up to date about new gigs coming next year.
Libby
Libby exists somewhere between bedroom pop and late-night confessions. Her production is intentional, leaving enough space for her voice to carry emotion without distraction. "Run" and "Video Star" feel tailored for headphones and long walks, "do no wrong", while leaning into a thicker production, keeps that emotional core intact, the one that I suspect might aid Libby in building an even bigger audience in the future. If you're a fan of Lizzy McAlpine or Holly Humberstone and are on the lookout for a new artist to add to your rotation, Libby is for you.
Wilson Teller
Looking for a new sad folk/country anthem to crashout to? Well, look no further than Wilson Teller's "Adeline". Musically sat right between Noah Kahan and Role Model, "Adeline" strikes that sweet spot where stripped-back folk meets modern, emotionally literate songwriting. Alongside "One Side", Wilson Teller manages to hit right where it hurts, telling stories of heartbreak, regret, and closure. His songs linger long after they end, the kind where you hit replay not because they change how you feel, but because they understand it. On his TikTok, Wilson is already teasing a new release for the month of January, and if that song comes even close to the level of clarity and character his other releases have, it’s easy to imagine his music becoming a go-to for late-night drives and quiet moments of self-reflection in 2026.
The beauty of discovering artists at this stage is the sense of closeness and the feeling that the music is still yours, for now. These five may still be flying under the radar, but if the past few years have proven anything, it’s that connection scales faster than we think.
If you want to find more small artists to listen to but aren't sure how, make sure to check out our Fresh Finds Playlist:
Picture Credits:
(1) Allison Keeley on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/llisoneeley
(2) EMiDORA at https://www.emidora.com/gallery.html
(3) Wilson Teller on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/wilsontellerr/p/DSfwSqSDWqy/?img_index=2
WRITTEN BY
Kira
As a little girl, my biggest dream was to stand on a stage and share my songs with people who can relate. It turns out that that’s a lot harder than it seemed. Still, there is a similarly electric feeling in the crowd, spending the better half of the evening with like-minded people. People who you might not know or ever see again, that don’t seem so much like strangers for those few hours you spend with an artist, their fans, and the music. To me, the capacity of music to make fans connect despite who they are is the most intriguing and inspiring phenomenon of all, and my hope is to share it with people as best I can.
