The Indie 100

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Performing Songwriter Magazine has come up with the 100 most influential independent artists of the past 15 years…

The Indie 100 are:

The Groundbreakers
Frank Black
Fugazi
Peter Gabriel
Joan Jett
Stephen Malkmus
Moby
Sonic Youth
Cris Williamson

The Entrepreneurs
Animal Collective
Bright Eyes
Alison Brown
Judy Collins
Ani DiFranco
Jack Johnson
Branford Marsalis
Dave Matthews
Outkast
Amy Ray
String Cheese Incident

Rebels with a Cause
Billy Bragg
Bruce Cockburn
Steve Earle
Michael Franti
Kathy Mattea
Dar Williams

The Lemonade Makers
Jonatha Brooke
Ashley Cleveland
Sara Hickman
Lowen & Navarro
Aimee Mann
Jill Sobule
Lari White

The Vanguard
Arcade Fire
The Avett Brothers
The Black Keys
Cat Power
Editors
Feist
Imogen Heap
The Hold Steady
Ingrid Michaelson
My Morning Jacket
The New Pornographers
Peter, Bjorn and John
The Shins
Sufjan Stevens

The Connectors
Jesse Harris
Alison Krauss
Jim Lauderdale
Buddy Miller
Christine Lavin
Jake Shimabukuro
Marty Stuart
Gillian Welch
Dan Zanes

The Fan-Addicts
Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Jimmy Buffett
Drive-By Truckers
Flight of the Conchords
Phish
Trout Fishing in America
Widespread Panic

The Defiant Ones
Arctic Monkeys
Deerhoof
Robbie Fulks
Janis Ian
James McMurtry
Nine Inch Nails
Spoon
Tom Waits
Wilco

The Multi-Taskers
David Byrne
Jenny Lewis
Stephin Merrit
Will Oldham
Mike Patton
Jon Spencer
They Might Be Giants
M. Ward
Jack White

The Visionaries
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Jane Siberry (a.k.a. Issa)
Radiohead
Vampire Weekend
Derek Webb

The Organizers
Cary Brothers
m.o.e.
O.A.R.
Rachael Sage
Sister Hazel

Major Label, Indie Heart
Ryan Adams
Beck
Elvis Costello
Death Cab for Cutie
The Decemberists
Emmylou Harris
Modest Mouse
Tom Petty
Sigur Ros
Lucinda Williams

I’m sure we’re all in agreement – – no need to discuss! 😉