INDY Week

San Diego rock band P.O.D. has released a new single called Outbreak featuring Cory Brandan, formerly of Norma Jean, accompanied by an official music video. The track arrives via the indie label Pandemics and is drawing strong attention from fans, ranking among the most-engaged music releases online this week.

A music listener has shared their weekly top artists, with calypso legend Mighty Sparrow leading at 35 plays, followed by power pop acts The Posies, Material Issue and The High Dials, and singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston. The week totalled 318 scrobbles tracked through Last.fm, a modest but eclectic mix of calypso, 1990s power pop and indie folk.

Billboard has previewed six panels at Latin Music Week 2026 aimed at independent artists, offering guidance on navigating the industry without major-label backing. The programming focuses on practical advice for self-releasing musicians, from distribution to marketing. Coverage is drawing attention from Latin music professionals and indie artists planning to attend the industry event.

Writer and blogger The Writing King has published a new essay describing how a bellydancer named Marjhani taught him lessons about writing dialogue and showing rather than telling, despite never reading any of his work. The piece is being shared among indie authors and writing community circles this week as a reminder that craft insights can come from unexpected places outside the page.

The Line of Best Fit has released its New Music Discovery playlist for 2 October 2026, spotlighting emerging artists including Maisi and the Disco, PISS, Petra, Parade, Emma Ogier and Amiture Music. The playlist rounds up new tracks from lesser-known acts, offering listeners a weekly guide to fresh releases across indie and alternative music.