A monsoon-themed single by an independent artist has held the top spot on a major streaming platform's weekly chart for three consecutive weeks, unusual for a track with no film attached to it.

The platform's year-end data shows independent releases now make up close to a third of its weekly top fifty, up from roughly a fifth a year ago.

Industry watchers say the shift reflects growing playlist-driven discovery, which has made it easier for songs without a film release to break through.