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The music of Indiana was strongly influenced by a large number of German and Irish immigrants who arrived in the 1830s.

Indiana was one of the first places where jazz music became popular outside of New Orleans and Chicago. In the late 1910s and through the 1920s the state had numerous bands of young musicians playing the new style for dancing.

Richmond, Indiana was home to the Gennett Records, known for recording a wealth of jazz, blues, and country music in the 1920s.

Indiana-born musicians and composers include John Mellencamp, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Harry Von Tilzer, Rich Mullins, Kris Roe, the Bill Gaither Trio, Albert Von Tilzer, Cole Porter, J. Russell Robinson, Eddie Condon, Hoagy Carmichael, Wes Montgomery, J.J. Johnson, Henry Lee Summer, Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin, David Lee Roth, Shannon Hoon, Carrie Newcomer, Janie Fricke, and David Baker.

Though born in Oklahoma, gospel singer Sandi Patty began her musical career in Indiana at Anderson University.

In Indianapolis, a vibrant 1970s punk rock and New Wave scene existed, including Latex Novelties, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Dow Jones & the Industrials. Probably the most influential Indiana punk band, however, was The Gizmos, from Bloomington, Indiana - who spawned a thriving local alternative scene that included the likes of Amoebas in Chaos and Dancing Cigarettes. Later, a hardcore punk and alternative rock band from Indianapolis called the Zero Boys made some local waves. The Zero Boys started trying to make a local hardcore scene after seeing the Dead Kennedys in Chicago. Paul Mahern of the Zero Boys led the effort, and founded Affirmation Records, releasing several compilations and recordings from Articles of Faith (from Chicago) and local band Killing Children before going out of business. Today, local bands, such as The Two-Bit Terribles, Up! Scumbag, boLth, and The Jerkwads, can be seen playing at The Emerson, The Clubhouse, The Underground, Club Logos, Barley Island, The Melody Inn, and Locals Only.

• Blush, Steven (2001). American Hardcore: A Tribal History. Los Angeles, CA: Feral House. ISBN 0-92291-571-7.
• Goshen, Larry, with Shaw, Mark (2002). Let the Good Times Roll: An Anthology of Indiana Music. Mentzer Printing. ISBN 0-9717596-2-6.
• Schiedt, Duncan P (1977). The Jazz State of Indiana. Indiana Historical Society. ISBN 0-9603528-0-5.