Since its launch in India six years ago, Spotify has played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between Indian artists and global audiences. The platform has significantly contributed to the international recognition of Indian music, with a remarkable 2000% increase in consumption of Indian artists’ music worldwide since 2019.
Indian Music’s Global Expansion
Indian pop and hip-hop have been instrumental in positioning the country’s music industry on the global stage. Some of the most streamed Indian artists internationally in 2024 include:
- Arijit Singh
- Pritam
- Anirudh Ravichander
- Karan Aujla
- Shreya Ghoshal
- Diljit Dosanjh
- Hanumankind
- Kalmi
- A.R. Rahman
- Sidhu Moose Wala
- Amitabh Bhattacharya
- Vishal-Shekhar
- AP Dhillon
- Badshah
- Alka Yagnik
The Rise of Independent Music Beyond Bollywood
While Bollywood music continues to be a dominant force, 2023 demonstrated that independent artists are equally capable of achieving global recognition. Over 65% of the top 30 most-exported Indian songs originated outside the film industry, highlighting a growing appetite for diverse musical styles. Some of the most widely streamed tracks include:
- Big Dawgs – Hanumankind, Kalmi
- Akhiyaan Gulaab (from Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya) – Mitraz
- Naina (from Crew) – Badshah, Diljit Dosanjh, Raj Ranjodh
- Sajni (from Laapataa Ladies) – Arijit Singh, Prashant Pandey, Ram Sampath
- Tauba Tauba – Karan Aujla
- Ishq – Amir Ameer, Faheem Abdullah, Rauhan Malik
- Aasa Kooda – Sai Abhyankkar, Sai Smriti
- Jagga Jatt – Badshah, Diljit Dosanjh, Ikka, Sez on the Beat
- Winning Speech – Karan Aujla, Mxrci
- Pagal – Babbu Maan, Guru Randhawa, Sanjoy
- Millionaire – Yo Yo Honey Singh
Global Demand for Indian Language Music
Indian music, spanning multiple languages, continues to garner a strong international following. In 2024, the most streamed Indian languages outside of India were:
- Hindi, Punjabi, English, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, and Kannada
These languages experienced high listener engagement in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Pakistan. Within these languages, genres such as Hindi pop, Hindi hip-hop, Punjabi hip-hop, Malayalam hip-hop, and Tamil pop are driving global interest in Indian music.
Bollywood Music’s Enduring Popularity
While contemporary releases continue to perform well, Bollywood classics remain a key driver of Indian music consumption worldwide. Some of the most streamed Bollywood tracks outside India in 2024 include:
- Chammak Challo – Akon, Hamsika Iyer
- Apna Bana Le – Amitabh Bhattacharya, Arijit Singh, Sachin-Jigar
- Tum Hi Ho – Arijit Singh, Mithoon
- Tujhe Kitna Chahne Lage (Kabir Singh) – Arijit Singh, Mithoon
- Kesariya – Amitabh Bhattacharya, Arijit Singh, Pritam
- Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai – Jaideep Sahni, Roop Kumar Rathod, Salim–Sulaiman
- Janiye (Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga) – Rashmeet Kaur, Vishal Mishra
- Tum Se Hi – Irshad Kamil, Mohit Chauhan, Pritam
- Agar Tum Saath Ho (Tamasha) – Alka Yagnik, Arijit Singh
- Maula Mere Maula – Roop Kumar Rathod
The Future of Indian Music on Spotify
The increasing global demand for Indian music underscores its growing influence on the international music industry. As artists from India continue to expand their reach, Spotify remains a key platform for driving their global success.
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