
Punjabi music is enjoying a remarkable rise in popularity-and not just with listeners in India, but also among the diaspora and broader global audiences. Of the 10 most-streamed songs in India in 2022, four were in Punjabi, with Excuses by AP Dhillon, Intense, and Gurinder Gill taking the top spot as the most-streamed song and Moosetape, by the late Sidhu Moose Wala, nabbing the spot for the most-streamed album. Outside of India, Punjabi artists have been lighting up the stage at some of the world's top events, representing the community and the demand for this music beyond the home country.
Today Punjabi is one of the most-streamed music languages on Spotify in India, with playlists such as Punjabi 101 and Hot Hits Punjabi emerging as the go-to destinations for listeners to discover the best and biggest hits, says Rahul Balyan, Spotify's Head of Music for India. The global recognition for Punjabi artists is evident with moments like Diljit Dosanjh's recent gig at Coachella, a first for any Punjabi artist, and AP Dhillon's performance at the Juno Awards in Canada earlier this year.
Recently, Spotify partnered with music labels in India to launch three new Spotify Singles: Maan Punjabi by Tarsem Jassar, Raanjha by Nimrat Khaira, and Challa by Gurdas Maan and Diljit Dosanjh. These tracks highlight the true breadth of Punjabi music's folk roots and traditional sound mixed with the modern, global elements that have put the scene on the world's must-listen list.
Speaking to the adoption of these international sounds in Punjabi music, Nimrat Khaira, one of India's most popular singers, tells For the Record, The Punjabi music industry is inspiring the world, and the world's music, in turn, is inspiring us. Our music is an amalgamation of hip-hop, pop, rock, and classical, so it truly is made up of a global sound. She adds, We commonly use piano and guitar in Punjabi music, which makes the music familiar to the global audience. These two instruments are now becoming an imperative part of the Punjabi music industry.
The growing popularity of Punjabi pop around the world has also led to some of its elements making their way into international music. Punjabi music is influencing international beat patterns by reintroducing Punjabi beats based on instruments such as the dhol, sitar, and flute, and percussion instruments-like the tabla, says Indo-Canadian rapper, singer, and songwriter Karan Aujla. It's fascinating to see our community and all our hard work expand so much.
Punjabi music is influencing music today by connecting with people that are hungry for art, says Ikky, a Canadian music producer who has worked with some of the biggest Punjabi artists in the world today, including Diljit Dosanjh and Shubh. Punjabi people tend to support their own, and I think the music industry picks up on that.
This growth is only set to continue, these artists believe. Punjabi music is in a position like never before, says Nimrat Khaira. Millions of people are listening to it, humming it, and dancing to it. The entire credit goes to the artists and their teams who have been making some Earth-shattering content that is blowing up the international market. From here I just know there's no looking back. B Praak, an Indian singer, composer, music director, and producer, says, We are present in almost all the continents now. Our aim is to present Punjabi music at the Oscars soon!
If you're beginning your journey into Punjabi music, Karan Aujla recommends the track Gangsta, which he made with YG, to further recognize the melodies and rhyme patterns of Punjabi hip-hop songs. B Praak, whose favorite genre is sad romantic, recommends starting with his track Mann Bharrya. And Ikky, who enjoys Punjabi pop, suggests Summer High by AP Dhillon.
Listen to the latest trending tracks in Punjabi with our Punjabi 101 playlist
More from Spotify
21/09/2023
Bella Latham has long believed in her songwriting and composing abilities-even w...
20/09/2023
Latinx culture continues to set the tone around the world, as evidenced by the rise of genres like M sica Mexicana, corridos, and urbano. September 15 through O...
19/09/2023
What does it mean to be creative and who determines what creativity is? In Screa...
19/09/2023
If you can't stay away from a good mind-bending time travel paradox, look no...
19/09/2023
Last week in Argentina, artists, podcasters, fans, and industry luminaries came together for Spotify's highly anticipated Festival EQUAL to celebrate the cr...
19/09/2023
En Argentina la semana pasada se reunieron artistas, podcasters, fan ticos y luminarias de la industria en el muy esperado Festival EQUAL de Spotify para celebr...
18/09/2023
Dustee Jenkins Chief Public Affairs Officer, Spotify
Five years ago, I sat in a conference room with key members of our legal team, several antitrust experts a...
18/09/2023
Photo credit: Jonathan Parham
In the vibrant tapestry of human expression and experience, music has always been a powerful medium for storytelling, and one wit...
18/09/2023
Good food, good conversation, and amazing music. Is there anything better?
That's what was served up last week in London at our annual Spotify Supper, whic...
15/09/2023
Como cono de la m sica latina a nivel internacional, Shakira ha brindado a sus ...
15/09/2023
Since Spotify's launch in Pakistan in 2021, the platform has become a destination for younger generations to make their voices heard by powering unprecedent...
15/09/2023
Standing tall on the global stage as a beacon of Latin music and representation,...
12/09/2023
Throughout the day, your mood changes, and so does the music you listen to. Last...
11/09/2023
Rema, one of Nigeria's fastest-rising stars, is joining the Billions Club on...
07/09/2023
It's fashion week in New York, and to kick things off we've partnered wi...
07/09/2023
It takes more than a little confidence to strut down a runway. It also requires ...
07/09/2023
From the moment Olivia Rodrigo's second album, GUTS, was announced in June, ...
29/08/2023
Os f s do Spotify no Brasil adoram uma boa hist ria em udio com roteiro, como e...
29/08/2023
Spotify fans in Brazil love a good scripted audio story, as evidenced by the pop...
29/08/2023
In 2021, Spotify took bonding over music to the next level with Blend, our shared social listening experience that combines the different tastes of friends and ...
29/08/2023
This past May, the hosts of five major late-night talk shows had an idea: to mee...
28/08/2023
Entre los innumerables xitos y canciones favoritas de los aficionados a la M si...
28/08/2023
Among the countless hits and fan favorites under the M sica Mexicana umbrella, n...
25/08/2023
Judeline is ready to give fans new twists on La Tortura by Shakira (featuring ...
24/08/2023
On Spotify's Community Support forum, users can find answers to their toughest Spotify questions. These days, we aim for 90% of new help topics to receive a...
23/08/2023
We've been waiting all summer, speculating and ruminating on what hot tracks would rise to the top as the songs of the summer. And now we have our answers f...
23/08/2023
Hemos estado esperando todo el verano, especulando y reflexionando sobre qu canciones llegar an al top como las canciones del verano. Y ahora tenemos las respu...
23/08/2023
As podcast listenership has grown, a global community of creators has risen to m...
22/08/2023
For some, attending a show means belting out your favorite lyrics alongside other screaming fans. For others, it's grooving to the beat of a funky melody. A...
22/08/2023
Ritmos incr veis, footwork sofisticado, dan arinos talentosos, batalhas de tirar o f lego tudo isso comp e o Breaking, uma forma de dan a que combina moviment...
22/08/2023
Incredible rhythms, fancy footwork, talented dancers, heart-pumping battles-all this makes up breaking, a form of dancing that combines complex moves with styli...
21/08/2023
Lana Del Rey's Summertime Sadness stuck in your head? You're not alone...
21/08/2023
You may have noticed that we're into helping our listeners find something ne...
16/08/2023
Fans may already know 23-year-old Rene Rapp from her theater and television car...
16/08/2023
Since 2007, the Way Out West music festival has been a cultural melting pot in S...
16/08/2023
As one of the fastest-growing music markets in the world, Africa is home to dyna...
15/08/2023
The latest Spotify Single from Latin America is a totally women-powered anthem. ...
15/08/2023
There's no better way to display that you're a loud and proud fan of a band than with an iconic T-shirt. The item may be a brand-new tank from the artis...
10/08/2023
Quando o Hip Hop completa 50 anos, f s de todo o mundo comemoram suas bodas de o...
10/08/2023
As hip-hop turns 50, fans around the world are celebrating its golden anniversar...
09/08/2023
You can't get enough of your favorite podcasts-and your favorite creators can't get enough of your listening, either. Many podcasters have turned to Pat...
09/08/2023
Com os artistas de trap dominando o charts em todo o mundo, a cena urbana brasil...
09/08/2023
As trap artists dominate the charts all over the world, Brazil's urbano scen...
08/08/2023
In February, Spotify debuted DJ in beta. DJ is a personalized AI guide that know...
08/08/2023
Hollywood has long held a fascination with the Vietnam War. From films that were...
08/08/2023
At Spotify, we are empowering and amplifying the voices of underrepresented creators. To do that, we must carve out spaces for new stories and perspectives to b...
08/08/2023
With more than 20 years in music, P!nk has cemented herself as a powerful force. She racked up so many top singles that she filled a greatest hits album just 10...
07/08/2023
Bollywood dance music, chill Sufi songs, hot Punjabi hits-all of these sounds make up the diverse and varied world of Desi music. They also represent artists an...
03/08/2023
In 2022 Netflix released Heartstopper, a British television series that follows ...
03/08/2023
Earlier this month, FC Barcelona landed in the U.S. to kick off their preseason ...