Independent artists Hanumankind, Diljit Dosanjh Indian Music Global: Report
Apart from Bollywood, independent Indian artists are gaining significant recognition on the global music stage. Musicians like Hanumankand, AP Dhillon, Diljit Dosanj, and others are at the forefront of this movement, attracting a growing international audience.
Apart from Bollywood, Indian independent artists are creating important waves on the global music scene. Musicians such as Hanumankand, AP Dhillon, Diljit Dosanj, and others are leading this charge, attracting more international listeners, and how to consume Indian music. The latest Spotify loud and cleared 2025 report has a clear picture of this shift, which highlights the increasing appetite for diverse Indian sounds on boundaries.
While Bollywood music has traditionally defined India’s cultural exports, the story is growing rapidly. Independent artists and regional language musicians are focusing globally, about 50% of all royalty produced by Indian artists in 2024 are coming from foreign streams. This is an important leap from 40%of the previous year, which outlines the increasing popularity of Indian music in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, UAE, Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
The report also highlights the financial success of Indian musicians. The number of artists earning more than 5 million annually through the platform has exceeded double since 2022. Even especially, people crossing the mark of Rs 1 crore per year have exceeded three crore rupees, and the earnings above Rs 5 crore have doubled.
These figures reflect the extended global access of Indian artists, which are not only relying on the Bollywood soundtrack, but also carving their own location in styles such as hip-hop, pop, R&B and electronic music. Artists like AP Dhilan have seen the success of meteorite with their mixture of Punjabi pop and hip-hop, while rap artists like Hanumankand are carrying on the boundaries and are recognized beyond India’s borders.
Dominance of regional music is another notable trend. The data shows a significant growth in Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu music consumption. Telugu music saw a 39% increase in popularity globally, with doubling royalty since 2021. This bounce is proof that regional sounds are no longer limited to their home states – they are now global exports.
In addition, Spotify’s daily top 50 playlists remain a local case in India, with more than 90% tracks coming from Indian artists in 2024 – an increase of 6% from last year. More than 9,000 Indian artists were depicted in both global and local editorial playlists, emphasizing their growing appeal.
Perhaps the most important revelation from the report is that more than 65% of the top 30 most expanded songs in 2024 were not bound by the Indian film industry. Independent artists are getting success through these platforms.
Globally, Spotify paid more than $ 10 billion in music royalty in 2024, with a cumulative payment of $ 60 billion since the installation of the platform. The increasing contribution of the Indian music industry to this figure is an important milestone, supporting them not only for artists but also for the entire ecosystem.
This change is important for understanding because it reflects the changing taste and the power of platforms so that the consumption of music can be democraticized. Now is not limited to Bollywood hits, Indian music is now a dynamic force in the global soundscape – and independent artists are leading the charge.
