Not just Bollywood, India’s independent music scene too has been making waves in global circles.
On June 21 every year, the world celebrates World Music Day. This year, we cannot help but notice how the sound landscape has become more interconnected than ever before. And guess what? Indian music has found resonance much beyond the subcontinent. Indian artists have been topping charts in Europe, UK and USA while news of their collaborations with international artists is not new. To say the least, India’s musical voices are certainly getting a global audience now, be it the traditional classical ragas, gully rap from Mumbai, or indie folk from the Northeast.
With the rise of streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more, Indian artists, especially regional players, are able to expand their international reach and they now have direct access to listeners. As per 2025 Spotify India report, Indian music export has gone up by over 80% in the last two years with languages like Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, and Bengali making it to top charts in UAE, the UK and Australia. Punjabi Artists like Diljit Dosanjh, AP Dhillon, and Karan Aujla have massive sold out shows in London, Toronto, and New York.
Not just India’s independent artists, Bollywood too is making it big with recent hits like "Tere Vaaste" and "Kesariya" going viral on global short-form video platforms. Indian film music too is evolving with a global audience in mind.
India’s independent music scene too has been making waves in global circles. Indie pop sensation Hanita Bhambri recently made it to Spotify’s “Women of the World” playlist. On the other hand, bands like When Chai Met Toast and Peter Cat Recording Co. are making their mark at global festival circuits. Since Indian indie sound blends English lyrics with Indian instruments, it is universally relatable. With the adaptation of digital production and online platforms, the music industry is more exciting than ever.
So far, 2025 has seen several cross-border collaborations, from a soulful R&B track by Delhi’s Kavya Trehan with Nigerian-American producer WurlD to a Sufi-EDM fusion project involving UK-based producer Nucleya and a Turkish ney flutist.
Nonetheless, there has also been a rise of non-English, non-Hindi Indian music, including Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam songs. Artificial Intelligence too has aided in this globalization, and is helping Indian artists localise lyrics while preserving rhyme and flow.
On this World Music Day 2025, we can certainly say that Indian music is being embraced worldwide and there’s been no looking back.
