Regional music stars shine in 2025
Gaana's Mid-Year Magicians report shows that regional stars have stolen the spotlight in the first half of 2025. Almost 63% of music subscribers are now coming from Tier 2 and 3 cities.
The report points out that while Bollywood is evergreen, the most-streamed artistes so far this year are no longer limited to the film music industry, but are emerging from every corner of the country, bringing distinctly local sounds into the national spotlight.
Voices from Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Bihar are topping the charts, reflecting a notable shift in listening habits in both metros and Tier 2 cities.
The report reflects not only a playlist change, but a cultural evolution, with listeners tuning in to sounds that reflect diverse linguistic and musical traditions with a growing appetite for regional languages, cross-genre experiments and emotionally resonant compositions.
One of the most remarkable success stories comes from Marathi artiste Sanju Rathod, whose tracks Shaky and Gulabi Sadi emerged as breakout hits, dominating streaming numbers across states.
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Similarly, Masoom Sharma's Lofar became a national sensation, blending Haryanvi folk roots with a modern edge that resonated with both rural and urban youth.
Bhojpuri artist Shilpi Raj continued her upward trajectory in 2025 with Bandookk proving irresistible to listeners who gravitate towards raw, unapologetic energy. Sai Abhyyankar from the Tamil music circuit added depth to the mix, with his melodically layered releases like Sithira Puthiri , Aasa Kooda and Vizhi Veekura, each finding dedicated fanbases.
Among Hindi music artistes, Arijit Singh reaffirmed his emotional pull with Zamaana Lage and the Bengali track Tomake Chai Bolechhilem . Shreya Ghoshal demonstrated her linguistic range with a presence across Hindi, Telugu and Tamil songs.
Anirudh
Ravichander kept his high-energy momentum going with Sawadeeka , Hridayam Lopala and Dheema , proving his growing pan-India appeal. Composer Pritam Chakraborty further cemented his relevance with his work in Metro…In Dino , which has been widely loved.
Meanwhile, the nostalgic return of SP Balasubrahmanyam's classics on the platform reflected a continued emotional connection with golden-era melodies. Internationally, Ed Sheeran's collaboration with Arijit Singh on Sapphire added a global sheen to the Indian playlist scene.
Gaana's mid-year roundup offers a window into how identity, emotion and expression are increasingly being shaped through language and sound. As the year progresses, these trends are likely to deepen, with more local voices stepping into the spotlight.
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