The P-Pop takeover—how Punjabi music has turned into a global phenomenon

Not too long ago, Punjabi pop music was the quintessential soundtrack at weddings, restaurants, and nightclubs across India. Today, those same beats are being echoed across Coachella’s main stage, through NBA arenas, and are even landing a spot on American television. What was once seen as niche music, restricted to just one country, has evolved into a full-fledged global movement—a phenomenon fans are now calling P-Pop.

Yes, Diljit Dosanjh may well be the man who kick-started this movement. From becoming the first Punjabi artist to perform at Coachella to becoming the first Indian artist to make it onto The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Dosanjh has cleverly positioned Punjabi music on the global pop map. His MET Gala debut in 2025 only cemented what his fans already knew: Punjabi music has arrived, or as he made Jimmy Fallon say, "Punjabi aa gaye oye!"

The latest Punjabi superstar to take this cultural wave forward is Karan Aujla, who is treading on the same path that Dosanjh walked on.

Karan Aujla on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

If Dosanjh opened the gates, Karan Aujla is storming right through. The latter made his US TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, where he not only had Fallon attempting bhangra behind the stage, but he also entertained the audience with a medley of his tracks 'Boyfriend' and 'Gabhru'. It was a proud moment for Punjabis worldwide, having their culture, language, and music being broadcast to millions of non-desi viewers.

Now this wasn’t Aujla’s first brush with international recognition. Born in Punjab and raised in Canada, Aujla has built his reputation as one of the most versatile Punjabi lyricists and rappers of the current generation. Known for hit tracks like 'Chitta Kurta', 'Tauba Tauba', and 'Softly', he has long been celebrated by the Punjabi diaspora abroad. In 2023, he became the first Punjabi artist to appear on New York’s iconic Times Square billboard. His Way Ahead Tour has already taken him across the UK, Canada, Australia, and the US, proving that the global appetite for Punjabi rap and pop is only growing.

From regional sound to global stage

What Aujla represented on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon is part of a much larger story. Punjabi music has transformed from being a region-specific tune into a mainstream global sound—one that is no longer restricted to specific communities but embraced by international audiences at large.

Dosanjh's tracks 'Lover', 'Born to Shine', and 'G.O.A.T.' didn’t just dominate Indian playlists but topped global Apple Music and Spotify charts, introducing non-desi fans to Punjabi lyrics. It was the same Punjabi music which took him to one of the most coveted stages of the world: the MET Gala 2025, where he shared a car with none other than pop icon Shakira herself!

Then there’s AP Dhillon, whose breakout anthem 'Brown Munde' became a cultural statement. With streaming hits like 'Excuses' and 'Summer High', and a career highlight performance at an NBA halftime show in Canada, Dhillon has proven that Punjabi music can very well command mainstream pop culture spaces traditionally dominated by American hip-hop and R&B.

Together, these artists are building a new narrative for Punjabi music. It's not just curiosity or a phase but rather an entire genre shaping the global soundscape.

The P-Pop movement

Today, Punjabi music is rewriting the rules of global pop. For years, Bollywood dictated what the world thought Indian music sounded like. But now, Punjabi artists are rewriting the script. They’re not just representing a community; they’re fronting a revolution.

And if the past few years are anything to go by, the Punjabi beat is here to stay, and it's shaping the sound of youth culture everywhere! 

Lead image: Getty Images

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