Spotify Hosts First-Ever I-Pop Icons Live Featuring King, Armaan Malik, Jonita Gandhi & More

On November 7, Spotify turned the spotlight on India’s thriving independent pop scene with the debut edition of Spotify I-Pop Icons Live, a night that celebrated the country’s biggest chart-toppers and the evolution of homegrown pop music. The high-energy showcase brought together leading voices including King, Armaan Malik, Jonita Gandhi, Aditya Rikhari, Kushagra, Hansika Pareek, and Sanju Rathod, each representing a different flavour of India’s growing pop universe. Together, they reflected the confidence, creativity, and cultural depth that define this new era of Indian sound, one that transcends language, region, and genre.

The evening began on a vibrant note with Sanju Rathod setting the stage ablaze through his energetic renditions of Gulabi Saadi and Shaky, and culminated with a power-packed performance by King, who treated fans to an unreleased track along with his chartbuster Maan Meri Jaan. Between these electrifying acts, the audience was swept away by Jonita Gandhi’s signature magic that had the “Jontourage” singing along, and Armaan Malik’s soulful melodies that made the “Armaanians” swoon. Adding to the musical brilliance were stellar performances by Hansika Pareek (Kaise Ab Kahein, Woh Tum Ho), Kushagra (Finding Her, Ratiyan), and Aditya Rikhari (Sahiba, Samjho Na).

At its core, I-Pop—short for Indian Pop,reflects Spotify’s growing investment in nurturing homegrown pop talent. The I-Pop Icons property builds on the success of Spotify’s genre-focused identities such as Rap 91 and Punjabi 101, elevating Indian pop artists to the live stage and giving the movement the spotlight it truly deserves.

The debut edition of I-Pop Icons Live went far beyond being just another concert,it marked a defining moment for the Indian pop movement. It served as proof of the genre’s soaring streaming success, a confident step towards its live music future, and a clear message to artists that a strong ecosystem is taking shape to champion independent pop. Bringing together some of the year’s most popular tracks, the event became a milestone celebration of a genre that has been steadily, and now unmistakably, finding its own powerful voice.

Over the past few years, I-Pop, or Indian Pop,has emerged as one of Spotify’s most dynamic categories, driven by artist-led storytelling and a rich diversity of styles. The genre’s rise mirrors the way Indian audiences are consuming music today, digital-first, emotionally connected, and ready to explore voices beyond mainstream film music. On Spotify’s Weekly Top Songs India chart, Aditya Rikhari’s “Sahiba” currently leads at number one, while twelve of the top twenty tracks belong to the I-Pop genre, signalling its strong and sustained resonance with listeners.

Since the launch of the I-Pop Icons playlist in August 2024, it has attracted over 428,000 followers, becoming a central part of Spotify’s growing pop ecosystem. Surrounding it are other mood and moment-based playlists such as I-Pop Mohabbat, I-Pop Chill, I-Pop Sad Feels, and I-Pop Party, along with I-Pop Rising, a platform dedicated to emerging voices. Collectively, these playlists come together under the Home of I-Pop hub, Spotify’s one-stop destination for fans seeking the sound of India’s evolving pop landscape.

Speaking about the growing momentum, Dhruvank Vaidya, Head of Music and Podcasts at Spotify India, said, “Over the last few years, we’ve seen a significant rise in I-Pop consumption on Spotify. We’re deeply invested in helping this genre grow, through playlists, collaborations, and events like I-Pop Icons Live. Artists like Aditya Rikhari, whose ‘Sahiba’ tops the charts, and King, whose ‘Maan Meri Jaan’ was India’s most-streamed song in 2023, are redefining what pop means for Indian listeners.”

Among the night’s standout performers, King commanded the stage with his trademark energy, representing a new wave of homegrown stardom. With over nine million followers on Spotify, his hit “Maan Meri Jaan” was the most-streamed track in India in 2023, while his album Champagne Talk debuted at number four on Spotify’s Global Albums Top 50, one of the highest global positions achieved by an Indian artist. Armaan Malik, followed by more than 23 million listeners worldwide, has been a true bridge between Indian and international pop, with collaborations alongside Ed Sheeran, Calum Scott, and Eric Nam. He also holds the distinction of being the first Indian artist to feature on Spotify’s Times Square billboard in 2020 for his English debut Control.

Jonita Gandhi, a multilingual powerhouse with nearly 17 million monthly listeners, brought a distinct blend of global and Indian sensibilities to the stage. Her crossover appeal and tracks in English, Hindi, and Punjabi, including the popular “Sitara” with DIVINE, which has garnered over 21 million streams, have made her one of the most versatile artists in the scene. Rising star Aditya Rikhari, currently enjoying over 25 million monthly listeners, has seen his song “Sahiba” hold strong on Spotify’s Top Songs India chart for over 18 weeks.

The lineup also featured Kushagra, a breakout artist who has experienced a remarkable 665% listener growth in the past year, and Hansika Pareek, one of I-Pop’s most exciting young voices, whose song “Ratiyaan” broke into Spotify’s Top 100 Viral Songs India. Representing regional pop at its best, Sanju Rathod showcased how Marathi pop is making waves nationwide, his track “Gulabi Sadi” became the first Marathi song to cross 100 million streams on Spotify, while “Shaky” climbed to the number two spot on the platform’s Top Songs India chart.

The evening was more than a concert, it was a statement of how Indian pop has come of age. With I-Pop Icons Live, Spotify not only celebrated chart success but also acknowledged the cultural shift redefining India’s musical identity. By giving these artists a global stage and uniting fans under the banner of I-Pop, Spotify reaffirmed its role in amplifying the sound of a new generation, one that’s proudly Indian, unmistakably modern, and ready to conquer the world.

Check Exclusive Live Coverage Here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQyrHu8CVQI/?igsh=MXU5ZTVnODN1ZHVmcg==