Music of Pakistan - Pakistan's Music Industry.

Pakistan’s music industry (Lollywood) or the music of Pakistan includes a wide range of elements of music from different parts of South Asia, Central Asia, Middle Eastern as well as Western. With these all combined, Pakistani music taste has emerged immensely. 

Some common genres of Pakistani music are:

• ·         TRADITIONAL
• 1.       Ghazal
• 2.       Qawwalis

• ·         RELIGIOUS
• 1.       Hamd
• 2.       Qalam

• ·         REGIONAL
• 1.       Punjabi
• 2.       Saraiki
• 3.       Pushto
• 4.       Sindhi
• 5.       Balochi

• ·         MODREN
• 1.       Pop
• 2.       Rock
• 3.       Hip-hop
• 4.       Film music

If we look back at Pakistan’s history, music was in the veins of this land and had always managed to reach the ears of the listeners. Pakistan has produced many magnificent artists who not only made music but also laid the foundation of this industry. May it be the legend Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan who gained international fame or Madam Noor Jahan whose voice made it to the boarder and motivated the JAWANs to fight.

Pakistani Legend | Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (late)

Then came the 80’s era, the era of JAZZ, POP and ROCK. So, how can we forget the Hassan siblings. The ultimate trend setters of Pakistan, Zohaib Hassan and Nazia Hassan.

The 90’s-2010 era, AAHH! Those good old days, those were the days when new songs came regularly and instantly became super hits for instant VITAL Signs, JAL the band’s song, Haroon, Fakher, Atif Aslam, Ali Zafar, Jawed Ahmed, Shehzad Roy, etc. but obviously not everything about that era was perfect. However, the originality and versity of genres really make us remember those golden days.

Pakistani Idol | Amjad Sabri (late)

Over the past few decades, Pakistani music taste gradually developed from Classical/Sufi to Pop/rock and from Sufi rock to Pakistani hip hop/rock. The downfall of music industry in Pakistan came during 2007-08 due to the terrorism wave but “Ye Hum Nahin” featuring Hadika Kiyani, Haroon, Ali Zafar, String and many more, rose as an anthem against the terrorism.

In 2008, Rohil Hayat reconstructed the Paki music by launching COKE STUDIO, a platform for talented artists to showcase their vocal skills. Many more followed like NESTCAFE BASEMENT, PEPSI BATTLE OF THE BANDS etc. playing Sufi Rock, Classical Grunge, Pop Folk fusions genres and with the remakes of old songs set off a new rage in the Pakistani music taste.

Talking about the latest trend in music, Pakistanis mostly prefer Romantic Pop songs as well as Traditional Classical songs such as Qawwalis, Sufi and Sufi Rock. More over music taste varies from region to region for instance in Punjab, people prefer Punjabi and Saraiki song. In KPK there is more demand of Pushto songs. Apart from Pakistani songs, people also enjoy Hollywood and Bollywood songs too.

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