Telugu songs earned more than twice as much on Spotify in 2025 as they did the year before. Marathi royalties grew by nearly half. Haryanvi streams have multiplied almost seven times in three years. These numbers come from Spotify's Loud & Clear India report, released in September 2026, and they carry one clear message for every independent artist in the country: regional music distribution in India is no longer a niche — it is where the growth is.
If you create in Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Haryanvi, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali or any language beyond Hindi, the audience is already searching for you. The real question is whether your music is properly delivered to the platforms where they are listening. In this guide, we break down what the new data actually says, why listeners abroad now matter so much, and the practical release steps that help regional artists turn streams into real royalties.
What Spotify's Loud & Clear India 2026 Report Revealed
Spotify's annual Loud & Clear report shows how much money flows to artists on the platform. The India edition, covering 2025, was the strongest yet.
Royalties earned by Indian artists on Spotify grew around 29% year over year. And the growth was not limited to the biggest Bollywood names. Independent and non-film music — often called I-Pop — made up half of Spotify India's year-end top 10, and about 90% of tracks on the Top 50 – India playlist were by Indian artists.
The language-by-language picture
The most exciting part of the report is how evenly the growth spread across languages:
- Telugu: royalties up more than 120%
- Marathi: up nearly 50%
- Bengali: up nearly 40%
- Malayalam: up over 30%
- Hindi: up nearly 30%
- Tamil: up about 20%
Haryanvi stood out on a different measure — its streams grew roughly sevenfold between February 2023 and February 2026. Spotify India's music head, Dhruvank Vaidya, noted that artists singing in languages like Haryanvi and Malayalam simply did not have this kind of reach two years ago. Spotify is also extending its RADAR emerging-artist programme to Malayalam after its Punjabi and Tamil editions.
Why Regional Music Distribution in India Is Changing the Game
For years, many regional artists uploaded only to YouTube and treated streaming platforms as an afterthought. The new numbers show why that approach leaves money on the table.
When your song is live on Spotify, JioSaavn, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Wynk and other stores at the same time, every listener — wherever they discover you — can turn into a royalty-paying stream. Regional listeners are no longer a small audience; they are a fast-growing one, and platforms are actively building editorial playlists for them. Spotify alone now curates playlists across ten major Indian languages.
Platforms are investing in your language
Editorial teams can only feature music that is correctly delivered with the right language, genre and artist information. A Bhojpuri track wrongly tagged as "Hindi" or with a misspelled artist name may never reach the playlist curator who is looking for exactly that sound. This is why proper metadata is not paperwork — it is promotion.
Your Biggest New Audience Might Be Outside India
Here is a figure many artists miss: more than 40% of the royalties earned by Indian artists on Spotify in 2025 came from listeners outside India.
Think about the Punjabi community in Canada and the UK, Telugu and Tamil listeners in the US, Gulf countries and Singapore, or Bhojpuri audiences in Mauritius and Fiji. These listeners often stream on paid plans, which usually pay more per stream than free, ad-supported tiers in India.
Indian artists were streamed nearly 335 billion times in 2025. Hanumankind's "Big Dawgs" crossed 360 million streams and topped a global chart, and the Tamil track "Aasa Kooda" passed 238 million streams. These are reminders that a song in your own language can travel far — but only if it is available in every country and on every store where the diaspora listens.
How to Release Regional Music the Right Way
Big numbers in a report only matter if your next release is set up to benefit from them. Here is a practical checklist for your next regional single.
1. Tag the language and genre correctly
Choose the exact language of your vocals — Bhojpuri, Haryanvi, Telugu and so on — and the closest genre. This helps platforms route your track to the right editors and recommendation systems.
2. Release worldwide, not just in India
Unless you have a specific reason, make your music available in every territory. With 40% of royalties coming from abroad, limiting your release to India can cut your earning potential.
3. Keep your ISRC codes and artist profiles clean
Every track needs its own ISRC, and your artist name should be spelt the same way everywhere so all streams land on one profile. Read our guide on ISRC codes if you are unsure.
4. Deliver three to four weeks early
Uploading early gives stores time to process your release and gives you a window to pitch to editorial playlists before release day. Our playlist pitching guide explains how.
5. Keep 100% of your rights
Growth is only meaningful if the royalties come back to you. Choose a distributor that lets you keep full ownership of your masters and shows you transparent earnings reports.
Conclusion: Your Language Is Your Superpower
The 2026 Loud & Clear data makes three things clear. Regional music is growing faster than ever, with languages like Telugu, Marathi and Haryanvi leading the charge. A large share of Indian artists' earnings now comes from listeners abroad. And the artists who benefit most are the ones whose music is correctly delivered, tagged and available everywhere.
You do not need to switch languages or chase a Bollywood sound to build a real music career. You need your music in the right places, with the right information, while you keep full ownership.
That is exactly what MV Distribution is built for. With Maheshwari Visuals, your music goes live on 100+ stores — including Spotify, JioSaavn, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music and Wynk — usually within 48 hours, you keep 100% of your rights, and real human support is a call or email away. Sign up free on Maheshwari Visuals and get your next regional release in front of listeners in India and around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I distribute Bhojpuri or Haryanvi songs on Spotify and JioSaavn?
Yes. Spotify, JioSaavn, Apple Music, Amazon Music and most major platforms accept music in every Indian language. Through MV Distribution, you simply select the correct language and genre when you upload, and your release is delivered to 100+ stores.
Do regional songs earn less royalty than Hindi songs?
No. Platforms pay per stream based on where the listener is and their subscription type, not the song's language. A Telugu or Punjabi song streamed by a paid subscriber abroad can earn more per stream than a Hindi song streamed on a free tier in India.
How do I get my regional song on Spotify editorial playlists?
Deliver your release at least three to four weeks early, tag the language and genre accurately, and submit a pitch through Spotify for Artists before release day. Placement is never guaranteed, but correct metadata and early delivery give you a real chance.
How long does it take for my music to go live?
With Maheshwari Visuals, most releases go live on major stores within 48 hours. For editorial pitching, it is still best to schedule your release a few weeks ahead.
Should I release my regional song worldwide or only in India?
Release worldwide. More than 40% of Indian artists' Spotify royalties in 2025 came from listeners outside India, so a worldwide release lets the diaspora find and stream your music.
Data source: Spotify Loud & Clear India report (2025 data, published September 2026), as reported by Business Today and Spotify's newsroom.
