British Asian artists have historically found it tough to secure a space in the South Asian music scene. Despite putting in a lot of effort, many have only received limited recognition, with the charts dominated by Bollywood and the global rise of Punjabi music. Saloni, an up-and-coming artist, describes the struggle of trying to compete with mainstream pop charts and gaining visibility. However, hopes are high for the first-ever Official British Asian Chart Show, which could help young talent take the leap into the big time.
The weekly show, airing every Thursday, is compiled by the Official UK Singles Chart and will focus on domestic artists unlike the station’s existing, more global chart. Sales and streams are counted over a seven-day period for songs to make it into the charts. BBC Introducing presenter Jasmine Takhar is the host of the new chart show, which she hopes can help showcase the music of talented musicians who are often not recognised enough.
For Saloni, the new chart is “exactly what we all need” as it will help emphasize visibility for artists building a fan base in the UK. Saloni feels that the existing Asian Chart is limited in terms of representing local artists and is dominated by Bollywood or Punjabi music. Similarly, London artist Ezu believes British Asian artists should be proud of “repping their culture” and that there is a need to revive the community.
While the new chart will help accelerate visibility, it cannot create success on its own. Saloni and Ezu agree that success will also mean performing on the same stage as certain people when it comes to line-ups for festivals, or opening for artists. For now, the chance to be top of the charts is a badge of honor in itself. The artists hope that topping the new chart will bring even more accolades and an even more substantial fan base
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