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Case Study · 5 min read · 🇨🇦+🌏

Punjabi Artist in Canada: Reaching India, UK and North America Simultaneously

Harpreet moved from Ludhiana to Toronto on a student visa. Three years later, his Punjabi pop track is on JioSaavn in India, Apple Music in the UK, and Spotify in Canada — all from one free submission on Western Beats.

3 Countries

Simultaneously

150+

Platforms

$0 CAD

Annual Fee

100%

Royalties

The Challenge for NRI Artists in Canada

Canada has one of the largest South Asian diaspora populations in the world — over 1.8 million people of Indian origin, concentrated in Toronto, Vancouver, and Brampton. For a Punjabi artist in Toronto, this is both the home audience and the launchpad for India.

But the platforms are fragmented. The Punjabi diaspora in Canada streams on Spotify Canada. Family back in India is on JioSaavn. UK cousins are on Apple Music. A DistroKid subscription covers Spotify Canada — but JioSaavn requires a separate Indian distributor relationship that most western distributors don't have.

"DistroKid doesn't have JioSaavn. TuneCore didn't have it either. I was paying $22 USD per year and my dad still couldn't find my music on his phone in Ludhiana."
— Harpreet, Toronto-based Punjabi artist

The Western Beats Solution

Harpreet submitted his track on Western Beats with a single form — no annual subscription, no USD payment, no secondary Indian distributor needed. Western Beats pushed the track to:

  • Spotify Canada, USA, UK, India
  • Apple Music (all territories)
  • JioSaavn
  • Gaana
  • Wynk Music
  • Amazon Music (Canada, India, UK)
  • YouTube Music
  • 140+ additional platforms

What Made the Difference

JioSaavn Editorial Access

Western Beats' direct relationship with JioSaavn meant the track was considered for editorial playlists — something no western distributor offers. It was added to "Punjabi Pop Hits" and "Fresh Punjabi" within 3 weeks of release.

Canadian Spotify Playlist Pitching

Western Beats also pitched to Spotify Canada editorial with a focus on the Punjabi-Canadian diaspora angle — "Desi Toronto" playlists that Spotify has been growing. The track landed on two.

ISRC + Metadata Compliance

International Standard Recording Codes (ISRC) were assigned automatically. Metadata was filed in both English and Punjabi (Gurmukhi script), improving discoverability in India.

Results

JioSaavn (India)62,000 streams — family found it
Spotify Canada38,000 streams — local diaspora
Apple Music UK19,000 streams
Spotify India14,000 streams
Gaana + Wynk9,000 streams combined
Total142,000+ in 90 days
"My dad called me from Ludhiana. He said 'puttar, teri song JioSaavn te aa gayi' — son, your song came on JioSaavn. That was worth more than any stream count."
— Harpreet

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