iWorld
Guru Randhawa clocks 19.8 billion YouTube views, tops global charts
Punjabi star outpaces global acts as streaming surge fuels new phase
MUMBAI: Guru Randhawa is striking a powerful chord on the global music stage, clocking 19.8 billion views on YouTube and emerging as one of the most-watched Punjabi artists worldwide.
The milestone puts him ahead of several global heavyweights, including Dua Lipa and Drake, underlining the growing international pull of Punjabi music. Alongside the viewership numbers, Randhawa has amassed 108.9 million hours of watch time, reflecting sustained engagement from audiences across markets.
His strong run comes on the back of a standout 2025, where he crossed 500 million audio streams, driven largely by his album Without Prejudice. The project marked a turning point, blending his signature style with a more global, polished sound.
That momentum carried forward with releases like Azul and Shkini, before rolling into 2026 with Dopamine, signalling a consistent and fast-paced release strategy.
On Spotify, Randhawa has also secured multiple top 10 entries on the India top 200 chart, reinforcing his cross-platform appeal. His independent streak appears to be paying off, with each release building on the last in both scale and reach.
As the lines between regional and global music continue to blur, Randhawa’s rise offers a glimpse into the future of Indian pop on the world stage. With numbers climbing and momentum firmly on his side, the next chapter could well be his biggest yet.
iWorld
Uber spotlights Rs 25 bike rides with music led IPL campaign
Uber uses 15 second music films with Divine and Roll Rida to push Rs 25 rides
MUMBAI: In a season where ads usually swing for sixes with celebrity spectacle, Uber has chosen to play a clever single sharp, fast, and straight to the point. Uber has rolled out a distinctly stripped-down IPL campaign, putting its product Uber Bike rides starting at Rs 25 for up to 3 km front and centre, rather than leaning on big-budget storytelling. The campaign features hip-hop artist Divine in Mumbai and Roll Rida in southern markets, using music as the primary vehicle for recall.
IPL advertising has long been dominated by high-production narratives packed with cricketers and film stars. Uber’s approach flips that playbook. Instead of elaborate storytelling, the brand opts for 15-second music-led films quick, rhythmic bursts designed to mirror the pace of urban mobility itself.
The message is deliberately simple, affordable, fast rides that cut through city traffic. No layered plots, no extended build-up just a functional promise delivered with cultural flair.
In the Mumbai-led film, Divine zips through traffic on an Uber Bike, turning the Rs 25 price point into a hook with his signature wordplay around “pachisi”. The campaign cleverly reframes affordability as a moment of delight, the kind that leaves commuters with a “32-teeth smile” after beating traffic at minimal cost.
Meanwhile, Roll Rida’s version leans into southern sensibilities, blending Telugu and Tamil influences with high-energy visuals. Set to the beat of tape drums, the film celebrates how low-cost rides can unlock a more connected and vibrant city experience. Together, the films reflect a conscious push towards regional authenticity, rather than a one-size-fits-all national narrative.
The campaign also signals Uber’s sharper focus on India’s growing bike taxi segment. While the company offers multi-modal services spanning cars, autos, metro integrations and intercity travel, this push zeroes in on two-wheelers as a key growth lever in dense urban markets.
By anchoring the campaign around a Rs 25 entry price for short distances, Uber is targeting everyday commuters, particularly younger users navigating congested cities where speed and cost matter more than comfort.
With IPL advertising clutter at its peak, even the most straightforward message risks getting lost. Uber’s answer is to embed the proposition within culture using music, regional nuance and repeat-friendly short formats to drive recall. The creative team has also layered subtle visual cues including multiple references to “25” within frames encouraging repeat viewing and reinforcing the core message without over-explaining it.
The campaign reflects a broader shift in advertising priorities. As attention spans shrink and media environments get noisier, brands are increasingly favouring clarity over complexity and speed over scale.
Uber’s IPL play may not shout the loudest, but it lands where it matters in the everyday commute. Because sometimes, in a marketplace full of grand narratives, a Rs 25 ride is story enough.
