arlier this month, Spotify officially launched ICON Pakistan at TDF Ghar in Karachi. The venue was transformed into the HOUSE OF ICON to celebrate the country’s rich musical heritage tracing back to the 1950s.

Attendees were treated to an exclusive journey through the decades of music, highlighting the artists and tracks that have defined Pakistan’s vibrant music landscape since the 1950s.

Upon entering, attendees were greeted by a live painting of the official Spotify ICON playlist artwork, depicting the icons of Pakistan’s musical history. The artwork continued to evolve as guests arrived, setting the tone for the event and blending art with music, while emphasizing the significance of these artists in shaping Pakistan’s soundscape.

As attendees ascended to the upper floor exhibition area, they were transported back to the golden era between the 1950s and 1970s, a time when ghazals and classical music reigned supreme. This room, designed to resemble a traditional ‘ghazal mehfil,’ felt like a time warp, transporting attendees to a space where the maestro Mehdi Hassan was performing. Icons like Mehdi Hassan, Noor Jahan, Abida Parveen, and Nazia Hassan were celebrated, with the space adorned with memorabilia from their careers, bridging the past and present.

Throughout the room, pictures of the timeless legends who have shaped the heritage of Pakistani music were displayed. Behind the stage, a table played snippets of the ICONs’ music along with some of their most memorable performances.

In the next section of the venue, the 1980s to early 2000s artists were showcased in an equally captivating yet more contemporary manner. This room featured a dedicated wall adorned with album CDs from some of Pakistani music’s greatest hits, offering a visual and auditory journey through a time when pop music and contemporary sounds began to shape the musical landscape.

The immersive experience was not just about observing; it was about interacting with the music that defined these decades. Iconic albums from artists like Junoon and Vital Signs were on display, reminding guests of the cultural shifts and the advent of more modern genres in the country. The room’s immersive elements allowed guests to reminisce about their own experiences with this music, completing the journey through the rich and diverse evolution of Pakistani music.

This event by Spotify was not just a tribute but an exhibition showcasing how music can serve as a time capsule, transporting us through different eras while preserving the legacy of its legends.

The evening culminated with the unveiling of the first Spotify ICON Pakistan artist: the Shehenshah-e-Qawwali, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, whose new album, Chain of Light, released this month.

The event was attended by notable celebrities, media personalities, artists, and social media influencers, all gathered to celebrate the unveiling of the first Spotify ICON Pakistan and to witness the magic of Pakistan’s rich music history come to life.

Some of the most noteworthy attendees included artists like Asim Azhar, Young Stunners, Junaid Khan, the former Vital Signs bassist Shahzad ‘Shahi’ Hassan, composer Arshad Mehmood, Bilal Saeed, Bilal Ali, and Spotify’s RADAR artist Umair, to name a few.

“We are incredibly proud to kick off the Spotify ICON Pakistan series by celebrating one of the greatest music legends of all time, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. With over 800 million streams worldwide and nearly 60 million hours of his music listened to on Spotify, his influence is both profound and far-reaching,” said Khan FM, Spotify’s Senior Artist & Label Partnerships Manager for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

“The Spotify ICON Pakistan celebration is a tribute to his incredible journey and his impact on the Pakistan music culture.”

Celebrated as one of the most influential qawwali singers in history, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan continues to inspire generations with his deeply soulful music. Since Spotify’s debut in Pakistan in 2021, over 900,000 searches have been made for “Nusrat.”

In 2024, his most streamed tracks on the platform include ‘Mere Rashke Qamar’, ‘Sochta Houn’, and ‘Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai’.

On Spotify, Nusrat ranks among the top 5 Pakistani artists, a testament to his extraordinary talent and enduring popularity. He has amassed over 5.7 million monthly listeners, with his fan base growing steadily, particularly among younger audiences. Almost 60% of his current listeners on Spotify are from Gen-Z, and over the past year, he has seen a 26% year-on-year growth in streams on the platform, further solidifying his lasting impact across generations.

Nusrat’s collaborations with international icons such as Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder, combined with his innovative blend of traditional qawwali and contemporary sounds, have earned him a huge local and global following. To this day, Night Song and Mustt Mustt are among his most compelling albums.

His music transcends borders and genres, with Spotify listeners outside Pakistan coming from India, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and Germany.

This enduring influence of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is the focus of a new short film produced by Spotify, which premiered at the House of ICON. The event also highlighted the lasting relevance of legacy artists, emphasizing the unique blend of nostalgia and modernity that the Spotify ICON Pakistan program aims to bring to today’s listeners.

Through Spotify ICON Pakistan, Spotify is bridging the gap between generations, providing a platform for legacy artists to be honored and celebrated in the digital age as they continue to inspire new audiences across the country.

This launch marks the beginning of a series of campaigns under Spotify ICON Pakistan, set to feature more legendary figures from Pakistan’s rich musical history.

Visitors looking to embrace the nostalgia and history of Pakistan's rich musical journey can visit the exhibition at TDF Ghar as it will remain open for several weeks.