Punjabi superstar KARAN AUJLA has once again shattered cultural barriers, making a historic television performance debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, playing a medley of the songs “Boyfriend” and “Gabhru!” from his album P-POP CULTURE. As the first Punjabi-Canadian ever to grace the iconic late-night stage, Aujla’s performance marks a monumental moment for Punjabi pop culture on a global scale.

Watch his groundbreaking performance:

This landmark appearance follows a series of unprecedented successes for Aujla. His latest album, P-POP CULTURE, ignited a global movement, achieving one of the strongest worldwide debuts for a Punjabi-language album ever. The project debuted at #1 on Spotify in both India and Pakistan, and #4 in Canada, while also securing the #1 spot on Apple Music in all three countries. All 11 songs on the album entered the Spotify Top 200 and Apple Music Top 50 charts in India, Canada, and Pakistan on release.

In Canada, P-POP CULTURE debuted at #3 on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart, marking the highest debut for a Punjabi-language album in Canadian history. In the United States, the album debuted at #19 on the US Billboard World Albums chart. To date, the P-POP CULTURE album has already accumulated nearly 300 million streams globally.

Building on a monumental summer, Aujla recently wrapped his sold-out It Was All a Dream U.S. arena tour, which filled venues in Oakland, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, further cementing his reputation as one of the most electrifying live performers in global music today. He recently headlined the Breaking Borders Festival in Malta, captivating an international audience, and was just announced as one of the headliners at Rolling Loud India, underscoring his stature as a leading voice bringing Punjabi music to some of the world’s biggest stages.

His performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is a testament to the undeniable global force that Karan has become. A bold fusion of Punjabi pop and hip-hop, Aujla’s music captures the dual force of the artist himself – raw and refined, heart and hustle – and continues to resonate with a diverse and ever-growing audience worldwide.

P-POP CULTURE is out now via Warner Music Canada/Warner Music India.  Get it here.

Global icon Karan Aujla, the most streamed Punjabi artist in 2024, makes history today by bringing Punjabi music into the global mainstream with the release of his new album P-POP CULTURE via Warner Music Canada/Warner Music India. A fearless mix of Punjabi pop and hip-hop, the album isn’t just music – it’s a cultural revolution, cementing Punjabi Pop Culture, or P-Pop, as a global force. Listen here.

Coinciding with the album’s release, Aujla unveils his visually striking new video for the song “For a Reason” – watch here. The arrival of P-POP CULTURE has sparked major celebrations around the world: in Mumbai, the Bandra-Worli Sealink is lit with a massive projection of Aujla and the album announcement, and Spotify India is hosting 200 fans along with Aujla himself for an immersive launch. His recent single “MF Gabhru!” is dominating charts and topping Punjabi playlists, building unstoppable momentum for the album.

P-POP CULTURE is more than an album. It’s the dual force of Karan Aujla himself – raw and refined, heart and hustle. One side delivers pop melodies drenched in love, nostalgia, and vulnerability. The other ignites with hip-hop fire, where bars hit hard and truths hit harder. It tells the story of a world-class performer lighting up global stages, and the story of a boy who lost his parents young, who left a village behind but carried it in every word he wrote. His pen is sharper than pain, louder than loss. His voice is a bridge between where he’s from and where he’s headed. This isn’t just music – it’s heritage turned global.

Across 10 tracks, P-POP CULTURE is both a tribute to the soil that raised Karan Aujla and a call to the world to embrace the sound of a new revolution. More than just an album, it marks the rise of P-Pop – not just a genre, but a culture, a movement. With P-POP CULTURE, Aujla unleashes a global force, and P-Pop is here to stay.

Following the massive success of his sold-out North American arena tour, global superstar Karan Aujla is set to make history once again with his highly anticipated new album, P-POP CULTURE, dropping August 22 via Warner Music Canada/Warner Music India. A bold fusion of global pop and hard-hitting Punjabi hip-hop, P-POP CULTURE is more than an album – it’s a cultural statement that reflects both sides of Aujla’s identity: the international performer and the proud son of Punjab. Coinciding with the announcement, Aujla has unveiled the official video for “MF Gabhru!” – a visually striking and emotionally charged track that sets the tone for what’s to come.

P-POP CULTURE is more than just an album title. It is a statement that redefines the contemporary landscape of Punjabi Pop by seamlessly merging two of the culture’s most potent forms of expression: melody and raw power. This album carves out Karan’s unique artistic space, where Punjabi Pop converges with Punjabi Hip-Hop, serving as the foundational blueprint for this innovative sound. The project is divided into two distinct moods, with side A delving into the emotional and melodic facets of Punjabi Pop, while side B explores the gritty, bass-heavy soundscapes of Punjabi Hip-Hop. Across its ten tracks, Karan effortlessly navigates between moments of vulnerability and bravado, weaving romantic narratives with unyielding self-assurance. For Karan, P-POP CULTURE resonates at a deep and personal level, embodying his authentic sound as that of a lover and a fighter, a dreamer and a doer. This album goes beyond music: it is the essence of Karan’s duality and his rich cultural heritage.

Fans at Karan’s sold-out show in Montreal were treated to an unforgettable moment as he debuted his powerful new track “MF Gabhru!” live for the first time. The crowd erupted as Aujla delivered the high-octane anthem, setting the tone for what’s to come from his forthcoming album, P-POP CULTURE.

The Montreal show marked the final stop of the North American leg of Aujla’s worldwide It Was All a Dream tour, which sold out arenas in Oakland, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, cementing his status as one of the most electrifying live performers in global music today. Next, Aujla will bring his genre-defying sound to Europe, kicking off the tour’s next chapter on August 26 in Dublin.

Karan Aujla continues his unstoppable rise as a global music force. In 2024, he was named the most streamed Punjabi artist on Spotify worldwide and earned over 2 billion streams for his breakout album Making Memories.With major features in Rolling Stone and Billboard, a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Canada Top 100 (“At Peace”), and the world’s most-watched music video in 24 hours for “Courtside”, Aujla’s cross-cultural impact is undeniable.His single “Tell Me” with Grammy-nominated giants OneRepublic landed on the latest season of Love Island, and he made history as the first South Asian to win the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice Award – alongside a show-stopping performance at the 2024 JUNO Awards.

Tour Dates

August 26 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena

August 28 – Dusseldorf, Germany – Mitsubishi Electric Halle

August 30 – Paris, France – Zenith

September 2 – Milan, Italy – Fabrique

September 4 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live

September 5 – Malta – Breaking Borders Festival (headliner)

November 29 – Abu Dhabi, UAE – Etihad Park

Internationally acclaimed Warner Music Canada recording artist Karan Aujla’s latest single “Courtside” was the #1 most viewed music video in the world on YouTube in its first 24 hours with over 6.3 million streams. Within just three days of release, the music video has already accumulated over 17 million views and is trending on YouTube in 10 countries, including #1 in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Watch it here.

In addition to the massive success on YouTube, “Courtside” is also trending at #4 on Instagram Reels. On Spotify, “Courtside” has reached the Top 30 in both Canada and India. The track has also achieved significant success on Apple Music, reaching #7 in Canada and #2 in India. This global success underscores Karan Aujla’s international appeal and his undeniable talent as a hitmaker.

About Karan Aujla

Karan Aujla’s rise from his upbringing in rural Punjab to his place atop the global music industry is a testament to his talent and unique blend of Punjabi folk, hip-hop, and R&B. His albums, BacTHAfuKUP and Making Memories, have solidified his international presence. Making Memories, released in 2023, generated billions of streams and culminated in a sold-out world tour that connected him with hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide. This album’s success highlights Aujla’s ability to resonate with a diverse global audience, a position underscored by his status as the most streamed Punjabi artist on Spotify globally in 2024. His influence has extended to Bollywood, where his song “Tauba Tauba” was featured in the film Bad Newz and quickly became a national hit in India. Aujla’s achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards, including his groundbreaking win of the 2024 TikTok JUNO Fan Choice Award, making him the first South Asian artist to win the fan-voted category. In 2025, Aujla has already received multiple JUNO Award nominations, including Single of the Year for “Winning Speech,” and has collaborated with GRAMMY-nominated chart-toppers OneRepublic on “Tell Me,” produced by preeminent South Asian producer Ikky, with much more in store for the year to come.

Internationally acclaimed Punjabi powerhouse Karan Aujla is continuing to break down borders by collaborating with GRAMMY® nominated chart topping American pop superstars OneRepublic for their upcoming single “Tell Me”, produced by preeminent South Asian producer Ikky, out now!

The song premiered on Apple Music 1’s New Music Daily Radio Show with Zane Lowe featuring Karan Aujla and Ryan Tedder.

See the Video:

Aujla has just extended his global recording deal with Warner Music Canada and Warner Music India.

Karan Aujla says “Working with OneRepublic has been a dream of mine for years, so this collaboration is a big deal. It’s exciting to finally share this news, and I know fans are going to love the song. And returning to Warner to release this music feels like coming home. We made my last album the biggest of my career, and I’m ready to make my return even bigger with more surprises in store.”

Ryan Tedder, frontman of OneRepublic says: “Ever since our first show in India with OneRepublic, I have been obsessed with not only the culture and the people and the food, but the music itself and I have been looking for the right opportunity to collaborate with local artists and dive into the Hindi and Punjabi musical landscape. I could not be more excited about this song and our work with Karan and I hope this leads to many more trips to India.”

Kristen Burke, President, Warner Music Canada adds: “Karan is a generational artist whose music has broken down borders, both culturally and geographically. We are so excited to be working with him on this next chapter to expand his impact on music and culture globally. Having OneRepublic, one of the biggest bands globally over the last two decades as a collaborator on the track brings everything to the next level. I can’t wait for fans of both artists to hear the track.”

Of the new music, Jay Mehta, Managing Director, Warner Music India & SAARC adds: “Karan is an artist who constantly evolves, pushing the limits of what Punjabi and global music can achieve. ‘Tell Me’ is a brilliant example of his ambition – teaming up with OneRepublic and Ikky to craft something truly special. With Karan’s renewed partnership with Warner Music, we are dedicated to amplifying his voice on the world stage. There’s so much more to come, and we can’t wait for the world to hear what’s next.”

Karan Aujla was the most streamed Punjabi artist on Spotify globally in 2024. His most recent album Making Memories captured global attention, while generating over 2 billion streams, a milestone that was celebrated while Karan was on a sold-out world tour which attracted an audience of more than 500,000 people.

His song “Tauba Tauba” launched Karan into Bollywood as he teamed up with actor Vicky Kaushal for the film Bad Newz. The track quickly became one of the biggest songs in India in 2024. In addition to his breakout Bollywood moment, Karan also took home the International Trendsetter Award at the International India Film Academy Awards. These successes follow an incredible year of firsts, including Karan becoming the first South Asian artist to win the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice award at the 2024 JUNO Awards, where he also delivered his first televised performance. Karan’s momentum continues into 2025 with three JUNO Award nominations, including Single of the Year for “Winning Speech.”

South Asian music, particularly of Punjabi origin, has seen enormous global growth in recent years, transcending cultural boundaries and driving a massive increase in consumption across streaming platforms. South Asian artists have been performing at major international music festivals, topping global charts, and amassing billions of streams across various platforms. This trend represents a significant shift in the global music landscape, highlighting the growing influence and popularity of South Asian music worldwide.

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and CBC celebrated Canada’s Biggest Night in Music this evening at The 53rd Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast. Hosted by legendary singer, songwriter and pop superstar Nelly Furtado, the awards were broadcast from Scotiabank Centre in Halifax on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s YouTube page.

JUNOS’ most decorated artist and Nova Scotian Anne Murray took to the stage to present the Group of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada to The Beaches. Following their win, The Beaches also took to the stage with a dynamic performance to cap off a stellar weekend for the band, winning Rock Album of the Year the previous night as well.

Two other performers went home with JUNO Awards this evening, TALK with Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and Charlotte Cardin won Album of the Year Presented by Music Canada for her hit album “99 nights.” Charlotte also went home with Pop Album of the Year the previous night.

Fans around the world were given the option to vote for the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, which was awarded to Karan Aujla.

The evening’s broadcast included the induction of Maestro Fresh Wes to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, his Induction was Presented by JUNOS Premier Sponsor, TD. The honour was presented to him by Kardinal Offishall who also introduced Maestro Fresh Wes ahead of his incredible performance.

The MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Entertainment, was awarded to, Stephen Richardson (École St. Joseph School, Yellowknife, NT) not only for his impact on students in kindergarten through to grade 12 but also his dedication to the Yellowknife community and the music education field. He is the first educator from the Northwest Territories to win this award and has been nominated for this award three times before.

The 2024 JUNO Awards Broadcast featured additional performances from some of Canada’s brightest stars. Host Nelly Furtado took to the stage to wow the crowd with her performance followed by Karan Aujla (2024 Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters nominee) and Ikky who impressed the audience with their performance. A powerful performance from Jeremy Dutcher & 2024 JUNO Award winner Elisapie ft. the fiery Mi’kmaq fiddler Morgan Toney and artistic creator Sarah Prosper. A double award winner from the JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada, Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN and Alternative Album of the Year, Aysanabee joined Alexandra Stréliski and Allison Russell, winner of the 2024 JUNO Award for Music Video of the Year. Country artist Josh Ross took to the stage to put on an exhilarating performance.

The evening’s star-studded roster of presenters included CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Best in Miniature host, Aba Amuquandoh, Two-Spirit nurse practitioner and talented drag artist Anita LandBack, Canadian music legend Jim Cuddy, co-founder and executive director of the Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance John R Sylliboy, actor/comedian Jonny Harris from CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries and Still Standing, 2024 Single of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private Radio broadcasters nominee and pop singer/songwriter LU KALA, R&B/dancehall fusion and 2024 Reggae Recording of the Year nominee Omega Mighty, Minister of Canadian Heritage The Honourable Pascale St-Onge and JUNO Award winner and 2024 nominee William Prince. Crash Adams were the 2024 TikTok JUNO Fan Choice Award presenters and CBC Music’s Odario Williams brought this Afterdark groove to the JUNO party as the Broadcast announcer.

Fans can rewatch every performance and memorable moment from the 53rd Annual JUNO Awards broadcast, on CBC Gem, CBCMusic.ca/junos and The JUNO Awards social channels.

The 2024 JUNO Awards Broadcast was produced by Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker company in association with CBC and The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).

Trailblazing Punjabi lyricist, rapper and singer Karan Aujla makes history as his album Making Memories debuted at #5 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, the highest charting Punjabi album debut ever. In its first week, Making Memories earned 7.5 million streams in Canada alone, while globally it garnered over 24 million streams. What’s more, each of the eight songs from Making Memories charted in the Top 200 in both India and Canada.

Making Memories was executive produced by Ikky, and debuted at #3 on the Spotify Global Top Albums chart and hit #1 on the Apple Music charts in India and Canada.

The album’s lead single “Admirin’ You” welcomed another historic moment as Aujla became the first Indian artist to cover Apple Music’s New Music Daily global playlist with an exclusive interview on the Zane Lowe show. Aujla also became the first artist to get a #1 track placement and cover simultaneously on Spotify’s biggest Punjabi playlist Punjabi 101 on day of release.The single became the #1 trending track on Instagram Reels globally within the first week; inspiring over one million creations on Snapchat in less than two weeks. The success expanded to TikTok and landed on the platform’s viral charts. The official music video surpassed 11.3 million views in 24 hours, reaching #1 trending on YouTube in Canada and Australia and hit the top 20 trending chart in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the UAE.

Making Memories is available as a special limited-edition, orchid purple vinyl now on sale here.

Next up for Aujla is his Making Memories headlining tour in October with eight stops across the United States – get your tickets here.

Making Memories Tour

Oct 13 – New York , NY
Oct 15 – Washington , DC
Oct 20 – San Francisco , CA
Oct 22 – Los Angeles , CA
Oct 24 – Houston , TX
Oct 26 – Atlanta , GA
Oct 27 – Indianapolis, IN
Oct 29 – Chicago , IL

About Karan Aujla

Karan Aujla was born and raised in the village of Ghurala in Northern Punjab amidst the rural and farm lifestyle. At a young age, both of Aujla’s parents passed away and creating rhymes and writing was a pacifier and escape for Karan. When he discovered Punjabi folk music after his parent’s death, he was ultimately inspired to delve into the world of songwriting and realized that he had a unique talent with the pen. Karan Aujla relocated to British Columbia, Canada and during his high school years, he was sought out by many Punjabi artists as a songwriter and would go on to write several singles for the most prominent Punjabi artists at the time. With fate at work, one of Karan’s songs as a full-fledged artist rather than writer garnered international buzz in the Punjabi community worldwide. His debut album, BacTHAfuKUP (B.T.F.U.), released in 2021, highlights his vocal prowess in unison with trance-like Punjabi folk production. This album solidified his place as a global ambassador of Punjabi music worldwide, with a hundred million streams across streaming platforms, and #6 placement on Spotify’s Global Chart. That same year, Karan was dubbed India’s most prominent artist as he was ranked #38 on the Global Digital Artist Ranking. Karan has over 3 billion official video views, has garnered over 1 billion audio streams and 13 million followers across his channels. Equipped with a love of traditional folk Punjabi music and an affinity for melodic hip-hop and trap R&B from moving to Canada – Karan’s sonic essence elevated to uncharted heights. His cumulative musical experience has resulted in a fusion of Punjabi and North American sounds, where Karan serves as a cultural bridge.