Pakistani pop singer Asim Azhar’s ballad “Jo Tu Na Mila” reached 100 million streams on Spotify.
The achievement prompted Azhar to express his heartfelt thanks to fans via Instagram, teasing an alluring surprise for his audience.
“To mark my debut song hitting 100 million on Spotify, I’m thrilled to unveil a special rendition for all the ‘Jo Tu Na Mila’ enthusiasts out there,” Azhar wrote, giving fans a taste of what’s to come with a lyrical snippet.
Despite its release in 2018, “Jo Tu Na Mila” continues to captivate listeners worldwide, having previously celebrated crossing 100 million views on YouTube in May 2020. Reflecting on this earlier accomplishment, Azhar shared his awe and gratitude for X (previously known as Twitter), noting how the song’s success placed him among esteemed companies.
“Joining the ranks of Pakistani legends like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam, and Momina Mustehsan with this milestone is genuinely humbling,” Asim acknowledged the profound impact of his supporters. “It’s surreal to reach this point, especially considering the unique challenges we’ve faced, such as the YouTube ban back home,” Azhar added in an Instagram follow-up, highlighting the steep journey to his song’s monumental status.
The road to success wasn’t without its hurdles, as “Jo Tu Na Mila” was embroiled in controversy over alleged plagiarism. Critics on social media drew parallels between a segment of Azhar’s melody and a tune from Joe Hisaishi’s 1989 Japanese film score.
Azhar clarified that the contentious melody portion was legally sampled, crediting Universal Music India for ensuring proper rights acquisition. “The song went through the correct legal channels, aligning with copyright norms,” he asserted, putting to rest any lingering doubts about the song’s originality.