What does Dhaka actually listen to? (genuine question from local artists)
Me and a few friends have been seriously making music for a while now. We’ve experimented across pop, hip-hop, and R&B, not just casually, but really trying to push quality, visuals, and overall presentation to a level that can stand next to what people consume globally.
Here’s what’s been bugging me:
There is an audience in Dhaka that listens to artists like The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, Charli XCX, modern, genre-blending, global sounds. You see it everywhere: Spotify, Instagram, playlists, parties. But when similar styles come from local artists (especially in English), it feels like that same audience just… doesn’t show up.
And it’s confusing.
Because on paper, we’re making music for that exact demographic. We’re not trying to imitate, we’re trying to contribute something fresh, with our own identity, but still within that modern sound space.
Still, it feels like:
\- Either people don’t take local artists seriously
\- Or we’re missing something fundamental about how to actually reach them
\- Or maybe Dhaka’s listening habits are different than what they appear to be on the surface
So I wanted to ask honestly:
What does Dhaka actually listen to when it comes to local artists?
And if you personally enjoy international pop/hip-hop/R&B, what would make you give a Bangladeshi artist a real chance?
Would really appreciate any thoughts, even if it’s blunt. Trying to understand the gap here.
(If you’re someone working on music/content too, would love to connect as well.)