How To Know Vietnamese Music | The Most Popular Genres
Vietnamese music has many genres. Music in Vietnam has native sounds, traditional instruments, and music from other countries. Vietnam is one of the few places
Music has always been a universal language, as it has a way of connecting people across continents. I recently wrote about an interesting trend of European bands mixing, where non-Europeans in Europe collaborate/mix with European bands/music.
For many in Europe, this may be new. However, fusions of different musical genres across cultures are as old as music. One prime example is Afrobeat artists which evolved from the classic Afrobeat genre.
I mention these because I’m going to discuss something very similar. And that discussion will be about YouTube music channels. Now, these YouTube music channels aren’t Vevo or T-Series.
This best YouTube channels list is the opposite, however.
I will cover music on YouTube channels from across the globe. These channels are diverse in terms of cultures, and musical genres. Also, they are quite versatile in blending music and experimenting across genres.
So, let’s discuss the best YouTube music channels across the globe!
Although the concept of Coke Studio originated in Brazil, but Pakistan pioneered the format. Its popularity is global, and the show is quite popular in India and Bangladesh, among other countries. The show started in 2008 in Pakistan and Rohail Hyatt was the producer for the first 6 seasons.
Season 6 was produced by Rohail Hyatt, of the Vital Signs band, and is fascinating work because it’s quite experimental. It has musicians and musical instruments from around the globe apart from Pakistan.
The show is in its 15 seasons now and has almost 16 million YouTube followers, making it one of the best YouTube music channels. One of its recent songs Pasoori was a global hit with over 800 million views.
Since we are talking about Pakistani music, you should also check out the best Pakistani singers.
After the success of the Pakistani version, Coke Studio’s Indian version was also launched. Coke Studio India was launched in 2011 and ran for 4 years, ending in 2015. However, Coke Studio relaunched the show in 2023 as Coke Studio Baharat.
There’s also another active Coke Studio Tamil version from India. In India’s Coke Studio version, all the biggest Bollywood musicians like AR Rehman, KK, and Sonu Nigam, among many others have performed.
Coke Studio India’s YouTube channels boast 6.39 million followers, making it one of the most diverse YouTube music channel in India. Khalasi is one of its popular songs with over 150 million views.
Want to know more about India? Don’t forget to check out Bollywood movies.
Coke Studio Africa is the African extension of the Coke Studio franchise. It started in 2013 and plays all the best African genres like Afrobeats, Afrofolk, and Soulful Benga, among many other genres.
Since the show covers the whole of Africa, so it has almost half a billion viewers across the continent. In 2017, Coke Studio Africa merged with Coke Studio South Africa to create a larger, pan-African platform.
Coke Studio Africa has more than 1 million subscribers, making it one of the best YouTube music channels in Africa. Lewjah Tani is one of the popular songs of Coke Studio Africa with views closer to 20 million.
Tiny Desk is an acclaimed live music series produced by NPR Music. The setting is hosted in a simple setting to create a cosy environment where musicians connect with audiences on a personal level. The shows cover all the genres from the world over, ranging from indie and jazz to hip-hop and global sounds.
Since its inception in 2008, Tiny Desk has also hosted legends like Adele, Billie Eilish and Coldplay, as well as emerging musicians. The best thing about this show is its authenticity with performances on minimalistic arrangements. It’s no wonder that it resonates with millions, making it one of the best YouTube music channels.
NPR Music which hosts Tiny Desk has 10.6 YouTube subscribers. And, there are plenty of performances that you can explore. Enjoy the Adele’s Tiny Desk concert!
Tiny Desk Japan is the localized version of NPR Music’s global Tiny Desk concert series. It was launched in 2022 and has featured famous artists and rising stars, such as Fujii Kaze and Hiromi. They have even featured the genre-defying band Millennium Parade.
The performances are just like Tiny Desk format in acoustic-style settings, so artists can experiment with their songs. With traditional instruments like the koto and taiko drums in some performances, the series bridges the modern and traditional sounds of Japan.
Fujii Kaze’s Tiny Desk performance has well over 14 million views. The performance is a perfect mixture of piano and traditional Japanese musical instruments. Also, don’t forget to check out the best Japanese movies and my favourite Japanese books.
Tiny Desk Korea is another localized version of the Tiny Desk concert series. The show is all about South Korea’s vibrant music scene, especially K-pop. The series features live performances from different Korean artists.
BTS has performed on the Tiny Desk 4 years ago with over 64 million views. However, it’s the most recent performance by V of BTS on Tiny Desk with almost 3 million views, making it the best YouTube music channel. The performance of the girl group NMIXX is also worth exploring.
Since South Korea is world famous for its K-pop genre, so there are many other top South Korean YouTube channels worth exploring. The names? Well, HYBE Labels is the top YouTube music channel with 76 million subscribers.
SM Town with 33 million subscribers and JYP Entertainment with 30 million subscribers are also the best YouTube music channels. If you are more interested in South Korea, you can check modern Korean books and Korean movies.
My Analog Journal (MAJ) is one of the most unique and top YouTube music channels on our list. It explores rare grooves from around the world through vinyl records. With over 1.08 million subscribers, it covers most music genres and themes to provide listeners with unique eclectic mixes.
The channel features various themed vinyl mixes, such as “Calming Jazz Records That Will Feed Your Soul” and “70s 80s Jazz Fusion & Funk Vinyl Mix with Hikko Mori,”. Interestingly, to play on such genres, they have mixers who are expert and passionate about their respective genres.
MAJ also collaborates with guest DJs and artists across the globe to cover different genres. For example, the mix “A Journey into the World of Asian Grooves with Dean Chew” is all about the unique sounds from Asia.
Boiler Room is another global YouTube music channel famous for live-streaming DJ sets and performances from locations worldwide. The idea is to give a platform to underground music scenes to reach international audiences.
Over the years, Boiler Room has changed its focus from just dance music to other genres. Now, it also covers hip-hop, and classic jazz, among other genres. Boiler Room’s YouTube channel has almost 4.5 million subscribers and more than 680 million total views.
Boiler Room has also been recognized for its contributions to music and culture. It has received awards such as the Gold Lovies for Best Music and Culture Platform and the People’s Choice Lovies in the same category.
Below is a live performance by legendary musician Ustaad Noor Bukhs from Balochistan, Pakistan. He plays the Balochi Benju.
Now, Benju is a toy version of the taishōgoto from Japan, which was brought to Pakistan in the 1920s by Japanese sailors. The local musicians modified the instrument to double its size and made it louder.
Rap Shar3 is a top YouTube music channel that promotes underground rap talent across the Middle East and North Africa. The YouTube channel has 348k subscribers. And, it features performances of artists from countries such as Egypt, Sudan, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia.
The YouTube channel has playlists for countries respectively. There are some popular videos like “STREET RAP SUDAN,” with over 1.5 million views. And, “انا فلسطيني (feat. OTSHA),” with over 600,000 views.
COLORS is a German YouTube music channel. This channel is famous for its minimalist aesthetic and focuses on emerging artists from around the world. The reason for its popularity is its unique presentation style, featuring artists performing against solid-coloured backgrounds.
The COLORS YouTube channel has almost 8 million subscribers. Some of the bigger names that have performed on the channel include Bille Ellish and Ponte Perro. H.E.R.’s rendition of Carried Away is one of the top performances with over 16 million views.
Sesiones RTVC is a Colombian music platform that highlights the country’s musical heritage by contemporary artists. The series features famous Colombian musicians who reimagine iconic folkloric songs. These live sessions are filmed in beautiful spaces that also tell cultural stories.
Each episode includes three live performances. The first performance has a reimagined version of a traditional Colombian folk song and two of the artist’s most representative original tracks. Between songs, the musicians also share their life stories and musical journeys.
There are some notable performances by Monsieur Periné, Andrea Echeverri, and Herencia de Timbiquí, among others. If you want to explore more about Colombia, check out the best Colombian movies and the best places in the Walled City of Cartagena.
Sofar Sounds, which is short for Songs From A Room is a gig initiative that features live performances in non-traditional venues. The show started in London and has since expanded to over 400 cities worldwide.
The best thing about Sofar events is their focus on connection and discovery. Performances typically include three acts, spanning a variety of genres, and the artists remain unannounced until the event.
This surprise element creates a unique experience for both artists and attendees. Sofar has also featured Billie Eilish, Leon Bridges, and Hozier, who performed for small crowds before achieving mainstream success.
On YouTube, Sofar Sounds almost has 1.5 million subscribers, making it one of the best YouTube music channels.
VEK is a YouTube music channel from Russia that is all about traditional Russian music, particularly the art of throat singing from regions like Altai and Tuva. This unique vocal technique, known as “khöömei,” produces multiple pitches simultaneously. VEK uses their platform to promote Russia’s musical heritage with cultural storytelling.
VEK has 393K YouTube subscribers with more than 300 videos. Oh, Vanya is one of the top traditional songs of Siberian Old Believers, which has over 25,000 views. Similarly, Stradaniya features Russian women’s folk couplets, with more than 7,200 views.
The channel also has collaborations that mix traditional sounds. For example, Altai throat singing features a live looping remix with The Kiffness. If you like to explore more about Russia, check out the Russian literature books.
Africori is a leading digital music distribution company in African music. It is a main platform for independent African artists and labels. Although independent initially, Warner Music Group acquired a majority stake in Africori.
Africori’s YouTube channel has over 677,000 subscribers and more than 270 million video views, making it one of the best YouTube music channels. It features diverse content, including music videos, artist interviews, and exclusive releases.
Africori has collaborated on projects like the Amapiano meets Ibiza EP, featuring artists such as DBN Gogo and Major League DJz.
Genius is one of the top YouTube music channels behind the in-depth analysis and annotation of song lyrics and the stories behind popular music. Its YouTube music channel has over 12 million subscribers with more than 3,300 videos.
The channel has a Verified series where artists break down the lyrics and meanings of their songs. Also, Open Mic covers live performances. These series often reach millions of views. For example, the Top 10 Genius Verified Episodes of 2023 compilation highlights some of the most-watched interviews of 2023.
I have been covering the best of everything from the best global novels, music from Cape Verde, and Mongolian music to Malian musicians. But, it’s the first time that I’m covering the best YouTube music channels.
And there’s a reason because these channels cover music across the countries, cultures and traditions. So, I hope you will like the list.
If you have any particular favourites or know of any YouTube music channel which is a hidden gem, please share!
Vietnamese music has many genres. Music in Vietnam has native sounds, traditional instruments, and music from other countries. Vietnam is one of the few places
Almost two years ago, I interviewed one of the famous Mexican singers, Leonardo Prieto, to understand the influence of Mexican folklore in his rock music.
Afrobeats is one popular genre that people may have been listening to for years but just don’t know the name. Because the melodic rhythms and
