Coke Studio Pakistan (Urdu: کوک اِسٹوڈیو; Hindi: कोक स्टूडियो) is a Pakistani television programme and a part of the international music franchise, Coke Studio, which features studio-recorded music performances by established and emerging artists. It is the longest-running annual television music show in Pakistan, airing annually since 2008. The programme's concept originated in Brazil and has subsequently expanded its reach worldwide.

Coke Studio Pakistan
کوک اِسٹوڈیو
Created by
StarringFeatured Artists
Country of originPakistan
No. of seasons15
No. of episodes103 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerCoca-Cola Pakistan
Producers
Production locationPakistan
Camera setupMulti-camera
Production companies
  • Frequency Media
  • Mainstage Productions
  • Front Foot Media
  • Giraffe Pakistan
Original release
NetworkYouTube
Release8 June 2008 (2008-06-08) –
present
Related
Coke Studio Explorer

The show combines a myriad of musical influences, from traditional Pakistani classical, folk, Sufi, qawwali, ghazal and bhangra music to contemporary hip hop, rock and pop music.[1] It is noted for promoting Pakistan's multiculturalism by inviting artists from various regions and languages to collaborate musically.[2][3]

History

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Coke Studio originated in Brazil in 2007 as a music project, initially named Estúdio Coca-Cola, with the aim of blending the styles of two Brazilian artists. The concept was adopted by Nadeem Zaman, Marketing Head of The Coca-Cola Company, who partnered with Rohail Hyatt, a former member of the Pakistani band Vital Signs, to create a Pakistani version of the show in 2008. The inaugural season premiered with a live audience and was met with immense success. Production was handled by Hyatt, his wife Umber Hyatt, and Nofil Naqvi, a Pakistani cinematographer.[4][5]

Rohail Hyatt remained as executive producer for the show until season six, stepping down in 2013 after five years. He was succeeded by Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia of the band Strings, who produced the show until the end of season ten.[6][7] Strings announced that season ten would be their last.[8][9] In March 2018, Ali Hamza and Zohaib Kazi were announced as the producers for season eleven, but they left after the season concluded.[10][11] Rohail Hyatt made a comeback in 2019 to produce season twelve and continued at the helm for season thirteen as well.[12][13] After season thirteen, Hyatt recommended Xulfi to lead production for the fourteenth season, which aired in 2022.[14][15]

Format

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Mizraab performing live at Coke Studio, 2011

The show features artists in each episode, by a house band and guest artists. Coke Studio tracks are officially available on their YouTube channels and various streaming platforms.[a] The music is recorded live by artists at Coke Studio.[16] The televisual style emphasizes frequent close-ups on various performers, highlighting the collective contributions of the ensemble, while primarily focusing on the lead singer or singers.[17]

Seasons overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedProducer/Curators
First airedLast aired
14June 7, 2008 (2008-06-07)August 4, 2008 (2008-08-04)Rohail Hyatt
25June 14, 2009 (2009-06-14)August 14, 2009 (2009-08-14)Rohail Hyatt
35June 1, 2010 (2010-06-01)July 31, 2010 (2010-07-31)Rohail Hyatt
45May 22, 2011 (2011-05-22)July 17, 2011 (2011-07-17)Rohail Hyatt
55May 13, 2012 (2012-05-13)July 8, 2012 (2012-07-08)Rohail Hyatt
65October 27, 2013 (2013-10-27)January 5, 2014 (2014-01-05)Rohail Hyatt
77September 21, 2014 (2014-09-21)November 22, 2014 (2014-11-22)Strings
87August 16, 2015 (2015-08-16)October 4, 2015 (2015-10-04)Strings
97August 13, 2016 (2016-08-13)September 24, 2016 (2016-09-24)Strings
107August 11, 2017 (2017-08-11)September 21, 2017 (2017-09-21)Strings
119August 10, 2018 (2018-08-10)October 19, 2018 (2018-10-19)Ali Hamza & Zohaib Kazi
126October 11, 2019 (2019-10-11)November 29, 2019 (2019-11-29)Rohail Hyatt
134December 4, 2020 (2020-12-04)December 25, 2020 (2020-12-25)Rohail Hyatt
144January 14, 2022 (2022-01-14)March 22, 2022 (2022-03-22)Xulfi
154April 14, 2024 (2024-04-14)July 4, 2024 (2024-07-04)Xulfi

Reception

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Following success in Pakistan after its first launch, Coke Studio has become an international franchise. The Pakistani show has amassed a large fan base in neighbouring country, India.[18] The success of the show prompted Coca-Cola to launch the Indian version, Coke Studio @ MTV, with a similar format, which proved to be both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.[19] The Indian version has been produced by MTV India.[20] In April 2012, an Arab version of the show, Coke Studio بالعربي was launched in the Middle East featuring performances by various Arabic and international music artists, produced by the songwriter Michel Elefteriades. Following the successes of the Pakistani and Indian versions, a Bangladeshi edition, Coke Studio Bangla, was launched on 7 February 2022.

Coke Studio has also been seen as an economic process of transnationalism and as a transnational television production, with its production systems being created and augmented by global flows of artists, technology, distribution and economics. Within this process, economic structures are created, opened and even reoriented; influences are borrowed and music produced; communities and heritage discovered and remained – this is done intellectually and physically, and more importantly, transnationally.[21]

Atif Aslam's rendition of Sabri Brothers' qawwali "Tajdar-e-Haram" in Coke Studio Season 8 became the first video originating in Pakistan to cross 100 million views on YouTube, garnering views from 186 countries.[22] Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Momina Mustehsan's rendition of "Afreen Afreen" from the ninth season also earned 100 million views on YouTube.[23] Meanwhile, Ali Sethi and Shae Gill's “Pasoori” has crossed 800 million views on YouTube, making it Coke Studio Pakistan's most listened to song on YouTube.

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "'Music Transcends Everything': Coke Studio Fuses Genres and Cultures, Creates International Franchise". The Coca-Cola Company. 1 November 2013. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  2. ^ Malik, Asma (27 July 2018). "#Humdekhenge: Here's how Coke Studio is promoting cultural diversity in Pakistan". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Coke Studio 11 gears up for season premiere". The Express Tribune. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  4. ^ Sanjay Monie (17 June 2011). "Coke Studio Brings People Together". Forbes India. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  5. ^ Deepti Unni (4 July 2011). "The Challenge of Fusion". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  6. ^ Mahmood, Rafay (31 July 2014). "Raising the curtain on Coke Studio 7". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Coke Studio Season 7, with Strings attached". Dawn. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Strings bids farewell to Coke Studio". Dawn Images. 29 October 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Strings bid farewell to Coke Studio on a good note". The Express Tribune. 29 October 2017. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Revealed: Here's who will be producing Coke Studio 11". Something Haute. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Ali Hamza, Zohaib Kazi new producers on Coke Studio". Dunya News. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  12. ^ Ali Raj; Rafay Mahmood (25 January 2019). "Rohail Hyatt returns to 'Coke Studio' after five years". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  13. ^ Saman Siddiqui (20 November 2020). "Rohail Hayat to return with Coke Studio Season 13". OyeYeah News. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  14. ^ Tribune's Correspondent (19 March 2021). "Rohail Hyatt steps down as 'Coke Studio' producer". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 13 December 2021. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ Desk Report (15 June 2021). "It's official! Xulfi is replacing Rohail Hyatt for the next season of Coke Studio". Dawn. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  16. ^ Rehman, Maliha (2 October 2016). "The making of Coke Studio: The 120-person crew, a wannabe Deepika and other fun facts". Images. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  17. ^ Maheen Sabeeh (21 June 2009). "Coke Studio and Beyond: The wonderful world of Umber and Rohail Hyatt". Daily Jang. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  18. ^ "If India boasts about Taj Mahal, Pakistan should boast about Coke Studio". The Express Tribune. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  19. ^ Rafay Mahmood (30 January 2013). "'I took Rohail's blessings before starting our Coke Studio in India'". The Express Tribune.
  20. ^ IANS (26 May 2011). "Coke Studio to rock India". The Express Tribune.
  21. ^ Rashmi Dhanwani. "COKE STUDIO: Investigating the 'transnational' in its labour, technological and economic relations". Academia.edu. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  22. ^ "Tajdar-e-Haram becomes most viewed Pakistani song on Youtube". The Nation. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  23. ^ "Momina Mustehsan's song crosses 100 million views on YouTube". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
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