March 11, 2023
Leading Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat called out iTunes and Apple Music for classifying Pakistani Coke Studio as "Indian pop, Asian or worldwide".
iTunes is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and client app for the iTunes Store. Meanwhile, Apple Music is a service that provides music, audio and video streaming service developed by Apple.
Taking to Twitter, Mehwish said that Coke Studio — which is a Pakistani platform that brings together some of the finest singers, musicians and composers to celebrate the musical heritage — is classified as "Indian pop".
Apart from that, it is also categorised as "worldwide" or "Asia".
"Just noticed iTunes/Apple music - music portal classifies our Coke Studio Pakistan as “Indian Pop”. Other episodes are ‘Worldwide’ or ‘Asia’- anything but ‘Pakistani’," wrote Mehwish.
The actress said that Coke Studio is a Pakistani success and that Pakistani music deserves to be recognised.
Social media users appreciated Mehwish for raising her voice over the issue.