The Official Asian Music Chart is marking its 15th anniversary with a renewed spotlight on British‑Asian and South Asian artists, as the chart’s most frequent number‑one holder and a listener vote for the nation’s favourite song were revealed.
British‑Pakistani singer and songwriter Zack Knight has topped the Official Asian Music Chart 17 times, the BBC Asian Network said, more than acts such as Oasis, Ed Sheeran and Ariana Grande have achieved on that chart. Knight’s collaboration with Jasmin Walia, "Bom Diggy Diggy," spent eight weeks at number one and has accumulated a combined 300 million plays on YouTube and Spotify. Knight told BBC Asian Network he recorded the track in his bedroom in about half an hour and did not initially realise its potential. "I made it in half an hour," he said. "But my dad walked in the room and was like, 'Beta (son) this is a hit.'"
Launched in 2010, the Official Asian Music Chart was the first UK chart to recognise the consumption of South Asian music, giving a platform to Bollywood, Bhangra and independently produced work from South Asian artists. To mark the anniversary, BBC Asian Network asked listeners to vote for their favourite song from a list of the Top 50 biggest selling number ones; Arijit Singh’s "Tum Hi Ho," from the Bollywood film Aashiqui 2, was chosen as the nation’s favourite.
Composer Mithoon, who wrote "Tum Hi Ho," said the song fulfilled a long‑held dream after it won him a Filmfare Award and dedicated the success to his father. Singh, a leading Bollywood playback singer, has recently headlined a sold‑out UK stadium show and collaborated with Ed Sheeran on the global single "Sapphire," underscoring the crossover potential of some South Asian artists.
The chart has also provided visibility to British Asian artists working outside the film industry. "Bom Diggy Diggy" first went viral in 2017 and was later included in the Bollywood film Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. Knight reflected on the cross‑border reach of his music: "I'm just a kid from the UK trying to release music. I'm happy to just get a few fans, I didn't know it would go to India and all that." He added that the Official Asian Music Chart remains vital because mainstream charts do not always reflect the success of South Asian acts. "We are a genre in our own right. I love mixing languages and it's probably one of the only charts in the world that recognises artists like myself," he said.
The chart’s first number one was British artist Jay Sean’s collaboration "Do You Remember," featuring Sean Paul and Lil Jon. Bobby Friction, the inaugural host of the Official Asian Music Chart Show on BBC Asian Network, described seeing a British Asian artist claim the first crown as "a really special moment." Jay Sean recalled his long association with the network and the chart as part of a wider journey bringing South Asian sounds into the UK mainstream.
The Top 50 list also highlights the role of social media and viral content in shaping the chart. Several one‑hit viral phenomena appear on the countdown, including Skechers by YouTuber DripReport. Another notable breakout was "One Pound Fish," performed by Shahid Nazir, a Pakistani market trader whose recording on an east London stall went viral and led to a recording contract and a version released in 2012.
While South Asian artists have made inroads into mainstream UK music — with figures such as Zayn Malik and others achieving crossover success — the Official Asian Music Chart has continued to serve as a dedicated measure of consumption and popularity within South Asian music markets in the UK. Zayn is one of two artists to have reached number one on both the Official Singles Chart and the Official Asian Music Chart, achieving the latter with his 2016 single "Pillowtalk." Producer Naughty Boy was the first to top both charts with 2013’s "La La La," featuring Sam Smith.
The BBC Asian Network’s anniversary programming included a countdown hosted by Nikita Kanda and Haroon Rashid and made the Top 50 number ones available for listeners to hear on BBC Sounds. The chart’s 15‑year history reflects both the continuing influence of Bollywood and the rise of independent South Asian and British Asian producers and artists whose success has been amplified by streaming and social media.
