Pakistani music journalism

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Music journalism in Pakistan emerged alongside the development of the country's pop music scene.[1]

History[edit]

Early Days and the Rise of Pop Music Criticism (1980s)[edit]

Prior to the 1980s, there was minimal coverage of popular music in media. This changed around 1985 when The Star, a Karachi-based tabloid, began publishing music reviews by Farrukh Moriani, considered the country's first pop music critic.

Liberalization and the Flourishing of Music Journalism (1988-1990s)[edit]

The late 1980s witnessed a significant shift. With the election of Benazir Bhutto's liberal government in 1988, Pakistani pop music, previously suppressed during the Islamist dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq, surged in popularity. This period saw the rise of other prominent music journalists like Fifi Haroon, one of the first to conduct in-depth features on the burgeoning local music scene, and M. Ali Tim, another early pioneer.

The arrival of Nadeem F. Paracha in 1990 further bolstered music journalism. Alongside him emerged figures like Farjad Nabi (The News International), Aysha Aslam (The Herald), and Maheen Sabeeh and Sameen Amer who contributed extensively to Instep, the entertainment section of The News. Other publications like Dawn (Images section), The Express Tribune with writers like Rafay Mehmood and Sher Khan, and Daily Times featuring contributions from Turyal Azam Khan and Ally Adnan, also played a crucial role in documenting and analyzing the Pakistani music landscape.[2]

Beyond Newspapers and Magazines[edit]

Music journalism in Pakistan extends beyond traditional print media. Music Mafia Information Services launched FMM (First Music Magazine), the country's first dedicated music periodical. Additionally, Phaser emerged as another significant music magazine. The presence of online publications like Youlin Magazine (Nayha Jehangir Khan) further diversified the landscape of music journalism in Pakistan.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Building an ecosystem for musicians". www.pakistantoday.com.pk.
  2. ^ "Pakistani Music & Media Awards". B:Music. Retrieved 2024-03-03.
  3. ^ Pirzadeh, Saba; Pirzada, Tehmina (2019-05-04). "Pakistani popular music: A call to reform in the public sphere". South Asian Popular Culture. 17 (2): 197–211. doi:10.1080/14746689.2018.1512702. ISSN 1474-6689.