We’ll start with this: according to YouTube, Taylor Swift’s ‘Me!’ currently holds the platform’s 24-hour views record for a solo artist.
The music video — featuring Panic at the Disco’s Brendon Urie — hit 65.4 million views in a single day.
‘Me!’ easily surpassed the previous record. Ariana Grande’s ‘Thank U, Next’ had previously reached 55.4 million views within 24 hours.
Among bands, BTS currently holds the record for most views within 24 hours for ‘Boy With Luv’ featuring Halsey. Fans viewed the video 76.4 million times within 24 hours of its release.
Now, one of the major labels claims that an Indian artist has easily smashed Taylor Swift and BTS’ record.
How some money to Google goes a long way.
According to Sony Music, rapper Badshah’s latest track has set a record on YouTube.
The music video for ‘Paagal’ (pagal means bizarre or fantastic in Hindi) reached over 75 million views within 24 hours of its release. The major label claims the video has “dethroned [both] BTS and Taylor Swift.”
Currently, the music video has over 83.3 million views.
Speaking on the milestone – which YouTube has yet to confirm – Shridhar Subramaniam, Sony Music’s President of India and Middle East, said,
“This is an unprecedented feat and we’re very proud. This will go down [in] history as Badshah becomes the first Indian artist to reach 75 million views in 24 hours.”
The rapper – real name Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia – added that he created ‘Paagal’ to take music from India “across borders and make our presence felt.”
“I’m ecstatic and…overwhelmed with the amount of love we have received in the last 24 hours.”
So, how did Sisodia purportedly achieve the milestone?
Google AdWords.
On an Instagram story, the rapper raised suspicions when he accidentally suggested Sony Music may have bought fake views.
“Is it even worth it? We worked hard for this [and] promoted it worldwide. And what some people call fake views are not fake views. They’re Google AdWords. It’s a way of promoting your video. We bought AdWords all around the world so that people could see the video all around the world.”
According to Badshah, most of the criticism came from BTS fans — known as A.R.M.Y.
One fan said,
“BTS literally had 4 million above likes in first 24 hours for 74 million views and this doesn’t even have 500k? How come?”
Slamming the ‘milestone,’ another BTS fan said,
“Dear Badshah. Next time remember to buy likes, too.”
Defending the unverified YouTube record, the rapper concluded,
“You think artists abroad don’t get paid promotions? Are you so naive? I don’t want to be the one with the highest views, but someone has to be. I tried and I did it. Get over it.”
“I don’t want to be the one with the highest views”
Now, that’s just bull.
Badshah is best
How so?
Damn straight that s.h… is bull
Views mean nothing; It is staying power that counts more! What if India has a high population? When you add touring, length of time on charts, impact, and performance value; Then I think Swift still has you all beat! All-round! Look at some of the older bands like the Beatles and Bruce Springsteen, etc! Who are very talented artists and their music is much better! I bet you that their music does not get high views, even though the talent is there! The problem with modern music is that when there is ‘shock’ value or some kind of ‘nudity’ or something that outdoes the intrinsic value of the art, then you get higher views and that does not mean the art has value! It is very unfortunate that some less talented get the views because of hyped-up ‘shock-value’ rather than artistic value!
I’m from India and this BAADSHAH dude is seriously no where in the league of BTS and Swift. His raps are okayish and you should see the likes to dislike ratio.
For 95 M Views he doesn’t even have 2 M likes.
He just did some stupid trick or bug.
A few months from now, Taylor Swift will come out with a new single, full of sitars and Bollywood dancing, complaining about something.
On a serious note, I always wonder why we don’t see more collaborations like this.
In history my ass and badshah plzzz its because you dont believe in your fan that they wont stream and enjoy your song thats why you did that but next time we got our record back so plzzz we beating you
I’d like to know more about the guy’s Google AdWords. What did he buy? Where did he buy it? How much did it cost?
And whether he has staying power or not and whether he got likes or not, doesn’t he get paid for the views? How much money goes to him for 75 million views?
Guys….I think we are INDIANS too…. As a proud Indian and the proudest ARMY, I am really happy for Baadshah for this achievement! I love BTS more than him but that doesn’t mean that I’ll not praise an artist who belongs to our country….Jai Hind!
P. S I also think Bollywood has the worst means to grab views and get recognition…..I just wrote this because I RESPECT every field of music too….. The worst part is, most of the Indians think Bts as the third gender category, but no one has seen how much they work day and night for their music…..It really shows how much they devote their work! Even I respect Taylor Swift since she is AWESOME!
That’s sucks..
I’m an Indian too
But this rap video from baadshah can’t be compared to BTS BOYWITH LUV
And why Jai Hind
There is no patriotism in video having most views
Seriously
Stop being patriotic for such stupid things….
Even so, it doesn’t matter whether they are hindu or bts, they should be playing equally when it comes to these kinds of things… I would honestly support him for getting most views if he earned the views like how all the other artists did.
Most Army aren’t taking this seriously because neither YouTube or Guiness world records have confirmed any of the numbers. We will accept someone beating our record if it’s legit, but until Guinness says it’s a record we wont believe it. Plus this wont matter in a few months time because bts will have come out with another music video and Army being as dedicated as we are will break the record again.
ARMY don’t worry soon a new album will come out and we will make a pledge to get 100 million views in 24 hours.Fighting ???
Damn straight fello army
All male KPop groups are metrosexual. I don’t get it. Badshah accomplished his only goal. Getting people to talk about him. Real or fake. Who cares. Whens the last time you watched s video because of google ad words? Raise your hand. Yeah me either.
BTS.. YOU STILL #1.
Pagan doesn’t mean “bizarre” or “fantastic”. It means “crazy”
yeah he obviously bought likes!