world music artists
95 published world music artists, led by Shakira, George Harrison and Lata Mangeshkar.
At a glance
95 published world music artists; 942 studio albums have verified cover art.
- Published artists4 tier 1 · 20 tier 2 · 71 tier 3
- 95
- Release groups
- 4,241
- Studio albums
- 1,059
- Albums with cover artverified Cover Art Archive
- 942
- Timeline events
- 1,597
- Monthly listenerssum across artists
- 268.2M
- Claimed salessum of stored claims; implausible values excluded
- 95M
- Average career spanfirst to last dated release
- 37.8 years
- Full biographies
- 68
- Biography words
- 258,456
When they started
Debut decade from each artist's earliest dated release. Most debuts fell in the 1990s (21 artists).
| Decade | Artists |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 2 |
| 1950s | 4 |
| 1960s | 11 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 14 |
| 1990s | 21 |
| 2000s | 13 |
| 2010s | 4 |
Where they come from
Countries with the most world music artists. United States leads with 14.
Often paired with
Genres that share artists with world music. The most shared is pop music, with 25 artists in both.
Covers from world music
942 studio albums have verified cover art. The 12 shown come from the most famous artists.
Las mujeres ya no lloran
Shakira · 2024
El Dorado
Shakira · 2017
Shakira.
Shakira · 2014
Sale el sol
Shakira · 2010
She Wolf
Shakira · 2009
Fijación oral, vol. 1
Shakira · 2005
Oral Fixation, Vol. 2
Shakira · 2005
Laundry Service
Shakira · 2001
Dónde están los ladrones?
Shakira · 1998
Pies descalzos
Shakira · 1995
Peligro
Shakira · 1993
Magia
Shakira · 1991
Leaders
A. R. Rahman has the most release groups (399); Lata Mangeshkar the longest career (81 years); A. R. Rahman the most awards (268).
Most prolific
| Artist | release groups |
|---|---|
| A. R. Rahman | 399 |
| Charles Aznavour | 299 |
| Harry Belafonte | 218 |
| Mike Oldfield | 197 |
| Dead Can Dance | 176 |
Longest careers
first to last dated release
| Artist | years |
|---|---|
| Lata Mangeshkar | 81 |
| Harry Belafonte | 75 |
| Charles Aznavour | 72 |
| Herbie Mann | 70 |
| Asha Bhosle | 68 |
Most decorated
| Artist | awards |
|---|---|
| A. R. Rahman | 268 |
| Shakira | 87 |
| Leonard Cohen | 42 |
| Harry Belafonte | 42 |
| Joni Mitchell | 42 |
Most famous world music artists
Shakira
Spain · Person · born 1977
rock music, pop music, contemporary R&B, pop rock, dance music, folk music, Latin pop, Latin rock, world music
90.8M listeners · 236 wikis
George Harrison
United Kingdom · Person · born 1943
rock music, pop music, beat music, folk rock, psychedelic rock, world music, raga rock
9.6M listeners · 125 wikis
Lata Mangeshkar
India · Person · born 1929
world music, Indian film music, Hindustani classical music, Indian classical music, bhajan
19.1M listeners · 87 wikis
A. R. Rahman
India · Person · born 1966
pop music, pop rock, dance music, electronic music, soft rock, electronic dance music, classical music, folk-pop, world music, Carnatic music, Indian classical music, experimental music
46.7M listeners · 66 wikis
Paul Simon
United States · Person · born 1941
rock music, folk rock, soft rock, world music
8.4M listeners · 71 wikis
Asha Bhosle
British Raj · Person · born 1933
pop music, world music, Indian film music, Hindustani classical music, qawwali, ghazal, Indian classical music, Indian rock, bhajan, Indian folk music
16.2M listeners · 60 wikis
Manu Chao
France · Person · born 1961
reggae, music of Latin America, world music, ska
13.2M listeners · 48 wikis
M.I.A.
Sri Lanka · Person · born 1975
pop music, dance music, alternative rock, progressive rap, pop rap, world music, alternative hip-hop, electronica, experimental hip-hop
9.6M listeners · 54 wikis
Anggun
Indonesia · Person · born 1974
rock music, pop music, rhythm and blues, urban contemporary, world music
149 wikis
Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
India · Group · 1997–present
world music, film score
26.3M listeners · 20 wikis
Leonard Cohen
Canada · Person · born 1934
rock music, pop music, folk rock, blues, pop rock, folk music, soft rock, world music, spoken word, sophisti-pop
131 wikis
K’naan
Canada · Person · born 1978
world music, alternative hip-hop, spoken word, reggae fusion
7.1M listeners · 41 wikis
More world music artists
Showing 1–83 of 83 artists
Calle 13
United States · Group · 2004–present
rap rock, alternative rock, reggaeton, Latin pop, world music, alternative hip-hop, Latin hip-hop, ska, experimental music, alternative reggaeton
9.2M listeners · 19 wikis · Tier 3
Phoenix
Romania · Group · 1962–present
hard rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, art rock, heavy metal music, world music
6.2M listeners · 11 wikis · Tier 3
Charles Aznavour
France · Person · born 1924
pop music, jazz, chanson, ballad, world music, popular music, middle of the road
98 wikis · Tier 2
Miriam Makeba
Guinea · Person · born 1932
rock music, jazz, world music, African popular music, marabi, township music
97 wikis · Tier 2
Djonga
Brazil · Person · born 1994
hip-hop, trap music, world music, urbano music
6M listeners · 4 wikis · Tier 3
Harry Belafonte
United States · Person · born 1927
pop music, folk music, world music, calypso
76 wikis · Tier 2
Joni Mitchell
Canada · Person · born 1943
pop music, folk rock, jazz, folk music, art rock, world music, folk jazz
75 wikis · Tier 2
Anna Maria Jopek
Poland · Person · born 1970
jazz, world music
81 wikis · Tier 2
Bobby McFerrin
United States · Person · born 1950
jazz, classical music, world music, smooth jazz, vocal music, a cappella
50 wikis · Tier 3
Angelique Kidjo
Benin · Person · born 1960
gospel music, jazz, music of Latin America, world music, zouk
64 wikis · Tier 2
Emmylou Harris
United States · Person · born 1947
country music, gospel music, folk music, Americana, world music, bluegrass music, alternative country
44 wikis · Tier 3
Mike Oldfield
United Kingdom · Person · born 1953
pop music, traditional folk music, pop rock, progressive rock, classical music, ambient music, world music, new age music, Celtic fusion
56 wikis · Tier 3
Sarah Brightman
United Kingdom · Person · born 1960
world music, operatic pop, baroque pop, musical play
54 wikis · Tier 3
Loreena McKennitt
Canada · Person · born 1957
world music, new age music, Celtic music
49 wikis · Tier 3
Manu Dibango
Cameroon · Person · born 1933
jazz, world music, Afrobeat, groove, makossa, soukous
47 wikis · Tier 2
Damon Albarn
United Kingdom · Person · born 1968
art rock, hip-hop, alternative rock, world music, alternative hip-hop, indie rock, Britpop, dub music, worldbeat
47 wikis · Tier 3
Dead Can Dance
Australia · Group · 1981–1998
world music, ethereal wave, neoclassical dark wave
44 wikis · Tier 2
Pat Metheny
United States · Person · born 1954
jazz, jazz fusion, Latin pop, world music, post-bop, hard bop
40 wikis · Tier 2
Ry Cooder
United States · Person · born 1947
rock music, blues, folk music, Americana, world music
40 wikis · Tier 3
Agnès Jaoui
France · Person · born 1964
world music
40 wikis · Tier 3
Nolwenn Leroy
France · Person · born 1982
pop music, folk-pop, world music
39 wikis · Tier 3
Natacha Atlas
Belgium · Person · born 1964
jazz, world music
37 wikis · Tier 3
Enrico Macias
France · Person · born 1938
chanson, world music, Andalusi classical music
37 wikis · Tier 3
Djivan Gasparyan
Soviet Union · Person · born 1928
world music, Armenian folk music
33 wikis · Tier 2
Jovanotti
Italy · Person · born 1966
pop music, funk, pop rock, folk-pop, world music, alternative hip-hop
29 wikis · Tier 3
Mari Boine
Norway · Person · born 1956
world music
28 wikis · Tier 3
Ayọ
Germany · Person · born 1980
soul, folk music, reggae, world music
27 wikis · Tier 2
Sa Dingding
People's Republic of China · Person · born 1979
pop music, world music, new age music
27 wikis · Tier 3
Jain
France · Person · born 1992
pop music, electro, reggae, world music
26 wikis · Tier 3
Clifton Chenier
United States · Person · born 1925
rhythm and blues, blues, jazz, world music, Cajun music, zydeco, swamp blues, Creole music
17 wikis · Tier 2
Herbie Mann
United States · Person · born 1930
disco, jazz, jazz fusion, world music, bossa nova, acid jazz
23 wikis · Tier 2
Daniel Balavoine
France · Person · born 1952
rock music, pop music, progressive rock, art rock, synth-pop, electronic rock, world music, avant-pop
23 wikis · Tier 3
Amina Annabi
France · Person · born 1962
pop music, electro, world music
20 wikis · Tier 3
Altan
Ireland · Group · 1987–present
world music, music of Ireland
18 wikis · Tier 3
Lucky Ali
India · Person · born 1958
folk-pop, world music, Indian film music, Indian pop
18 wikis · Tier 3
Maxime Le Forestier
France · Person · born 1949
chanson, world music, middle of the road
17 wikis · Tier 3
Sam Bush
United States · Person · born 1952
world music, bluegrass music
16 wikis · Tier 3
Jeff Berlin
United States · Person · born 1953
jazz, world music
16 wikis · Tier 3
Jesse Cook
Canada · Person · born 1964
world music, ethno jazz
16 wikis · Tier 3
Neffa
Italy · Person · born 1967
pop music, funk, rhythm and blues, adult contemporary music, hip-hop, hip-hop soul, blue-eyed soul, folk-pop, world music
14 wikis · Tier 3
Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou
Ethiopia · Person · born 1923
blues, jazz, world music
14 wikis · Tier 3
Gjallarhorn
Finland · Group · 1994–present
folk music, world music
14 wikis · Tier 3
Jamaaladeen Tacuma
United States · Person · born 1956
jazz, world music
13 wikis · Tier 2
Ron Korb
Canada · Person · born 1961
world music
12 wikis · Tier 3
Adewale Ayuba
Nigeria · Person · born 1966
world music, fuji music
12 wikis · Tier 3
Residente
United States · Person · born 1978
urban contemporary, reggaeton, world music, alternative hip-hop, Latin trap
11 wikis · Tier 3
Sagarika Mukherjee
India · Person · born 1970
pop music, blues, folk music, world music, Indian film music
11 wikis · Tier 3
Zizi Adel
Egypt · Person · born 1987
world music
11 wikis · Tier 3
Duncan Mighty
Nigeria · Person · born 1983
contemporary R&B, hip-hop, reggae, world music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Carlo Domeniconi
Italy · Person · born 1947
world music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Varvara
Soviet Union · Person · born 1973
traditional folk music, soul, country music, folk music, traditional pop, Europop, world music, indie pop
10 wikis · Tier 3
Alamaailman Vasarat
Finland · Group · 1997–present
world music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Jabu Khanyile
South Africa · Person · born 1957
world music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Margaret Singana
South Africa · Person · born 1938
world music
10 wikis · Tier 3
Radio Tarifa
Spain · Group
world music
9 wikis · Tier 3
Ale Möller
Sweden · Person · born 1955
jazz, folk music, world music
9 wikis · Tier 3
Dareysteel
Spain · Person · born 1975
hip-hop, world music, urbano music
8 wikis · Tier 3
Muzsikás
Group · 1973–present
world music
8 wikis · Tier 3
Ariel Zilber
Israel · Person · born 1943
pop music, hip-hop, world music
8 wikis · Tier 3
Karl Wallinger
United Kingdom · Person · born 1957
rock music, pop music, world music
7 wikis · Tier 3
Sapho
France · Person · born 1950
chanson, world music
7 wikis · Tier 3
Savuka
South Africa · Group · 1986–present
world music
7 wikis · Tier 3
Dee Nasty
France · Person · born 1960
hip-hop, world music
6 wikis · Tier 3
Lisandro Aristimuño
Argentina · Person · born 1978
world music
6 wikis · Tier 3
Juluka
South Africa · Group · 1969–present
world music
6 wikis · Tier 3
Adil Omar
Pakistan · Person · born 1991
pop music, psychedelic rock, hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, world music, alternative hip-hop, G-funk, electronica, psychedelic music, industrial music, synthwave
5 wikis · Tier 3
X-Alfonso
Cuba · Person · born 1972
jazz fusion, world music
5 wikis · Tier 3
Clotilde Rullaud
France · Person · born 1978
pop music, jazz, folk music, chanson, world music, experimental music, musical improvisation, Latin jazz
5 wikis · Tier 3
Selami Şahin
Turkey · Person · born 1948
world music
5 wikis · Tier 3
Wouter Kellerman
South Africa · Person · born 1961
world music
5 wikis · Tier 3
Juan García-Herreros
Colombia · Person · born 1977
world music
4 wikis · Tier 3
Ludwik Konopko
Ukraine · Person · born 1970
blues, jazz, folk music, jazz fusion, world music, crossover jazz, acoustic music, flamenco, instrumental music
4 wikis · Tier 3
Mandrill
United States · Group · 1968–present
rock music, soul, funk, rhythm and blues, jazz, world music
3 wikis · Tier 3
Yansımalar
Turkey · Group · 1990–present
world music
3 wikis · Tier 3
Afenginn
Denmark · Group · 2002–present
world music, avant-prog, progressive folk, chamber folk
3 wikis · Tier 3
Steve Knightley
United Kingdom · Person · born 1954
world music
2 wikis · Tier 3
Sandii & The Sunsetz
Japan · Group · 1979–1990
pop music, synth-pop, world music, techno-pop
2 wikis · Tier 3
Yae Fujimoto
Japan · Person · born 1975
world music
2 wikis · Tier 3
Karnak
Brazil · Group · 1995–present
world music
2 wikis · Tier 3
Harmony Chinese Music Group
Indonesia · Group · 2001–present
world music
2 wikis · Tier 3
Sultans of String
Canada · Group · 2004–present
world music
1 wikis · Tier 3
UpsideDown
Canada · Person · born 2012
pop music, hip-hop, world music
1 wikis · Tier 3
West Java Syndicate
Indonesia · Group · 2010–present
world music
1 wikis · Tier 3