Jawad, a prominent pop figure of the 1990s known for hit songs such as Mehndi, Yeh Dil Walay and Dosti, made the remarks during a recent podcast appearance on RNN News hosted by Naeem Hanif, where the conversation centred on live performances, artist fees and the changing priorities of the music scene.
During the discussion, Hanif drew attention to the costs of concerts, citing examples of leading singers’ performance charges. According to him, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan reportedly charges PKR 1.5 crore for a show in Lahore and PKR 3 crore for international performances, while he claimed Atif Aslam charges PKR 3 crore for concerts in Lahore and around $200,000 for shows abroad.
Responding to this, Ahmad contrasted the current industry model with his own career trajectory, explaining that he stepped away from music after entering politics and no longer earns through his art. “I have left this work; I have sacrificed this work because of my political career, but I don’t earn through music. I have no greed, but I don’t know why artists become greedy,” he said.
Ahmad went on to explain, “Music is a public-facing industry that relies on accessibility and being connected to all kinds of fans. It’s a market where you have to be available for everyone.” “We were hit artists; we have sold record-breaking cassettes, even Indians used to be shocked at our record sales.”
“But we still used to sing in the villages for free because we wanted to be guided by purpose,” he said. “I only demanded the event organisers produce lesson-oriented songs.”
He urged contemporary artists do the same, reassessing their pricing and prioritise the fans who contributed to their success. “If they want me to perform free, I would like them to say to reduce their charges and make them available for the fans who made them stars,” he said.
Jawad also criticised what he described as the narrow focus of today’s music industry, arguing that it largely caters to wealthy audiences. “It seems sometimes today’a industry only caters to the elite. Their market is expensive weddings and the corporate sector, which is inherently based on maximizing profit. Where is the accessibility? ” he finished.