A Brazilian funk track, a Banjara-pop song from Karnataka, a Bollywood love ballad and a Haryanvi dance number walk into the same top 10. That was YouTube Shorts in India in 2025.
The Shorts list
YouTube India's 2025 year-end list of top songs on Shorts, as reported by the Times of India, included:
- ATLXS, "Passo Bem Solto (Slowed)"
- Sanju Rathod and G-Spark, "Shaky"
- "Saiyaara" by Tanishk Bagchi, Faheem Abdullah, Arslan Nizami and Irshad Kamil
- Year Down and YUNG DSA, "Yeda Yung"
- D Hell, "Mafia"
- Audiocrackerr and Khushi TDT, "Victory Anthem"
- Knockwell and Lata Mangeshkar, "Tune O Rangeele (Brazilian Funk Mix)"
- Neha Bhasin, "Jutti Meri (Live)"
- Kajal Hathrasi and Anil Rawat, "Payal Ki Khanak"
- Sonu Nigam ft. Raju Kalakar and others, "Dil Pe Chalai Churiya (Trending Version)"
Look at the mix. Film music is there, but so are independent artists, a remix of a classic, a live version and folk-flavoured tracks.
Foundry Class of 2025
On 28 October 2025, YouTube announced its Foundry Class of 2025 for India: Pragati Nagpal, Tanishka Bahl and hip-hop act Chaar Diwaari. YouTube says Foundry artists get partner support for projects, channel strategy guidance and access to events. Earlier Indian Foundry artists include Kayan, Seedhe Maut and Lost Stories.
Lessons for independent artists
Versions work. "Slowed", "Live", "Trending Version", "Brazilian Funk Mix". Several of the top Shorts songs were alternate versions. If your song has a catchy part, a sped-up or acoustic version can give it a second life. Release it as an official version so the plays count for you.
Regional hooks travel. A song like "Payal Ki Khanak" or "Shaky" does not need the whole country to understand every word. It needs a hook people can move to.
The Short is the trailer, not the film. People hear 15 seconds, then look for the full song. Make sure the full track is on YouTube Music, Spotify and JioSaavn on the same day.
Own your audio. When your song becomes a Shorts trend, thousands of videos use it. With YouTube Content ID, those uses can earn for you.
Release it so it can trend
RMX Music distributes to YouTube Music and 95+ platforms, usually within 24-48 hours, and offers YouTube Content ID and Visual Claims. Versions like slowed, reverb or live edits can go out as separate official releases. You keep 100% ownership and 95% of royalties, paid monthly.
Next year's list will have new names. Sign up with RMX Music and give your song a chance to be one of them.