In the wake of the
Gaza war,
Coca-Cola, the sponsor of the Coke Studio franchise, faced calls for a
boycott. This movement gained significant traction in Pakistan, where there was a surge in support for domestic brands, leading to a significant decline in viewership compared to previous seasons. During the boycott campaign,
Rohail Hyatt, the former producer of
Coke Studio Pakistan's distanced himself from the current season. In a Facebook statement, he clarified his separation from the platform, brand, and show in response to calls for his disassociation. The platform itself did not issue a public statement regarding the boycott or the decline in viewership. The season was generally considered a letdown by critics and audiences alike. The platform's shift to a music video format and a revised release schedule, implemented
last season, sparked discussions about potential compromises between visual aesthetics and the core musical experience, resulting in a season that was easily forgotten. A critic in
Dawn, Pakistan's largest English newspaper, described Coke Studio 15 as a "good-looking disappointment." Indian news portal
ThePrint also noted that only a few people were loving Season 15.
The Express Tribune, observed that some music videos, while complementing the songs, occasionally evoked an advertising aesthetic, prompting questions about their ultimate purpose and efficacy. This critique highlighted the ongoing debate about the interplay between visual elements and their impact on the musical experience. Maheen Sabeeh, writing for
The News International, remarked that "this was a season that made you wonder if Coke Studio should call it a day and the platform needed to reevaluate its direction to regain its former glory." == See also ==