Spotify launching in India within few months: Details here
What's the story
Soon, music lovers in India could get one of the most popular streaming services in the world - Spotify. According to reports from multiple outlets, the company is planning to set foot in the Indian market within the next few months. The timeline isn't exactly clear, but the launch seems imminent, considering Spotify has already set up an office in Mumbai. Here's more.
Launch details
Launch within six months, extended free trial
Insiders from Spotify told Variety that the company is planning to launch its services in India within the next six months. Plus, it might even offer an extended free trial, providing full access to premium features for a period longer than the regular 30 days. The move, as they said, comes after its failure to acquire an already active music service in the country.
Information
Maybe 60-day free trial?
Perhaps, Spotify could announce its entry with a 60-day free trial, something that it has already done in certain markets. This strategy would certainly give the company a huge opportunity to acquire users.
Rights secured
Rights secured from major music labels
Confirming the Variety report, Bloomberg added that Spotify has also secured rights from major music labels in the country. Initially, it faced flak and rights withholding threats for trying to license music directly from artists, but now, all those issues appear to have been solved. Back in July, Spotify CEO had downplayed these issues, noting that problems like these are "commonplace in this industry".
Challenge
Move makes sense, but challenges remain
Spotify's plan to enter India makes sense as it is world's second-most populous country with over 1.3 billion people. Of these, nearly 100 million already use streaming services like Saavn, Gaana (owned by Times Internet), Amazon, and Apple Music. These players will challenge Spotify in India, but the company could expand its base by offering not just Bollywood/Hollywood content, but also local regional music.
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Also, converting to a premium model could be challenging
Though Indians use music services, most of them choose to go for a free, ad-based plan rather than a paid subscription. Due to this, Spotify will have to keep its prices neck-to-neck with other players or its subscription count won't rise in a price-sensitive market like India.