Hungama Music to Shut Down Operations as India's Streaming Market Shifts to Paid Model
Hungama Music, one of India's prominent streaming services, will cease operations on April 15th, 2025, following its recent transition to a subscription-only model in 2023.
Dense urban skyline at night
The Mumbai-based company announced through an official user update: "Starting 15th April, 2025, the Music Section will bid goodbye as we make way for exciting new experiences!" While the music streaming service will discontinue, other content like movies will remain available on the Hungama OTT app.
This shutdown follows a broader trend in India's streaming market, where several major platforms have either eliminated free tiers or ceased operations entirely. ByteDance's Resso and Airtel's Wynk Music both shut down in 2024, while Gaana previously abandoned its ad-supported model.
Spotify has also adjusted its strategy in India, eliminating its short-term "Mini" plan and now only offers standard subscription options:
- Individual: ₹119 ($1.38) monthly
- Duo: ₹149 ($1.73) monthly
- Family: ₹179 ($2.08) monthly
According to a 2024 EY report, India's streaming market faces challenges in subscription adoption:
- Current paid subscribers: 11 million
- Projected 2027 subscribers: 22 million
- Estimated 2027 industry revenue: ₹78 billion ($906 million)
The report suggests that for subscription models to succeed in India, platforms must:
- Offer more competitive pricing
- Implement extensive bundling options
- Provide exclusive artist content
- Enhance fan engagement opportunities
The market's transition to paid-only models represents a significant shift in India's music streaming landscape, though widespread subscription adoption may take several years to materialize.