Hungama Music, one of India’s early entrants into the music streaming space, will officially cease operations today, April 15, 2025. Users have begun receiving notifications confirming the platform’s shutdown, which also includes the closure of its parent service, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment.
The company has informed users that all downloaded music and saved libraries will become inaccessible after the shutdown. There is no word yet on whether this marks a permanent exit or a possible pivot, with no announcements of a rebrand, merger, or relaunch at the time of publication.
Hungama Music’s departure follows a difficult period for homegrown DSPs (digital streaming platforms) in India. In 2024, ByteDance’s Resso exited the market, followed by Airtel’s Wynk Music in November the same year. With Hungama’s exit, only two Indian-origin services—JioSaavn and Gaana—remain active in a space now dominated by global players like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
Launched in 2013, Hungama Music initially gained traction with its strong catalog of Bollywood and regional music. Its early focus on Indian language content allowed it to reach a wide user base across smaller towns and cities. However, changes to its monetization model—including a shift to a subscription-only format in 2023—coincided with a drop in user engagement, especially in a market accustomed to freemium access.
The platform also faced mounting challenges related to content licensing and regulatory compliance, including adjustments following the IPRS licensing framework. While competing platforms introduced subscription tiers with added features, Hungama’s limited free-tier offering made it difficult to retain listeners in a highly competitive, price-sensitive market.
Notably, the shutdown applies only to Hungama Music and its digital media division. Hungama’s video OTT platform—offering films, series, and podcasts—will continue to operate.
With yet another exit, the Indian music streaming ecosystem continues to consolidate, raising questions about long-term sustainability for local platforms amid increasing competition, licensing complexities, and changing consumer behaviour.
Leave a Reply