Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom firm, said Tuesday it will be shutting down its Wynk Music streaming service, marking another exit for a music app in one of the world’s biggest entertainment markets.
An Airtel spokesperson said in a statement that Wynk Music employees will be moved to other parts of the Airtel business. Wynk is part of Airtel’s bouquet of complimentary services to its paying telecom subscribers.
“Airtel customers will still have access to music streaming services through Apple Music. Moreover, Wynk Premium subscribers will receive exclusive offers from Airtel for Apple services,” the spokesperson added.
The decision comes as a surprise as it doesn’t appear that Wynk was losing its charm, though it wasn’t necessarily growing fast either. Wynk Music accounted for about 5% of downloads among all music apps in the quarter ending June in 2018. The app drove 8% of all downloads in the quarter that ended in June this year, according to brokerage firm UBS.
However, music companies in India have struggled against international competitors like Spotify and Apple Music over the last several years. These global platforms provide their streaming services in India for as little as $1.2 to $1.3 per month.
More to follow.
