In spite of launching without Warner Music Group-owned recordings and after complex negotiations with other significant recordings, Spotify has racked up one million unique users in both the free and premier tiers within a week after its launch in India last week.
While Spotify has yet to confirm an individual number of free users and subscribers, the Swedish music streaming company has confirmed its current consumer base of one million in India to Billboard. So far as the subscription is concerned, Spotify is charging its users a monthly amount of Rs. 119 after an initial free trial period of 30 days. Spotify’s success in the Indian market is significant since it competes with Apple Music and some local music streaming services primarily dominated by the Bollywood music and film industry.
In related news, an injunction was filed on 25th February by Warner Music Group that sought to prevent Spotify from launching in India along with songs published by Warner/Chappell Music Publishing. The injunction was deferred by a Mumbai judge for several weeks, and this will let Spotify launch in the interim, notably on the 26th of February, with songs published by Warner/Chappell. Spotify did, however, exclude recordings owned by Warner Music Group.
The tensions between Spotify and WMG increased post-launch, with Spotify accusing WMG publicly of “abusive behavior [that] would harm many non-Warner artists, labels, and publishers, and prevent Spotify from competing in the market.” In retaliation, WMG claimed to be “appalled” and stated, “We’re shocked that they would exploit the valuable rights of songwriters without a license.”
