Paid music streaming hits the right note as free users fade

Mumbai: After a prolonged slowdown triggered by the shutdown of two audio streaming platforms and consumer reluctance to pay for music, India’s music streaming industry is seeing a revival, with the number of paid subscribers rising 37% to 14 million in 2025 from 10.5 million in 2024, according to the latest FICCI-EY media and entertainment report.

Affordable subscription plans, bundling deals with telecom operators, closure of some radio stations and rising investments in live events are expected to accelerate growth further. Streamers, music labels, industry experts and independent consultants told ET the paid subscriber base could expand to 50 million to 75 million in the coming years.