Fighting to survive, Tencent-backed music app Gaana turns to subscriptions

Tencent-backed Indian music streaming app Gaana has switched to a paid subscription model to try to avoid closing down after failing to secure fresh funds, according to an email from the company to its music partners seen by Reuters.

Gaana, also backed by India’s Times Internet, said in the email that talks with a potential acquirer had also “fallen through”.

Gaana competes with the likes of Spotify, Apple Music and Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel’s Wynk music app in an Indian streaming market estimated by data firm Statista to be worth $700 million this year.