Spotify has cautioned against imposing blanket OTT regulations on music streaming in India, emphasizing that such measures could hinder the growth of the Indian music industry. According to Dustee Jenkins, Spotify’s Chief Public Affairs Officer, Indian artists were discovered over 11 billion times by global listeners in 2024 alone – a 13% increase from the previous year. Notably, Arijit Singh has become the most-followed artist on Spotify worldwide, surpassing Taylor Swift, with over 144 million followers as of May 2025.
Jenkins highlighted that nearly 50% of the revenue generated by Indian artists on Spotify in 2024 came from international listeners, underscoring the global appeal of Indian music. Since its launch in India in 2019, Spotify has introduced initiatives like RADAR and EQUAL to promote emerging and female artists, respectively. The platform also offers tools such as Spotify for Artists, enabling musicians to analyze audience data and tailor their content.
However, discussions are ongoing within the Indian government about regulating music streaming platforms. In January 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting proposed bringing music services under the Digital Media Ethics Code, which currently applies to video-based OTT platforms. While acknowledging the government’s positive steps, Jenkins warned that treating music streaming like video OTT could be counterproductive. She cautioned that such regulations might raise compliance costs and stifle creative freedom, potentially impacting the burgeoning Indian music industry.
