TikTok parent ByteDance to launch music streaming service in India next month

Chinese internet company ByteDance, which is also the owner of the popular short-video app TikTok, is all set to launch a subscription-based music streaming service, according to The Financial Times report. ByteDance is reportedly in talks with several music giants like Universal Music, Sony Music and Warner Music over global licensing deals. If the report is anything to go by, ByteDance is looking to include songs from these big music labels into its new, upcoming music subscription service.

This is clearly not the first time we have heard about anything about ByteDance's plans to launch a music subscription service. In May, Bloomberg reported that ByteDance had managed to secure rights from two of India's largest music labels, T-Series and Times Music

When is ByteDance launching its music streaming service

According to the report, ByteDance is looking to launch its music streaming service as early as next month, which is December. One of the first few markets to get ByteDance's music streaming service could be India, Brazil and Indonesia. Eventually, ByteDance would launch it in other markets like the United States. India has always been an important market for ByteDance and TikTok. In fact, it will be fair to say that India has indeed been a driving force behind TikTok and ByteDance's global success.

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But the app may not necessarily limit itself to on-demand music. In fact, the app may also include a library of short video clips for listeners to search through and synchronise to songs as they listen. We won't be surprised if ByteDance integrates this music streaming service with TikTok in the future. Both the name and pricing of ByteDance's music streaming service remain unknown at the moment. But in terms of speculations, the service is expected to cost its users not more than $10 per month.

We can soon expect India's growing music streaming segment to welcome a new player from ByteDance. TikTok's popularity in India will certainly help the music streaming app in the country. It will likely compete with other music streaming players in India like JioSaavn, Gaana, Spotify, and Apple Music, among others.