ByteDance Launches Social Music Streaming App in India
Resso, ByteDance’s first independent music streaming app, has been officially launched in India, joining the competition with Gaana, JioSaavn, Wynkand and Spotify in a music streaming market estimated to be worth $244 million.
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Dubbed “the world’s first social music streaming app,” Resso combines music, social networking and a UGC module, similar to TikTok, ByteDance’s video-sharing social media platform. Users can select from English and six Indian dialects and pick their favorite singers. Then, the app will recommend songs based on these preferences. In addition the like, comment, and share features normally found in music streaming apps, Resso allows users to create and upload six-second videos or gif in the UGC section titled, “Vibes.”
Like most music streaming apps, Resso adopts a membership system with pricing similar to its competitors. Membership costs 99 rupees ($1.35) per month on Android and 119 rupees ($1.62) per month on iOS, and members can enjoy ad-free content with better sound quality.
Reportedly, Resso has been tested in India and Indonesia for two months before being released in India. The Indonesian market is still in the testing phase. One million users on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play have the app installed, of which 60% are from India, according to Sensor Tower. Hari Nair, Resso’s head of Indian music content and partnerships, said Resso is aimed at India’s Gen Z, the estimated of which is 473 million people.
ByteDance revealed that Resso has licensed content from international music companies including Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group, as well as 95% of India’s local record labels. However, Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music label company, is missing from the list.
The Indian music streaming market is highly competitive, with Gaana in the lead with 30% market share, JioSaavn with 24%, and Wynkand and Spotify with 15% each. However, compared to the $4.5 billion American market, the Indian market’s estimated revenue of $244 million in 2020 is relatively small.
