Indian Streaming Stores in 2026: JioSaavn, Gaana and What Replaced Wynk

Many older guides tell Indian artists to deliver to Wynk Music and Hungama Music. Neither streams music any more. Wynk Music stopped as a streaming app in late 2024 and Hungama Music closed on 15 April 2025, so an India-focused release in 2026 plans around the services that are still running.

Quick Answer

Which Indian stores matter in 2026?

JioSaavn and Gaana are the two Indian-owned streaming services still operating. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube Music carry the rest of the audience. Airtel caller tunes continue as Airtel Hellotunes, a telecom product rather than a streaming app. Upload your final audio, artwork, credits and release date through a distributor that delivers to these stores, and submit early.

What Changed in Indian Streaming

ServiceStatus in 2026What it means for your release
JioSaavnActiveStill the main Indian-owned streaming destination.
GaanaActive, subscription-onlyStill a delivery destination; the free tier was removed in 2022.
Wynk MusicClosed (late 2024)No longer a streaming destination. Airtel moved its users to an Apple Music bundle.
Hungama MusicClosed (15 April 2025)Catalogue removed; do not plan a release around it.
Airtel HellotunesActiveThe Airtel caller-tune service. Your song can still be a Hellotune through CRBT delivery.
Apple MusicActiveMatters more for Indian releases now that Airtel bundles it.

Because several Indian streaming apps have closed, CRBT caller tunes on Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL are a larger share of India-specific reach than they used to be. They are telecom products, so they were not affected by the app closures.

Release Checklist Before Upload

  1. Final WAV master with no pending edits.
  2. Square cover artwork matching the exact release title.
  3. Primary artist, featured artist, composer and lyricist details.
  4. Genre and language data that match the release correctly.
  5. Release date with enough time for store processing.

Metadata Tips for Indian Releases

When artists search music distribution India, metadata is where many releases fail. Platform delivery depends on consistency.

  • Use one exact artist spelling everywhere.
  • Keep transliterated titles and English titles consistent.
  • Do not submit placeholder label names.
  • Make sure artwork text matches the submitted track title.

When to Upload for Better Launches

Try to upload at least two weeks before your planned campaign. That gives time for platform processing, profile checks, promo asset creation and any last-minute metadata fixes.

How This Connects With CRBT and YouTube

For many Indian artists, the best results come from treating streaming, YouTube and caller tune distribution as one release system. If the song is performing on short video or YouTube, CRBT can add another India-focused monetization layer.

Next Step

Plan the Full Release, Not Just One Store

Use the main distribution page for platform coverage and the CRBT page if your release also needs caller tune support.

Final Platform Checklist

  • Audio and artwork are final.
  • Metadata is consistent across platforms.
  • Release date leaves enough lead time.
  • Promo plan includes India-focused platforms.
  • YouTube and CRBT opportunities are considered early.

Read next: How to distribute music in India or review the distribution pricing options before your next release.