Bharti Airtel will exit its music division and shut down its Wynk Music app, according to sources. The news was confirmed by an Airtel spokesperson hours after the company announced a strategic partnership with iPhone maker Apple for video and music streaming. The company will take over all Wynk Music employees.
“Airtel plans to shut down Wynk Music in the next few months. It will absorb all employees into the company,” a source told PTI.
When contacted, an Airtel spokesperson confirmed this information.
Airtel launched the Wynk Music app in 2014 and it has an estimated subscriber base of over 100 million.
“We can confirm that we will be discontinuing Wynk Music operations and all Wynk Music employees will be absorbed into the Airtel ecosystem,” the spokesperson said.
The company has entered into an agreement with Apple under which it will offer iPhone customers access to Apple Music by providing them with special offers.
“Airtel users will have access to Apple Music. Additionally, Wynk Premium users will get exclusive offers from Airtel for Apple,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, Airtel announced that Apple TV+ – Apple’s video content platform – will be available via its Xstream video streaming platform and Apple Music for premium Wynk Music users later this year.
Now Airtel will provide its iPhone customers with special offers on Apple Music.
Airtel’s business offerings including Airtel Wynk, Airtel Thanks and Xtream have over 220 million active users.