In Mumbai, Our Public Affairs Chief, Dustee Jenkins, Spotlights the Role of Spotify in the Growth of India’s Music Industry
Since Spotify’s 2019 launch in India, the growth of the country’s local artists—and music industry at large—continues upward not just in the market, but globally. Spotify’s latest Loud & Clear report shows that streams of Indian artists on the platform skyrocketed by more than 2,000% in international markets between 2019 and 2023. In 2024, artists from India were discovered more than 11.2 billion times by first-time listeners on Spotify, an increase of 13% year-over-year.
To underscore the importance of India to our platform, Dustee Jenkins, Spotify’s Global Chief Public Affairs Officer, visited Mumbai to attend the inaugural World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) organized by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The four-day event brought together global and Indian leaders, alongside some of India’s most prominent creators, to discuss the world of media and entertainment. On the sidelines, Dustee also spent time with local creators, artists, and government officials.
Building relationships with artists and creators
Dustee kicked off her week by hosting a reception attended by Indian artists and creators including pop stars Armaan Malik, Badshah, and Shaan; legendary producers and artists Salim and Sulaiman Merchant; India’s first RADAR artist Mali; and podcast duo Naina Bhan and Sakshi Shivdasani of Moment of Silence, among others.
Armaan Malik and Dustee Jenkins
Dustee Jenkins and Mali
Naina Bhan, Dustee Jenkins, Sakshi Shivdasani
Salim Merchant, Dustee Jenkins, Sulaiman Merchant
The following morning, I-Pop superstar Badshah and actor-artist Aparshakti Khurana joined Dustee for a fireside chat to discuss the evolution of Indian music and what it takes to break out globally.
“I was one of the first advocates of Spotify in India,” recalled Badash. “What Spotify has done, which is insane, is it has made the music scene extremely democratic. Your song can reach anyone. You can really find your audience. Today it’s not about a hit. It’s about finding listeners. The control is in the hands of the one who is making the music.”
Dustee also had the opportunity to meet singer Kavita Krishnamurthy and her husband, renowned violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam, as well as classical musician Kaushiki Chakraborty. She met with another icon of the Indian music scene, Shankar Mahadevan, to talk about the diversity of the country’s music and gain his perspective on how the industry has evolved since the late ’90s.
Understanding and helping to shape public policy and recognition
WAVES offered an opportunity for introductions to prominent Indian policy stakeholders including Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Information and Broadcasting; Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra; and Dr. Fadli Zon, Minister for Culture of Indonesia. During these discussions, the ministers recognized Spotify’s contribution in broadening the global audience for Indian culture and expressed interest in fostering the continued growth of the music ecosystem within their respective countries. Dustee also delivered a keynote address for the U.S. India Business Council on the importance of Indian music on Spotify.
Supporting women in the Indian music industry
The week wrapped up with a dinner where women from the music industry shared personal experiences and learned more from Dustee about Spotify’s ongoing commitment to support the growth of female representation in music.
“The reason we wanted to be here is because we believe so wholeheartedly in what is happening in India,” Dustee reflected on her trip. “The local team is working tirelessly to ensure that Indian artists not only thrive locally, but also reach the world. Their new listeners may never even have been to India, but they can connect by discovering artists from here. In fact, in 2024, 50% of the revenue for Indian artists came from outside of India, which shows the importance of exporting the country’s music.”
