Amazon Launches Audible Suno To Increase India Focus

Amazon Launches Audible Suno To Increase India Focus

SUMMARY

Audible Suno offers free access to original audio series across many genres from India

US-based Audible was founded in 1995 by Donald Katz and was acquired by Amazon in 2008

In India, it was launched in 2018, offering audiobooks from authors across the world

Audible, Amazon’s audiobook company has launched a new app exclusively for India, called Audible Suno. The app offers free access to original audio series across many genres from India.

Audible Suno, will not only be free of cost but will not require sign-ups and will be without advertisements for now unlike the pay-to-use Audible launched in India last year.

“India has a deep pool of creative professionals. It does not hurt that the penetration of sophisticated phones into the hands of India. Those numbers don’t exist anywhere. There are so many people who can listen to this, have a private listening experience because of phone sets in their pockets,” Don Katz, CEO and founder of Audible told ET.

US-based Audible was founded in 1995 by Donald Katz and was acquired by Amazon in 2008 in cash and short-term investments. The platform offers spoken audio content, basically a plethora of audio versions of books and newspapers and radio programmes. The company aimed at repositioning a book in the form of audio to help users save time, multitask during commute and tap into the non-readers market.

In India, it was launched in 2018 to offer audiobooks from both Indian and international authors in various sections such as fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, mysteries, biographies, and business among others.

“When we get great ideas in India we can take them to other countries we go to. That is our future… to be originally creative,” Katz added.

India Fuels Growth For Digital Entertainment Companies

India, with its huge internet penetration, is in the phase of forming habits in terms of consumption of entertainment. This has led to many digital entertainment companies betting high on India to test products and drive growth.

Swedish Company Spotify has touched more than two million monthly active users since its launch in India in February 2019. The company has been expanding its focus on the Indian market since then with various offerings including a Lite app, cheaper subscription plans and playlists catering to regional language music and listeners.

The music streaming giant has also launched its original audio-based content for the Indian market called Spotify Podcasts Originals.

Google-owned video-sharing platform YouTube had launched its music streaming service in India on March 12. Within a week of its launch, it hit three million downloads. It initially introduced a free ad-supported version of YouTube Music and later forayed into a premium paid version for ad-free music at INR 99 per month. It also introduced the original video streaming market in India with YouTube Originals.

India also drives most of the growth for TikTok, which is currently available in around 150 markets. TikTok owner ByteDance is now testing a new music app in India and Indonesia, called Resso, to increase its focus on the country even further. Resso, which is currently in a beta testing phase, has till now been installed by about 27 K users in India and Indonesia across the iOS App Store and Google Play since an initial launch six months ago, according to recent data compiled by Sensor Tower.

You have reached your limit of free stories
Become An Inc42 Plus Member

Become a Startup Insider in 2024 with Inc42 Plus. Join our exclusive community of 10,000+ founders, investors & operators and stay ahead in India’s startup & business economy.

2 YEAR PLAN
₹19999
₹7999
₹333/Month
Unlock 60% OFF
Cancel Anytime
1 YEAR PLAN
₹9999
₹4999
₹416/Month
Unlock 50% OFF
Cancel Anytime
Already A Member?
Discover Startups & Business Models

Unleash your potential by exploring unlimited articles, trackers, and playbooks. Identify the hottest startup deals, supercharge your innovation projects, and stay updated with expert curation.

Amazon Launches Audible Suno To Increase India Focus-Inc42 Media
How-To’s on Starting & Scaling Up

Empower yourself with comprehensive playbooks, expert analysis, and invaluable insights. Learn to validate ideas, acquire customers, secure funding, and navigate the journey to startup success.

Amazon Launches Audible Suno To Increase India Focus-Inc42 Media
Identify Trends & New Markets

Access 75+ in-depth reports on frontier industries. Gain exclusive market intelligence, understand market landscapes, and decode emerging trends to make informed decisions.

Amazon Launches Audible Suno To Increase India Focus-Inc42 Media
Track & Decode the Investment Landscape

Stay ahead with startup and funding trackers. Analyse investment strategies, profile successful investors, and keep track of upcoming funds, accelerators, and more.

Amazon Launches Audible Suno To Increase India Focus-Inc42 Media
Amazon Launches Audible Suno To Increase India Focus-Inc42 Media
You’re in Good company