Saavn Launches Original Programming Series, Announces Artist-in-Residence Program

Music streaming service Saavn announced Tuesday that it will be expanding the scope of its services through original long form audio programming, with ten new shows on May 1st.

The ten new shows are through its recently inked partnership with podcast network Indus Vox Media, digital media brand Arré, and radio jockey Neelesh Misra.

The full slate of Saavn Originals, at launch, includes Qisson Ka Kona and Time Machine, hosted by Neelesh Misra, Trial By Error: The Aarushi Files, hosted by Nishita Jha, Maed in India, hosted by Mae Thomas, Cyrus Says, hosted by Cyrus Broacha, The Paodcast, hosted by Amit Gurbaxani, Purva Mehra, and Pronoti Datta, Geek Fruit, hosted by Tejas Menon and Jishnu Guha, Eat. Sleep. Joke. Repeat., hosted by Karan Agarwal, TFG Sports Podcast, hosted by Vageesh Bhan, Vivek Krishnan, and Chiranjit Ojha, and All Balls with Ayaz Memon.

Saavn said it will continue to commission and publish new original programming from Indus Vox Media and Arré.

Electronic music artist Nucleya joins Saavn's Artist-in-Residence program, an initiative that will highlight the best new musicians and bands, the company said.

"It is going to be incredible for not just me, but the entire indie scene in India. That's what's required. It is actually beyond music as well. It is not something they put down on the list. We discuss it as a business plan and then we come up with something," said Nucleya, commenting on the association. "This partnership is what big labels need to see and learn and give artistes a space to create what they want," he added.

Saavn CEO and co-founder Rishi Malhotra noted that Nucleya's reach in the indie scene, he may even bring in new artistes to Saavn's fold. Malhotra said he has two more artistes from India and some from the US, but it was too early to divulge information about them.

(Also read: Apple Music, Wynk, Gaana, Saavn, Rdio, Guvera, or Hungama: Which Is the Best Music Streaming Service in India?)

The Tiger Global-backed startup is accessible in 196 countries and offers a catalogue of over 20 million tracks in 13 Indian languages, and has over 900 label partnerships.

Filed with agency inputs