JioSaavn merger complete, app launched with 90 days complimentary access to Jio users

JioSaavn, the new music streaming service is finally here. The Mukesh Ambani-led telecom player Reliance Jio announced its plans to merge JioMusic with Saavn early this year and the merger is now complete. The popular music streaming app Saavn has been rebranded to JioSaavn Music and Radio as part of this merger.

At the time of writing, only the iOS app has been rebranded while the Android app is still being called as Saavn. But it won’t be long before that one get the rebranding as well. The merger between JioMusic and Saavn brings with it a new icon and name but Reliance Jio is retaining the design elements and content library of Saavn, since it offered better experience from its launch time. While the merger is complete, the Jio Music is being offered as a standalone app on Apple App Store while search for Jio Music redirects to fresh app called JioSaav

It is likely that Jio Music and Saavn app will disappear from App Store and Play Store respectively in the coming weeks. As part of launch, all Jio users will get 90 days complimentary access to the premium version called Saavn Pro subscription. Technically, there is not much change but Jio users now get access to a much better music streaming service than before.

The changelog for JioSaavn Music app on iOS reveals that the app will remain free for all Jio users. The individual playlists and downloads from Jio Music can be accessed on the new app. There is also free 90-day Saavn Pro membership for all Jio prepaid and postpaid subscribers. If you have been using Saavn on iOS then the new app will look and feel the same, albeit the new branding. The app has a file size of about 79MB and will work with iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch running iOS 8.0 or above.

On Android, the update has not been reflected yet and there is both Saavn and JioSaavn app on Google’s Play Store. It is likely that Saavn app will be phased out in favor of JioSaavn app in the forthcoming days.

Jio announced the merger in March and claimed that the combined entity would have a valuation of $1 billion. The company said Jio Music alone had an implied valuation of $670 million. Jio said that Saavn’s three co-founders will retain their positions while the telco will further invest $100 million in the combined entity for future growth. Saavn has been facing competition from Gaana in the local market and platforms like Wynk and Vodafone Play from rival telecom players. With Spotify to rumored to enter in the next six months, the music streaming segment is only expected to get hot in the country.