iWorld
Airtel and Apple join hands to offer exclusive TV+ and Music perks
MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel has locked in an exclusive partnership with Apple, making Apple TV+ and Apple Music available for its home wifi and postpaid customers. The deal unlocks premium entertainment benefits for Airtel users, giving them access to Apple’s acclaimed content across multiple platforms.
Airtel’s new offer ensures that home wifi users on plans starting at Rs 999 can enjoy Apple TV+, streaming on multiple devices without restrictions. Meanwhile, postpaid customers on plans above Rs 999 gain access to Apple TV+ and six months of free Apple Music—a major win for music and entertainment lovers.
Bharti Airtel CMO & CEO – connected homes Siddharth Sharma highlighted the significance of this collaboration, “We are excited to join hands with Apple and bring their premium video and music content exclusively to Airtel users. This partnership is a game-changer, offering millions of our home wifi and Postpaid customers access to Apple’s world-class entertainment catalogue. We believe this will redefine how our customers consume content.”
Apple India director – content and services Shalini Poddar echoed this enthusiasm, “Partnering with Airtel allows us to expand access to Apple TV+ and Apple Music to millions of users. Our goal is to make award-winning stories, music, and entertainment accessible to all, and this collaboration takes us one step closer to that vision.”
Airtel subscribers can now binge on Apple TV+ originals, including hits like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Slow Horses, Silo, Shrinking, and Disclaimer. Upcoming releases such as Wolfs and The Gorge will also be available. Meanwhile, Apple Music users will experience an ad-free music catalogue, featuring expertly curated playlists, live artist interviews, and exclusive features like spatial audio and Apple Music sing.
Airtel’s home wifi plans (Rs 999, Rs 1,099, Rs 1,599, and Rs 3,999) offer not just Apple TV+, but also streaming perks across platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Zee5, and JioHotstar. The blazing-fast speeds of up to 1 gbps ensure an uninterrupted viewing and listening experience.
Postpaid users on Rs 999, Rs 1,199, Rs 1,399, and Rs 1,749 plans can enjoy increasing data limits, multiple SIM add-ons, and access to a bundle of 20+ OTT services along with Apple TV+ and Apple Music.
With Apple TV+ and Apple Music now exclusively bundled with Airtel, the telecom giant has upped the ante in India’s digital entertainment space. As content consumption continues to surge, Airtel is ensuring its users are at the forefront of the streaming revolution.
iWorld
Spotify rolls out ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge for artists
New badge and profile details aim to boost transparency in AI-driven music era.
MUMBAI: In a world where even playlists can have imposters, Spotify is adding a badge of trust. The streaming platform has begun rolling out a new ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge, alongside expanded artist profile details, as it looks to bring greater clarity to listeners navigating an increasingly complex mix of human and AI-generated music. The badge, currently in beta, will appear on artist profiles that meet Spotify’s internal criteria for authenticity. These include consistent listener engagement, adherence to platform policies and signs of a real-world presence such as live performances, merchandise or active social media profiles. Notably, profiles representing primarily AI-generated artists will not be eligible for verification at launch.
Spotify says the verification process will combine automated systems with human review, prioritising artists with sustained audience interest over those driven by short-term spikes. The rollout will be gradual, with the badge appearing across profiles and search results over the coming weeks. The company noted that more than 99 per cent of artists users actively search for are already included in the initial phase.
Alongside the badge, Spotify is also introducing a new artist details section within profiles. Available even for non-verified artists, the feature will highlight career milestones, release activity and touring history, offering listeners a more comprehensive view of an artist’s journey and output.
The move builds on Spotify’s broader push towards transparency, complementing existing features such as SongDNA, expanded song credits and AI attribution tools. Together, these updates aim to give users more context about what they are listening to and who is behind it.
As generative AI continues to blur the lines between creator and creation, Spotify’s latest update signals a clear intent: in the streaming era, authenticity is becoming just as important as accessibility.
