Applications
Hungama.com releases ‘Digital Music Trends 2014’ report
MUMBAI: The year gone by had much to take note of. Hungama.com, an on-demand digital entertainment store-front, too has released a report on the music trends of 2014.
The report, ‘Hungama.com Digital Music Trends 2014’, analyses music trends as per usage, both downloading and streaming, pan-India; with information on the most popular music streaming platforms as well as popular devices and music choices of Indian consumers.
Music streaming across Hungama.com’s digital properties saw over a 100 per cent increase between 2013 and 2014, as per the report, which includes statistics based on web, WAP and mobile apps consumption. In comparison, between 2013 and 2014, the Android platform witnessed an increase of close to 100 per cent with regards to access of service over Android devices alone. In fact, during 2014, 90 per cent of the music streaming access was accounted for by mobile devices driven by the growth in mobile internet usage.
Bollywood based music, accounting for 81 per cent, was the preferred genre of music consumed across Hungama.com’s digital platforms, followed by international music at 10 per cent. Hungama.com, which introduced a multi-lingual transliterated version of its Android app in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Punjabi in 2014, saw streams for south Indian music and Punjabi music accounting for 4 per cent and 2.2 per cent of the total streams for the year. In terms of regions, Maharashtra accounted for the largest share of streams and downloads in 2014.
The report also gives insight into the most popular handset manufacturers and devices of 2014. While Samsung continues to be the most popular mobile brand, the second spot was taken by Sony, followed by Micromax, Motorola and HTC in the top 5 most popular device manufacturers of 2014. Among the most popular handsets used, Samsung Galaxy dominated with nine devices leaving one spot for the Motorola MOTO G (8th position) in the list of top 10 most popular devices of 2014.
2014 was also the year that brands increased their presence and reach on digital platforms. The leading advertisers on Hungama.com’s music platforms for 2014 include leading brands Airtel, Snapdeal, Vodafone, Ford, ITC, IPhone, HP, Unilever, Bacardi, Ask Me, We Chat, OLX, Canon, Quikr, Zee, Max Life, Maruti, Mcdowells and Cadbury.
The report also includes ‘Hungama.com Chart-toppers 2014’, which delves into the most popular music among Indian consumers during the year. Hungama.com Chart-toppers 2014 is based on trends, both streaming and downloads, along with songs’ popularity and number of likes for music released in 2014; with a vision to promote the talents behind the music. The list includes a broad mix of genres, artists, languages and composers whose music released in 2014.
As per the report, Arijit Singh is the most popular male singer of 2014 while Priyanka Chopra is among the top 10 most popular international artists for her hit title ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’. Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Happy New Year’ and Yo Yo Honey Singh’s ‘Desi Kalakaar’ with multiple entries to their credit are the two most popular albums of 2014.
Applications
With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
