Streaming titans seek passage to India for new growth

By restricting her new album 25 from streaming services Apple Music and Spotify, Adele is playing to her greatest strength: wide appeal.

The British singer is the rare artist whose allure spans demographic groups, from teenagers on YouTube and Spotify to adults who visit record stores or frequent iTunes. Music executives liken her to a four-quadrant movie, the lingo for blockbusters like The Avengers and Jurassic World that draw in young and old, men and women.

Adele and Sony Corp’s music...