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Jay Z is tackling Spotify head-on with his latest business venture, an artist-owned music streaming service called Tidal – but the critical reception has been less than glowing.
Tidal aims to provide high quality streaming for fans while also ensuring artists get paid more for their music. The two-tiered service costs US$9.99 per month for regular quality streaming or US$19.99 per month for high-definition streaming.
Along with Jay Z, music stars like Beyonce, Daft Punk, Kanye West, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Madonna have signed on as co-owners and will provide ‘exclusive content’ for the service.
Stars at the Tidal press launch
“We will deliver exclusive experiences that will be found nowhere else,” Alicia Keys said at the Tidal press launch.
“We want to create a better service and a better experience for both fans and artists.”
Jay Z calls it “the future of music”, but critics have been quick to point out its flaws.
“… rather than building a better system, Jay Z and friends have, so far, put their energy behind a product that’s more or less the same as Spotify, but more expensive,” Daniel D’Addario wrote on Time.com.
It’s also come under fire with Twitter users who questioned why they should pay more for the Jay Z-owned Tidal when other streaming services are available for free.
