Last year, our team critically examined Jay-Z's Tidal streaming service after its $56 million acquisition and predicted challenges ahead. We highlighted its steep $19.99 monthly price for lossless audio—a premium most listeners can't discern. For context, explore our analysis on High-Resolution Audio: The Future of Music or a Scam?
One year on, with even The Beatles joining streaming platforms (see Why the Beatles Embraced Streaming and Why You Should Too), we revisited Tidal to assess if it's now a viable option.
Kanye West's divisive persona hasn't stopped collaborations like his track with Paul McCartney (These Kanye Fans Don't Know Who Paul McCartney Is, and That's Okay). His album The Life of Pablo launched as a Tidal exclusive, no surprise given his history with Jay-Z.
Yet two months later, it appeared on Spotify, Apple Music, and beyond—hardly exclusive. This wider availability boosted its charts, proving accessibility drives success.
Taylor Swift, a vocal Spotify critic (Why Taylor Swift Is Wrong About Spotify), remains absent there but streams on Apple Music despite past clashes (Why Taylor Swift Is Wrong About Apple Music). No signs of her pulling from Apple soon.
Tidal's core strategy of exclusives falters if hits like The Life of Pablo quickly go mainstream. Why commit when everything lands elsewhere eventually?
Jay-Z, who bought Tidal for over $55 million in 2015, now appears uneasy. Reports from The Verge indicate he's suing former owners over inflated subscriber claims: 540,000 total, but up to 391,000 bundled with cable or phone deals—leaving under 150,000 paying fans who chose Tidal deliberately.
Tidal's statement addressed the issue, but Jay-Z's actions signal waning enthusiasm. If the owner doubts it, should you invest?
Spotify boasts 100 million users (30 million paying), Apple Music 10 million subscribers. Tidal? Just 3 million—a sliver of the market.
Growth is notable, but scale matters. More subscribers mean better label deals and richer data for features like Spotify's stellar Discover Weekly (Discover New Music with Spotify Auto Playlists), which nails recommendations using vast listening patterns.
Tidal lacks this momentum, limiting artist sign-ups beyond stars like Beyoncé and hindering profitability in a crowded field. Building a library here risks abandonment if it falters.
For now, Spotify or Apple Music offer stability, superior features, and better value—or even free tiers.
Little has changed: weak unique selling points, fleeting exclusives, tepid adoption, and owner worries. As we concluded last year, superior alternatives make Tidal hard to recommend—especially at its price.
What’s your take on Tidal's future? Tried it? Audiophile seeking hi-fi? Share in the comments.
