Streaming Service Tidal Introduces a Free Membership Option, Akin to Spotify's Model
Kin' ya believe it? Tidal, y'all's favorite audiophile's paradise, is shaking things up with some major changes to their streaming plans. Aimin' to attract more listeners and keep the audio enthusiasts droolin', they're bringing out the big guns.
First off, they're tossin' in a free plan, but it's exclusively for stateside subscribers. This one's loaded with their entire music catalog and playlists, but 'lectrify your ears with "limited interruptions." The music's gonna stream at a max of 160 kbps.
Now, let's talk 'bout their paid plans. Say goodbye to crappy audio, 'cause Tidal's upgradin' their standard plan with lossless and high-resolution audio, goin' up to 1411 kbps! For just ten bones a month, you get offline downloads, access to Tidal Connect to blast your tunes on external devices, My Activity, which gives ya insights into your listening habits, and access to Tidal DJ Add-ons!
Tidal HiFi Plus is gettin' a boost, too. It'll set ya back twenty bucks a month, but you'll get Tidal's most premium audio content, includin' tracks compatible with Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Audio. Ya also get extra insight in My Activity on how much of your streamin' is actually supportin' the artists you dig. Tidal's Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) recordings will stay exclusive to this tier, so ya only shell out the dough if ya sound system can handle it. Plus, you'll get access to exclusive content and "future features."
Tidal's still tryna win over musicians after bein' flagged for pumpin' up certain artists' listenin' numbers in the past. In response, they've introduced monthly direct-to-artist payments, which Tidal will dole out along with streamin' royalties. Beginning in 2022, they won't aggregate royalties from HiFi Plus subscribers but rather the actual streamin' activity of individual subscribers.
In a nutshell, Tidal's explainin' that this is all to make ya feel like your subscription "goes directly to your own favorite artists as opposed to the industry accepted method of allocating it to the most popular artists." They'll work with Square, Cash App, and PayPal to ensure payments to artists are swift. (It's worth mentionin' that Square copped Jay-Z's stake in the company earlier this year and is now Tidal's majority owner.)
Tidal's appeal's always been top-notch audio quality, but with Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited now offerin' hi-fi streamin' for the same price, Tidal had to mix things up to attract more users.
Anyway, this is the time to jump on the bandwagon. Tidal's biggest competitor, Spotify, has been focusin' on podcastin' and acquirin' content exclusives. Though they announced a hi-fi tier earlier this year, they haven't delivered on it for their Premium subscribers yet. At least Tidal can say they were first.
- Tidal's new free plan is only available for US subscribers, offering their entire music catalog and playlists with limited interruptions, streaming at a maximum of 160 kbps.
- Tidal's paid plans now feature lossless and high-resolution audio streaming, with their standard plan offering up to 1411 kbps.
- For a price increase to $20 per month, Tidal HiFi Plus offers the platform's most premium audio content, compatible with Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Audio, along with additional features.
- To address concerns about artist compensation, Tidal will introduce monthly direct-to-artist payments, which will begin in 2022, focusing on individual subscribers' streaming activity rather than aggregating royalties across all HiFi Plus subscribers.
