Following Square’s purchase of Tidal in early 2021, the streaming service is receiving a complete overhaul. Tidal was purchased for a reported $302 million, and this deal is already proving to be a big move. On Wednesday, the company began announcing new subscription packages as well as a new payment model for artists. Furthermore, this update seeks to grab a larger portion of the streaming market.
Tidal is Implementing a New Strategy to Support Their Artists
Tidal will now offer three tiers of subscriptions, the first of which is completely free. However, the free tier does include occasional ads between streams. The second and third tiers are both paid subscriptions that boast ad-free streaming and better sound quality.
Furthermore, every tier will make Tidal’s amazing 80 million song catalog available to every member of the service. Tidal’s new payment model is bound to send shockwaves through the industry.
This new model focuses on direct-to-artist payments from their top fans. Further, the service will account for the streaming activity of Tidal’s HiFi Plus subscribers. Specifically, 10% of each HiFi Plus member’s subscription fee will go directly to their most listened-to artist each month. This plan seeks to give artists more direct control of their royalties, while also receiving direct support from those who love them the most.
Image via @allthingsjayz on Instagram
Tidal is Working to Become the Most Artist-Focused Streaming Service
These decisions back up Jay-Z‘s initial claim that Tidal is an artist-driven and artist-focused streaming service. He wants to provide better opportunities and better tools for each artist on their platform.
Additionally, Hov tweeted, “I said from the beginning that TIDAL was about more than just streaming music, and six years later, it has remained a platform that supports artists at every point in their careers. Artists deserve better tools to assist them in their creative journey.”
This monumental move will direct streaming to a new direction, which is one that actually rewards artists for their work.
