http://nypost.com/2015/03/27/jay-zs-streamin-biz-takes-dead-aim-at-apple/

 

[h=1]Jay Z’s streamin’ biz takes dead aim at Apple[/h]

This battle over the streaming music space is giving rise to a new East Coast/West Coast rap feud.

Jay Z is leveraging his relationships with music artists to jump-start his own subscription music service — pulling ahead of rival hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre and music impresario Jimmy Iovine, who are big players in overhauling Apple’s upcoming Beats service.

Modal TriggerProducer Jimmy IovinePhoto: WireImage

 

Music industry insiders say Jay Z’s Tidal is already going head-to-head with Apple’s pointmen over the right to exclusively stream albums from Florence and the Machine, among other big-name artists. “There’s only one person with a bigger Rolodex than Jimmy Iovine and that’s Jay Z,” said one source.

Jay Z, who also has his own Roc Nation record label, is pitching his streaming service as more artist-friendly than that of Apple, which developed a reputation for playing hardball with the record labels when it came to its iTunes service. “Jay Z’s whole approach is, they’re created by artists, supported by artists,” said one label executive. “The more players, the better.”

Now that the industry is shifting to streaming and away from digital downloads, Apple is having a tougher time courting the music industry — even with the well-connected Iovine, who, along with Dre, sold Beats headphones and the sister music service to the Cupertino, Calif., tech titan for $3 billion.

“If you are Jimmy, you’ve got to be thinking, this guy is beating me to the punch at trying to get all the artists,” said a source.

The record labels are hoping Jay Z’s music and entertainment connections will bring more mainstream attention to the niche that is rapidly growing in the US but still lags in Europe and other countries.

 

Jay Z is doing his part with a splashy New York launch event on Monday for Tidal. Rihanna, Madonna and Coldplay are rumored to be attending the glitzy presentation at the Eighth Avenue post office building.

 

Jay Z’s Roc Nation reps a host of artists from DJ DeadMau5 to Kanye West, who could also throw their weight behind his service — not to mention wife Beyoncé.

Tidal is already available for $20 a month, while Apple’s Beats relaunch isn’t due until summer.

Tidal also uses a high-fidelity streaming protocol that boasts better sound quality than Spotify and other streaming rivals.

Jay Z’s Tidal combined with other Aspiro services counts 580,000 subscribers around the globe.

 

“He’s disrupting Apple’s venture,” said one source.

Jay Z’s Project Panther BidCo paid $56 million last year to buy Aspiro, the Swedish company behind Tidal and WiMP.

Sources say he’s having conversations with the likes of Sprint owner Softbank and private-equity firm KKR to possibly raise more cash.

One of the senior executives at the firm is a former KKR executive and was most recently with BMG Rights, once owned by KKR. One potential partner said the value of Tidal has risen to $250 million.

There is a countdown on the website

 

http://tidal.com/us

while I was sleeping:

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>If you want to join us in something exciting, please turn your profile blue <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TIDALforALL?src=hash">#TIDALforALL</a> PH <a href="http://t.co/1IxBJnMTGH">pic.twitter.com/1IxBJnMTGH</a></p>— Coldplay (@coldplay) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/582397349005271040">March 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

http://www.nme.com/news/jay-z/84023?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=tidal

 

[h=1]Kanye West, Beyoncé, Rihanna and Coldplay help launch Jay Z's new Tidal streaming service[/h] The platform is set to launch today (March 30), with a number of artists changing their profile pictures to turquoise in support

Jay Zis set to launch his new music streaming service later today (March 30), with a host of musicians offering their support.

 

The rapper's Project Panther Bidco company recently acquired Tidal from its Norwegian parent company Aspiro for 464 million kroner (about £47 million). Tidal Hifi offers more than 25 million songs and 75,000 music videos to more than half a million subscribers in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Poland.

 

In a statement, Jay Z's company said of the purchase: "Panther believes that the recent developments in the entertainment industry, with the migration to music and media streaming, offers great potential for increased entertainment consumption and an opportunity for artists to further promote their music."

 

Now, the likes of Kanye West, Beyoncé, Jack White, Rihanna, Madonna, Nicki Minaj and Coldplay have all changed their social media profile pictures to a turquoise square in support of the launch. See tweets below.

 

Jay Z will launch the product at a press conference in New York later tonight at 5pm EST (10pm in the UK).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Today at 5pm EST head to <a href="http://t.co/mEYsWHxev6">http://t.co/mEYsWHxev6</a> to witness the evolution of music LIVE. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TIDALforALL?src=hash">#TIDALforALL</a></p>— TIDAL (@TIDALHiFi) <a href="https://twitter.com/TIDALHiFi/status/582532503862403073">March 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This is awesome! Christa, are you going to join the New York launch? Coldplay might be there by surprise, you know, they're Jay Z's best buddies :D

I somehow must have misplaced my invite :P Oh to be a fly on that wall! Sounds very exciting

the first advert features chris. think this is from the supposed initial meetup.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Louder than words. The revolution is coming. Turn up. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TIDALforALL?src=hash">#TIDALforALL</a> <a href="https://t.co/syN2pgvjkR">https://t.co/syN2pgvjkR</a></p>— TIDAL (@TIDALHiFi) <a href="https://twitter.com/TIDALHiFi/status/582573108172746755">March 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

makes me want to actually watch the announcement at 5... hmm..

Another streaming service, more albums tied up to just one provider on "exclusively" deals. More illegal downloading of said albums by consumers unwilling to pay for 3/4 different services in order to listen to albums.

 

I wonder what "Tidal"s unique selling point will be over the competition to give it an edge, apart from "exclusive" deals?

I'm just going to continue buying the cd if I really love an album.

me too

I wonder what "Tidal"s unique selling point will be over the competition to give it an edge, apart from "exclusive" deals?

 

I guess its the audio quality and HD videos. For 20$/Month you get all the music streamed in lossless instead of 320 kb. Not sure though if this is the big advantage that i would pay 20$ for.

Just made these, I've a feeling the second one is gonna be around for awhile... THINKING CHRIS

 

Has Chris stolen some of Noel's navy blue jackets? ;)

Chris Martin appears at Tidal via satellite

Thanks ATi Mx, my tweet for cping was actually a pic on my phone thru the computer #oldschool #lowtech Your pics are waaaaayyyyy better:laugh3:

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Chris Martin not physically present in NYC at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TIDALforALL?src=hash">#TIDALforALL</a> but via satellite <a href="http://t.co/m1ifZQMXOB">pic.twitter.com/m1ifZQMXOB</a></p>— Coldplaying (@coldplaying) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplaying/status/582650145419837440">March 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thanks ATi Mx, my tweet for cping was actually a pic on my phone thru the computer #oldschool #lowtech Your pics are waaaaayyyyy better:laugh3:

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Chris Martin not physically present in NYC at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TIDALforALL?src=hash">#TIDALforALL</a> but via satellite <a href="http://t.co/m1ifZQMXOB">pic.twitter.com/m1ifZQMXOB</a></p>— Coldplaying (@coldplaying) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplaying/status/582650145419837440">March 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

haha :D I love this man so much is so cute :D

 

and

 

VIDEO:

https://twitter.com/ColdplayAtlas/status/582655321706991617

I'm sorry, I love this tweet

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>A cara do Chris vendo a pose da Madonna... <a href="http://t.co/15RkAajV97">pic.twitter.com/15RkAajV97</a></p>— Coldplay Brasil (@coldplaybrsite) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplaybrsite/status/582657525817950208">March 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

I'm so done with your fabulous face you mother humper

 

haha :D I love this man so much is so cute :D

 

and

 

VIDEO:

https://twitter.com/ColdplayAtlas/status/582655321706991617

 

dafuq is he even doing there LOL

I'm sorry, I love this tweet

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>A cara do Chris vendo a pose da Madonna... <a href="http://t.co/15RkAajV97">pic.twitter.com/15RkAajV97</a></p>— Coldplay Brasil (@coldplaybrsite) <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplaybrsite/status/582657525817950208">March 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

:wideeyed:

 

 

:laugh3:

this is pretty cool

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Here's an exclusive playlist curated by <a href="https://twitter.com/coldplay">@coldplay</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/TIDALHiFi">@TIDALHiFi</a> "Songs That Formed The Band" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TIDALforALL?src=hash">#TIDALforALL</a> <a href="http://t.co/GEEHxe84XZ">pic.twitter.com/GEEHxe84XZ</a></p>— Atlas Project (@ColdplayAtlas) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColdplayAtlas/status/582661091148333057">March 30, 2015</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

this is also pretty.... cool

 

Chris is biting his lips!

Chris is biting his lips!

 

look like he is :o and just got out his bed?:inquisitive: :D:D