Is Tidal in trouble?

By Becky Roberts
published

Jay-Z's got 99 problems - and money would appear to be one...

According to a report by Norwegian site Dagens Nærringsliv, Tidal – the rapper-fronted, CD-quality and, lest we forget, Award-winning music streaming service – may only have six more months left. It lost the equivalent of around $44m in 2016.

The report says the service is living on large loans from the owners' holding company.

However, a spokesperson told Engadget the business has grown each year, with the company claiming it will achieve profitibalility in mid-2018.

Needless to say, such a cash issue could spell bad news for its subscribers and the MQA audio technology behind its hi-res Masters streams. It would also leave just Qobuz and Deezer as advocates of "audiophile" streaming.

Fingers crossed the streaming service can turn the tide, then.

MORE:

Best music streaming service 2017

Entire ECM Records catalogue arrives on streaming services

Is it make or break for SoundCloud?

Apple Music vs Spotify: which is best?

Jay-Z - 99 Problems (Tidal Masters non-sweary version)

Becky Roberts
Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10 years in the hi-fi industry, she has been fortunate enough to travel the world to report on the biggest and most exciting brands in hi-fi and consumer tech (and has had the jetlag and hangovers to remember them by). In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.