Big Financial Losses at Tidal

[JHG]

Might not be a good idea to pay the subscription fee in advance...

 

Jay-Z's streaming service Tidal 'posts huge losses' | Daily Mail Online

[TubeLover]

Might not be a good idea to pay the subscription fee in advance...

 

Jay-Z's streaming service Tidal 'posts huge losses' | Daily Mail Online

 

This is extremely disheartening news. Having lived with Tidal for a long time now, I find I've become very dependent on it for music enjoyment which is a major part of my daily life. If Tidal goes under, and no one replaces them in offering streaming cd quality music (and I don't think anyone is remotely ready to) well over half of my music listening will be instantly destroyed.

 

While I do make a definite effort to purchase music by artists I have discovered or increased my exposure to on Tidal, it would cost me thousands of dollars to reach a point where I could remain even, in terms of what I often listen to, at this point in time, much less allowing for what the future would bring.

 

JC

[One and a half]

So the only possible HQ audio streaming services are from whom if Tidal falls apart?

[Musicophile]

So the only possible HQ audio streaming services are from whom if Tidal falls apart?

 

Qobuz in Europe, they were bankrupt end of last year but rescued by a French investor.

 

Doesn't look like the business mode is very sustainable.

[The Computer Audiophile]

On the bright side, Tidal has some great tax write offs :~)

 

I agree this is a big bummer, if it signals the end for Tidal.

 

There is also Deezer Elite lossless streaming, but it's only available in the US via Sonos. And, there's no Roon integration:~(

[realhifi]

With Apple denying rumors of basically a bailout of Tidal in the works this does not look promising. We'll see just how smart of a businessman JayZ is as this moves forward and he needs to cut or face even more losses moving forward. From my perspective it would seem like Roon should be scrambling to find another streaming partner such as Spotify if it wants to keep any momentum in the marketplace.

I agree that SOME streaming service needs to be integrated into Roon. It really turns Roon into a much better discovery tool.

[wgscott]

Are any of these streaming services owned by people I would allow into my house?

[The Computer Audiophile]

With Apple denying rumors of basically a bailout of Tidal in the works this does not look promising. We'll see just how smart of a businessman JayZ is as this moves forward and he needs to cut or face even more losses moving forward. From my perspective it would seem like Roon should be scrambling to find another streaming partner such as Spotify if it wants to keep any momentum in the marketplace.

I agree that SOME streaming service needs to be integrated into Roon. It really turns Roon into a much better discovery tool.

Roon needs to work with a company like 7 Digital to white label it's own built-in streaming service for Roon customers.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Are any of these streaming services owned by people I would allow into my house?

Please explain.

[wgscott]

I was paraphrasing David Frost:

 

[Television is] "an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn't have in your home." ~David Frost

[Jud]

Roon needs to work with a company like 7 Digital to white label it's own built-in streaming service for Roon customers.

 

Ideally yes, but - I wonder if the protracted Pono negotiations are any indication that this course might not be financial nirvana for Roon either?

[The Computer Audiophile]

Ideally yes, but - I wonder if the protracted Pono negotiations are any indication that this course might not be financial nirvana for Roon either?

It's not cheap to front the cash that's needed to offer a streaming service, even if it's through 7 Digital's white label service. It probably doesn't make sense for Roon financially, but it would be so awesome for us customers :~)

[realhifi]

Ideally yes, but - I wonder if the protracted Pono negotiations are any indication that this course might not be financial nirvana for Roon either?

 

Agreed. Very uncertain times in the streaming space right now and any large investment in it is at risk. I'd look to the two major players if I was Roon and I doubt if Apple would be interested so that essentially leaves Spotify.

If Spotify had a cd quality tier it would be a natural fit with Roon.

[Axiom05]

I am not a Roon user and have stop following Roon discussions. If Roon does not have an integrated streaming service, doesn't it become just a fancy metadata program?

[Musicophile]

I am not a Roon user and have stop following Roon discussions. If Roon does not have an integrated streaming service, doesn't it become just a fancy metadata program?

 

Isn't that what it always was?

[firedog]

This is, of course, all predicated on the assumption that the Daily Mail report about Tidal is true. Not something I'd have a great deal of confidence in.

 

Not because I don't believe it about Tidal, but because the Daily Mail hasn't always shown itself to be above publishing headlines for headines' sake.

[jtrelin]

One of the things I read is that the lossless end of their business was growing and, while a small portion of the whole, might bode well for that business being spun off.

[wgscott]

the Daily Mail hasn't always shown itself to be above publishing headlines for headines' sake.

 

Your understatement is very understated.

 

 

[hornytoad]

Agreed. Very uncertain times in the streaming space right now and any large investment in it is at risk. I'd look to the two major players if I was Roon and I doubt if Apple would be interested so that essentially leaves Spotify.

If Spotify had a cd quality tier it would be a natural fit with Roon.

 

There have been rumors for a couple of years that Spotify would offer a lossless sub .

Haven't seen any talk about it lately though .

[jtrelin]

I'm OK with any lossless service of good quality.

[firedog]

One of the things I read is that the lossless end of their business was growing and, while a small portion of the whole, might bode well for that business being spun off.

 

In that case the question is if the lossless service on it's own can support the infrastructure needed for a streaming service. I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if it couldn't, unless it continues to grow.

[mansr]

Are any of these streaming services owned by people I would allow into my house?

I once met one of the early investors in Spotify on a plane. Seemed like a nice guy. No idea how much of it he owns/controls today.

[mansr]

I'm OK with any lossless service of good quality.

I'm OK with Spotify, even the free tier, to try out new music. Anything I really like, I buy.

[hornytoad]

I'm OK with Spotify, even the free tier, to try out new music. Anything I really like, I buy.

 

That's the beauty of having a music subscription .

[duxservit]

This tells me that the "average consumer" (depending on definition) does not care about 16-bit quality.