Major: Jay Z’s TIDAL Strikes Huge Purchase Deal With Sprint

Published: Monday 23rd Jan 2017 by Sam

Talk about timely.

Just as murmurs of suspect subscriber numbers began to gain volume, Jay Z‘s embattled streaming platform TIDAL has received a huge lease of life thanks to a lucrative new deal with Sprint.

Details below…

Billboard confirms that the US phone giant has bought a 33% in TIDAL for a reported a $200 million. The deal will see Jay and each of the company’s 20+ artist-owners (which include Rihanna and Kanye West) remain part owners.

Perhaps most interesting is that TIDAL will become available to Sprint’s 45 million retail customers,

The companies will also partner for exclusives from its artists.

Speaking on the venture, Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure – who joins TIDAL’s board of directors – said…

“Jay saw not only a business need, but a cultural one, and put his heart and grit into building TIDAL into a world-class music streaming platform that is unrivaled in quality and content. The passion and dedication that these artist-owners bring to fans will enable Sprint to offer new and existing customers access to exclusive content and entertainment experiences in a way no other service can.”

Jay Z added…

“Sprint shares our view of revolutionizing the creative industry to allow artists to connect directly with their fans and reach their fullest, shared potential. Marcelo understood our goal right away and together we are excited to bring Sprint’s 45 million customers an unmatched entertainment experience.”

In a bid to ensure the partnership is a fruitful one with wide penetration, it contractually includes the creation of a “dedicated marketing fund,” which a reports say is in the ball park of  $75 million annually.

This will be solely for the artist initiatives and exclusives. As for any change to the service for those already subscribed to TIDAL (the total of which vary depending on the source), there won’t be any. Put simply, business as usual.

****************

Fascinating.

On the one hand, we truly admire Jay Z’s tenacity with this whole TIDAL venture. Indeed, despite it’s many, countless flaws (dating back to its launch), it’s generally been a well-intentioned service. Especially if folk do research into what artists – both big and small – actually make from streaming (see: not much at all).

So with Sprint as a partner, it could very well change the overall climate for TIDAL.

That said, there are a few things money cannot buy – namely organic “cool” + a blank slate to erase two years worth of seismic screw-ups.

All of that aside, we hope – for Jay and co’s sake – that this serves as a resuscitation rather than an elongation of its demise.

Interesting times.

Your thoughts?

Posted under:

Comments 36

Please Post Your Comments & Reviews

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Surprise..(DEC 2013) January 23, 2017

    Wow…very smart move. Yet the flops on this blog continue to call tidal a flop…LMAO.

    • blue January 23, 2017

      it is a flop 800k subscribers after 3 releases by 3 of the biggest names in music and 2 years of operation?

  2. Shakira Stan January 23, 2017

    Stop trying to make fetch happen, fetch can never happen.
    That tidal ship sank a long time ago, time to bury the wreckage. You tried the same with Rita Ora, you tried to force feed her to us, still nothing happened.. Now tidal.

    • Rita January 23, 2017

      You really just ruined that quote for me. And by force fed, do you mean the same way apple forced Apple Music on us? Please choke on a d***

      • Shakira Stan January 23, 2017

        Am an expert at giving head, so I will never choke on a d***… You however will choke on your delusion,because tidal will never happen.
        In the normal world selling off 33 percent of your business shares is a huge loss ,typical of companies experiencing bankruptcy but in that grape juice it is winning.
        And you wonder why black lives will never matter to the whites ,because for every sane acting black there are a million of you dragging us down with your stupidity and senselessness.

    • King B January 23, 2017

      Shakira’s last top ten : Beautiful Liar. Shut up!

      • Shakira Stan January 23, 2017

        Just a year later Beyonce had her last very number 1 in the USA. Kiiii

    • King B January 23, 2017

      Hips dont lie was number one 11 years ago?

      • HailLegendBeysus January 23, 2017

        LMFAOOOO

      • Shakira stan January 23, 2017

        Single ladies was 1 10 years ago.
        Not that far apart.

      • HailLegendBeysus January 23, 2017

        Single ladies hit #1 in December of 2008 and didn’t fall of the top position until January of 2009. So technically it’s been years since she had a #1. Still less time than Shakira lolol!

      • Shakira Stan January 23, 2017

        The ultimate drag is that Beyonce is an American and shakira is from Colombia.
        Beyonce can’t even hit 1 in her own country, while shakira has a zillion 1 in Colombia. Girl find a seat and seat!!!!

    • ModeEH June 17, 2017

      When was the last time Beyoncé actually pushed a single?

      • DevilsAdvocate June 24, 2017

        This argument is sad. For one, a real artist worth their salt don’t push singles as albums are far more profitable. Beyonce has SIX consistent number 1 albums, each even the pitable 4, have all gone platinum in the US and globally.

        I agree the music industry has shifted to pushing digital and radio singles over albums but I think its because very few artists can push a sustainable, profitable album. For a record label, singles are a good way to establish long term revenue because albums can generally have a longer shelf life (if it sells well). So yea, in the next five years singles will reign supreme but Beyonce doesn’t play that game. Albums and concerts are much more profitable and she’s winning that game much better than most.

  3. meme January 23, 2017

    He been trying to get rid of this thing since he purchased it. I think this was a humbling (or embarrassing however you look at it) experience for all of those A list artist involved. Tidal just rub too many people the wrong way. You cant bully people into buying into your product. They were way above their heads.

  4. meme January 23, 2017

    PS. Rihanna needs to run far far away, for the sake of her career. She is a streaming force, the largest in the world. She don’t need to limit her music to this mess. Messing round with Jay Z almost cost her entire anti era to fail. RUN (Nicole voice).

    • King B January 23, 2017

      Kinda agree tho. Apart from streaming, she’s kinda flop in everything else. Even single sales. The funny thing is, her album got outsold by local artist in the UK, streams included.

      • meme January 23, 2017

        @kingB Yeah and you fav flops in everything else except 1st week sales. Beyoncé albums are like magic…now you see it, now you don’t! The album is non-existent and was just release less than a year ago. So yea keep reaching.

    • UMo January 23, 2017

      I’d rather be an ALBUM SELLING force. Streaming is like DVRing something. Watch it once, delete it and then immediately forget about it.

      • meme January 23, 2017

        Being an album selling force only gets you so far now a days. Just ask Usher and A.Keys, 2 of the biggest album selling in the world just a few years ago and cant even do 50k now a days. You have to be able to move with the times. And Rihanna is one of the ONLY artist who have been alble to adapt with the ever changing music industry.

    • King B January 23, 2017

      What nonsense are you talking about? She couldn’t sell albums As soon As streaming taking over. What do you mean by she’s able to adapt? And fyi All of Beyonces album spent at least 70 weeks on chart, 3 of them 100 weeks. What magic? Except GGGB and Loud the other FIVE, yeah FIVE of your fav album barely survive a year on album chart, and with stream included, they never returned either, so is that the magic you’re talking about? And btw, Mariah, Janet and Madonna are basically queen of hot 100.Guess who’s selling more than them? Barbra and Celine. Album seller can take you this far. Remove Madonna. Shebcan tours.

  5. King B January 23, 2017

    I’m pretty sure scientist don’t succeed in one try. Those who advice him to give up on Tidal are probably those who gives up the moment they saw trigo proving question.

  6. #ispeakfacts January 23, 2017

    I’m a sprint customer but I will still use iTunes regardless…

  7. RitaO January 23, 2017

    Damn Tidal still around? Wow. Only Kanye and Beyonce releases gave Tidal big numbers and that only lasted for a month.

  8. B2B January 23, 2017

    I really appreciate the effort, J showing entrepreneurs that its okay to not have it all figured out, but you have to have a plan! #DamnRightIsupportIT #ThisShitIs4US!

  9. 2real January 23, 2017

    Jayz and all you producers and everyone at grape juice check out this dope rapper from flint his name is SnootTheNoote check him out on soundcloud hes dope!

  10. Jamon January 23, 2017

    Did anyone else notice how Sam used Rihanna and Kanye names as part owners, when bashing tidal? Beyonce, Nicki Minaj and a few other artists are also part owners. But of course he won’t use their name in his negative post, considering their his favs!! When would it end. I’m good with the whole tidal thing, congratulations on the deal though.

  11. RihYonce January 23, 2017

    I love tidal. I actually use it more than Apple Music. Smart move Jay !

  12. nexy January 23, 2017

    I saw some body post something about flint me and my family visited there we enjoyed are selfs

  13. heckyeah January 23, 2017

    I been to flint to it is awesome have to say they have one of the best mayors by far and flint is just fun they say its not a lot to do there but I found different things to do there every day in flint Michigan I really wish they had more actors and singers and stuff from there because flint really does have a lot of talent really I saw a man singing on the street and people who can sing in churches flint is just a great place im glad someone brung flint up in the comments and hope the water and everything gets better.

  14. HailLegendBeysus January 23, 2017

    People act like Spotify was built in a year and never had no set backs. From the looks of things Tidal is miles ahead of where Spotify was when it was 4yrs old. Tidal is doing fine.

  15. B2B January 23, 2017

    I will NEVER understand how black people down play their people shiit! “Thinking that everything is funny, but don’t see that the joke’s on you!!! But you coons will go support Apple Music or anything else Apple related, Aint no black owners at apple bih

  16. xedos January 23, 2017

    People don’t talk how artist makes more money when their music stream on Tidal than the others. If Apple was the one who own Tidal these same haters would be saying how it’s the greatest thing

  17. xedos January 23, 2017

    If I was living alone o would get rid of cable a long time ago , but Gee just want to click the remote and things works. With my watching habit I don’t need cable

  18. Alex January 23, 2017

    People are so stupid on this blog!! You know since sprint has bought 1/3 of tidal, that means 75 million subscribers are aware of tidal now. So artists are going to be flocking to Tidal and the streaming numbers are going to be INSANE!!! Beyoncé really gone break and set records now!!! Tidal is about to have 3x the subscribers that Apple Music has!! Lmao!! I can’t wait for the meltdowns to come!!! Jay did this right before the joint album comes out!! I see what he is doing!! Smart man!! ????

  19. Now time yca ritish wauyz January 26, 2017

    Good for him

Recommended Posts
..**