Here at That Grape Juice we operate from a standpoint of being fair and unbiased.
As such, while the world lashed Jay Z‘s TIDAL upon its ostentatious arrival back in May, we seemed to be in the minority of those opting to take a “wait and see” approach with the struggling streaming platform.
Yet, months on, the climate remains just as frosty for the service. So much so that a new report is suggesting the mogul is ready to exit the venture.
More after the jump…
Per Hits Daily Double:
Tidal has gone eerily quiet of late, apart from statements of support from Nicki Minaj andMadonna, and the word is that Jay Z is looking to get out. This ambitious undertaking has cost him millions of his own money because he never got the expected funding, he still hasn’t paid the licensing fees to the rights holders and no one is likely to throw him a life preserver and bail him out, so he has little choice at this point except to stop the bleeding. What will his exit strategy look like? Interesting to note that it’s not Apple, Sony, UMG or WMG that could be putting the final nail in the Tidal coffin, but Cash Money’s Slim and Baby Williams, with their copyright-infringement suit against the service for its recent exclusive with alienated label artist Lil Wayne.
Naturally caution is a must given that there is no official word yet, but it does make for quite a compelling read.
If indeed true, it will be oh so interesting to see how it’s spun (and trust and believe that some sort of “spin” would be needed to minimize the blow to all involved).
On the one hand, that would be a lot of bruised egos, yet if executed correctly (which would be ironic given how little of the whole TIDAL push has been thus far) it would be seen as little more than a momentarily misstep in Mr Carter’s otherwise successful entrepreneurial narrative.
Editor’s Note: Perhaps we’re overthinking, but has anyone else realized that, as at writing, neither Jay or wife Beyonce have released “proper” material of their own via the platform? Instead, their appearances have been limited to features or bonus content; meanwhile the likes of Rihanna and Madonna have unsuccessfully gone all out with major launches on the service and endured the backlash in the process.
Make no mistake, though, we view this a good thing. A great thing, in fact. Purely from the standpoint of such practice being a necessity to keep the Carter’s reputations in tact. After all, of all the TIDAL “owners”, it’s Jay and Bey who’d have the most to lose from a tanked release on the platform. We say, in that regard (at the very least), Jay has been playing it smart.
Now, of course, all of this could be premature and that much touted collabo album could drop on TIDAL. Who knows.
In the meanwhile, though…
Damn I have nothing against Jayz but TIDAL was a fail from the start best thing to do is to leave that sinking ship. Queen Bey deserves the best and Tidal is far from the best her name shouldn’t even be attached with such a failure.
But what about the big failure that we know better by the name Ciara???
The one who inspires ur fave ????
Ciara does inspire my fave…not to flop like her and have everyone else’s successes compare triumphantly turn her flop and then have hiphop media call her vagīna cursed because every famous guy she’s been in a relationship with has fallen off. Ciara truly inspires.
yaaaass Chrystina from Girlicious is coming to slay with her solo single. She even got David working with her! http://youtu.be/fOBEC2JJv6s
This site is so RACIST ! You support and lift up the white artist and other alike to the highest degree without putting them against one another and painting this big picture of them but there is ALWAYS NEGATIVITY WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK ARTIST! THIS BRAINWASHING A** site has rubbed me the wrong way
Beyonce could not save tidal so wtf is your point that’s her and Jay z business tidal suck it ruin rih career let’s hope she can recover and stop trying,to help the carter’s make money focus on,her own s*** I feel she should have never sign with Jay record label he is a bad business person Jayz is sitting around trying to make rih album where is it already and rih too dumb to have an opinion because she feels she owes Jay z her p**** and first born I’m getting tired of waiting for her album
Oh please b****
“Unbiased”
Oh please b**** every time you publish an article on Rihanna you slander her and her character constantly bash her instead of giving her credit for her hard work.
You’re an unprofessional pressed bottom b**** who lashed out on Rihanna whatever chance you get you filthy turdy stinky booty ass skid mark leavin c** guzzlin musty ass HO!
Yet you’re still here bitching and complaining why support a site that doesn’t respect your fav? Oh wait I forgot you’re a Rihtardd.
You stupid ass dusty crusty b**** this site serves it purpose to ENTERTAINMENT NEWS I come here to find out the latest on EVERY ARTIST not just Rihanna
It’s an entertainment blog you stupid b**** I’m not just here for Rihanna I’m here to get my news
So get it right stupid b****!
I’m clockin the other dumb ass who published this article on his lack of professionalism and now I’m clocking you on your lack of intelligence donkey faced b****
Kii you’re fuming…. lol don’t get mad at this site because they drag your fav boo. You can always leave no ones keeping you here.
Girl ain’t nobody fuming don’t say I’m fuming cause I corrected your stupid ass
Girl bye! You on the same boat as Sam
STUPID AND STINKY
They used rih as a guinea p** n messed up r8’s set up. Hope she rebounds.
Dont blame them blame Rihanna at the end of the day she was dumb enough to agree with it…
She’s back on Def Jam. RocNation has teamed up with them for R8. She’ll be alright.
That’s disappointing if it’s true. And the irony in that first sentence though, ya’ll are the shadiest of the shade tgj
Kiii atleast they don’t shade our favs Lmfao *looks at the salty Rihanna stans*
Ciara’s habitual flopping shades her. Why should TGJ kick her when she’s down?
B**** ain’t nobody checking for your fave now why don’t you 1 2 step yo ass to the damn shower b****!
Better yet 1 2 step your ass on groupon and purchase Jackson
He always does this. I’m surprised he did not ditch roc nation yet. He isn’t a good businessman like dr dre or diddy.
Exactly.
I also love Erica Campbell.
At this point, the only thing they can do is exit stage left from the streaming business. Especially now that Apple Music has launched. It didn’t seem like a very well thought-out plan to begin with but I was hopeful because I don’t like to see anyone fail. Oh well.
“Editor’s Note: Perhaps we’re overthinking, but has anyone else realized that, as at writing, neither Jay or wife Beyonce have released “proper” material of their own via the platform? Instead, their appearances have been limited to features or bonus content; meanwhile the likes of Rihanna and Madonna have unsuccessfully gone all out with major launches on the service and endured the backlash in the process.
Make no mistake, though, we view this a good thing. A great thing, in fact. Purely from the standpoint of such practice being a necessity to keep the Carter’s reputations in tact. After all, of all the TIDAL “owners”, it’s Jay and Bey who’d have the most to lose from a tanked release on the platform. We say, in that regard (at the very least), Jay has been playing it smart.
Now, of course, all of this could be premature and that much touted collabo album could drop on TIDAL.
”
‘
Yes Sam-antha, keep getting them long bangs that will continue to cover your eyes from reality, keep those hands firm over your ears so your stubbornness cannot hear the truth about why the Carters have not released any of their music on Tidal.
‘
The real reason Beyonce and to some level Jay Z have not released their music exclusively to TIDAL, instead Rihanna and Madonna have is simply because Beyonce does not own her music, Sony does.
‘
Rihanna can release her music on any platform she wants, Beyonce cannot. It is that simple, rep has got nothing to do with it.
LB just gathered Sam with a big CLOCK’d.
Please, Rihanna just only came off a 360 deal, check back when she has a fraction of bey’s net worth
Receipt of Rihanna ever being on a 360? She was signed back in 2004/2005. Weren’t 360s a rarity back then? Dumb flop ass Arabic bimbo phäğgot. She has a Masters of Recording now, meanwhile Jay Z’s flop hooker is a s**** to Sony and all its executive. Don’t get me started on Lana. WTF is a Lana? ’nuff said.
Centurion – where in the hell you’ve been hiding? It’s good to see you back scalping the trolls.
I love how Sam is doing all this backpeddling on his defense of Tidal when he did all this false reporting on how great the platform is. You’ll never read him criticizing anything or anyone closely associated with Beyonce on this “unbiased” blog. LOL
Nonetheless, TGJ is a fun read.
100% true.
I love Kehlani’s new music video with Chance The Rapper. The choreography is s*** and she has all her clothes on…these other girls need to take note
If my boo Rihanna wasn’t flopping so hard she could have released music through it
LOL B**** I CANT!!!!!!!
THIS REALLY MADE ME LAUGH
I love them so much but let’s be honest, Tidal was a hot mess. It flopped harder than Ciara’s last album. All these mega artists signed to Tidal yet no one could make it explode. If this is true (which i’m hoping), I wish everyone especially Jay & Bey a tremendous good luck. It’d be best to ditch Tidal now before it gets worse. All the best to everyone involved!
I cannot wait for Sandra Rose to report on this. Her shady reporting will be much more accurate and “unbiased” than Sam’s pseudo PR backpeddling as if he’s paid off by Beyonce.
Screaming!!
Tidal isn’t as bad as you guys are making it out to be. It’s an ambitious venture to be sure but I get what the artists are trying to do. Gain control over their product and I support it 1000%.
Unbiased? Fair? Please. Go home with that one.
What Jay Z needs to do with Tidal,is simply branch out into a service just like iTunes. Where you can signup free and buy albums, singles etc. The streaming can also be included as a separate entity. Look Apple is now including streaming. People want freeness, and that’s why Apple is making all this money on music on iTunes. If Tidal becomes just like iTunes where I can signup free and buy music, then I will sign up in a jiffy.
Oh Del Bey, miss me with the sidetracking b*******. Get back to me when your blog gets more traffic than Jackie’s first week numbers
sidetracking? you gon’ need a side parting to cover that scalp when I’m done snatching that rag. Why don’t you come and find me when you can think of new drags. I don’t waste energy on stale b******
I’ll come for you when I can find your blog on a google or bing search
Ask me for it b****. http://www.themetropolist.com
It’s a flop, he might as well ditch it. That’s what he and his overrated wife get for being money hungry. I feel bad for the artists that the thieving carters sucked into Flopal.
Why though ??? Giving up so easily???smfh
Behind the fall of every man is a woman. He should just dump that hooker he married. He was such an acclaimed rapper before he married “it”. Now he’s just overrated and I think it’s from marrying an illiterate hooker.
“Here at That Grape Juice we operate from a standpoint of being fair and unbiased.”
Bahahahahahahahahaha!
@LB I love how like to say “Rihanna owns her masters and platform can release her music on any platform” but skip past the fact that she doesn’t own any of her past hits. The only thing she owns is 45 seconds, BBHMM and American Oxygen so I don’t get why you throwing shade. Beyonce owns her publishing rights and is credited as a songwriter on all her albums so she stays getting paid from Sony. Your fave probably getting 5% from Def Jam so sit
*and can release her music on any platform”
Poor Rihanna.
I low key wish it fails…. I dont wat R8 to be a tidal exclusive…… Bite me
“Here at That Grape Juice we operate from a standpoint of being fair and unbiased.”
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bey needs to take that Apple deal if it isn’t too late , & use that to support B6 instead of this tidal mess I’ve already unsubscribed
The problem with Tidal was/is simple — it never filled a need in the market. Nobody was itching to give wealthy artists a bigger share of their streaming profits, and likely, the share probably increased by 10ths of cents per play. The math didn’t add up business-wise for Tidal to provide enough exclusives and perks to justify the premium package. Profit margins for streaming services are probably already thin, and there probably isn’t an easy way to make Tidal profitable. SOLUTION: Make this a philanthropic endeavor. Keep Tidal in place as a platform to help artists get more control of their money, but strive simply to break even rather than make a profit. This will keep the service in place and allow Jay-Z to save face. And let’s face it — he doesn’t need more money.
Im just glad they single handedly destroyed Thotannas career.