When will Jay Z‘s TIDAL catch a break?
Because since launching last year, the service has encountered one hurdle after the other.
The latest comes courtesy of the estate of the late, great Prince, who are none-too-pleased with the streaming platform’s exploitation of his music.
Full story below…
The Star Tribune reports that the Purple one’s legal team have filed a copyright lawsuit against Roc Nation over TIDAL’s claim of having exclusive streaming rights to Prince’s music.
Per the suit, TIDAL was allegedly only granted a 90-day period of streaming exclusivity for Prince’s 2015 album ‘HITNRUN Phase One.’
NPG Records asserts that no other agreements were made and that the streaming service “is exploiting many copyrighted Prince works.” A cited example of the argued infringement is a July 2016 report touting TIDAL making 15 Prince albums available on its platform.
Making the whole matter more troublesome is NPG’s claim that no one from camp Jay made contact with them after the singer’s shocking death in April.
By no means passive, Roc Nation have already filed a petition that re-affirms their “various agreements” with Prince — “both oral and written.”
According to the entertainment juggernaut, exclusive streaming rights to the star’s entire catalogue were one of the central agreements in place.
Undeterred, Prince’s estate have clapped back saying that proof of such agreements have yet to surface. And so as to leave no debate about their stance on the matter, they add that NPG Records “has terminated, in writing, any such license that might have existed.”
The estate is seeking undisclosed damages and lawyer fees. [Source]
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Needless to say, it’s little wonder why Jay and co’s bid to buy the publishing rights to Prince’s music was given the “thanks, but no thanks” treatment last month.
While some folk will be quick to view this as just another mishap in the TIDAL narrative (which it kinda is), it’s also important to consider a few key facts.
As reported, a number of major deals have recently been struck as pertains to the publishing and label servicing of Prince’s released and unreleased material. All of which center around maximising their commercial potential.
With TIDAL owning such a small piece of the streaming pie, any such hope of Prince having a “Michael Jackson” sized posthumous career would be overly optimistic should his music remain exclusive to the service. Especially given the heavy weighting of streaming in today’s age and the popularity of rival services such as Spotify and Apple Music.
From where we’re standing, this looks like a power struggle between two parties who clearly see a lucrative business opportunity in front of them.
Uncertain times lay ahead, but one thing’s for sure: this already sticky situation looks set to get all sorts of messy.
His wife BEYONCE stills others fashion (Kylie Minogue), paintings, performances and cops them for her-self, with her basic country ass, so it makes perfect sense her old ass husband would still a “real” innovator’s music.
“steal”
That was prince wish. The Jews lining up to get control. That what Prince fought against. Too much evidence to prove that prince only wanted his music on Tidal. I bet this is all finance by Apple universal and Spotify which is owned by record labels
Yes I agree. He was also doing a lot of live stream exclusives for tidal. He seemed to like tidal before he died.
That’s a bunch of bull. Price’s hitnrun albums are only on Tidal right? Swear those albums were there longer than 90 days, and he was alive as well. Really wish Prince had left his estate to someone with some damn sense.
Stuff like this is why I support Tidal. Every since TIDAL was announced the industry has tried to box it out. Time to revamp and up the marketing. Unlimited Tidal streaming to Verizon customers? Or partner with Samsung?
Well I’ll be dipped in buttermilk..we got us a thief y’all
I mean wasn’t this Prince wishes??? I mean all his music was on Tidal before he died so what’s the problem???
Beyoncé doesn’t steal anything from anyone she’s highly influenced or inspired. If someone gives her something that someone else had but she changes it in minor ways it’s still different or she would be sued.
Fashion repeats itself so that’s that.
She wasn’t the first and won’t be the last.
As far as this case goes i hope tidal has the facts to back what they’re saying.
“highly influenced or inspired”.
translation: biitch is a THIEF.
All day everyday! ?
Call a spade a spade. Beyonce steals… A lot. However, in regards to Prince’s music, I can understand why Tidal is getting a fight as other huge corporations like Sony Apple etc wants a piece of the pie. Legends are worth more dead than they are alive.
What does Beyoncé have to do with this? Lol go somewhere
I’m with Tidal on this one. Prince already had his catalog in place on Tidal, not just his last album..That was already a done deal. The powers that be are just doing their usual sneaky sh*t, using back door methods to try and steal Prince’s catalog.
What does Beyoncé have to do with this? I swear y’all are f****** obsessed just admit y’all are fans.
Damn white america is trying to take down the most successful black owned streaming service. And Prince’s family are black, but chasing them white dollars… sad sad sad. We should be supporting black owned businesses and helping them blossem. We should show how capable black run business can be. I am annoyed at their audacity.
We should support the best service, not the black or white company.
In a perfect world. However, we can’t grow because of THIS! Rich White America has the wealth and wants to keep it. Leaving minorities left to buy and use their products or services. They make a s*** ton of money off of minorities, but we do not get the same privileges. It’s not right. Minorities should support other minorities because the system is stacked against them unjustly.
I don’t subscribe to any streaming service but wish Tidal well and hope they fight the good fight. This seems like a power struggle over Prince’s music, when the legend hasn’t been gone more than a year yet.
This is exactly why I believe that Prince was killed on the request of the powers that be in the music industry. He got to own his masters for a few years and was very exclusive over the distribution of it as he should because he owned it. Just like the powers that be that has full control over the Sony ATV catalog Michael jackson once owned before his murder at the orders of the powers that be in the music industry, the same is currently happening to Prince’s discography.
All these people defending Tidal, only because Beyoncé is the wife of the boss, cuz they don’t even care about Jay-Z. Pathetic, all this Tidal is better, I like the service, is also because of her, I don’t understand why African Americans worship that woman the way they do.
Silence, you anti-Black slob.
Now I ask the same question in regards to that ugly talentless sl*t Madonna as well. With that said, take your slimy, shard born, septic tank, microphleallus, racist, ugly pale ass off this blog.
This racist f.a.g is always in a Jay-Z and Beyonce post talking s***. What’s the problem, are you upset that extremely talented powerful black artist like M.J, Prince, Whitney, Janet, Usher, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, ex..s*** all over your talent less fav’s?
Prince was never a person that was volatile. He maintained himself and the treatment he gave to others. He would have never let any situation get to this. They are dishonoring his legacy.
Dang wow Smdh