TIDAL the music service was just announced. The promotion for the event was well crafted to translate the idea that something new was being done in music. For a while now, there has been growing movement with artists to reclaim the monetary value of their art in this digital age. While this service sounds amazing as the those included range from  Jay-z, Beyonce, Rihanna, and Kanye, to Daf Punk and Madonna, I won’t be paying the exclusive $20 monthly fee, but perhaps I will go for the $10 monthly service. I am going to do the trial run to see the  sweet video of Bey, striking piano keys, and singing to Jay that is exclusively on the service. It’s interesting that music like Rihanna’s American Oxygen single and video was released on the service for a bit before it was released elsewhere like on iTunes. I am very curious to see how the service will perform. The debut event and the marketing seemed futuristic. Today, the money in the music industry is predominately in touring, which is a result in our shift to the digital format. I think it’s important that music takes on more varied forms to feed our desire for instantaneity, but one of the pleasures of the internet is that most of the content is able to be consumed for free. I still can’t wrap my head around the $20 Hifi version and wonder how subscriptions for that version will do.

I love these pics of Rihanna, Madonna, Alicia Keys, Nicki Minaj, and Bey.

What I don’t Love

So I am quite bitter. NYU had an exclusive invite-only talk with Jay-Z on TIDAL the other week. I’m not going to lie a few days have passed and I’m still salty. I had to find out about this amazing presentation via Twitter. Outlets picked up the story and even got snapshots of the email that went around to students. To add insult to injury, it was not just Clive Davis School of Recorded Music students who got to attend. A few people I know happened to be in the right place at the right time and an advisor invited them to it. It hurt so bad seeing their Snapchats. Sign. Only at my school.

I’m curious to know when and if some of the exclusive videos on TIDAL will be released on the usual platforms. I’ll definitely try the 30 day trial. I’ve heard good things. I’m glad that Jay took to Twitter to dispel some of the chatter about its success.

The Carters are always seeking to change the game.