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Apple In Talks To Buy Jay Z-Owned Tidal Streaming Service (9to5mac.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the exclusive-streaming-rights dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is in talks to acquire the Jay Z owned streaming service, Tidal. 9to5Mac reports: "While specific details are unclear at this point, Apple acquiring Tidal would give it an incredible leg up when it comes to negotiating for exclusive streaming rights. Tidal is currently owned by Jay Z and a variety of other artists, including Kanye West, Beyonce, Chris Martin, Jack White, and many more. Negotiations between Apple and Jay Z are reportedly still early and 'may not result in a deal,' according to the report. Apple is interested in Tidal because of its strong ties to artists, many of which are owners. Tidal has secured the exclusive streaming rights to a handful of notable albums in recent months, including Beyonce's Lemonade and Kanye West's The Life of Pablo." Earlier this year, a report claimed that Samsung, Google and Spotify had all considered buying the streaming service.

5 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. 4 easy steps by gamenfo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This seems like a perfect strategy for a group of musicians mad that apple / spotify / etc are all not making them enough money.

    1. Start a streaming service
    2. Release exclusive albums
    3. Wait to be bought
    4. PROFIT!

  2. Crap like this by rsilvergun · · Score: 4, Interesting

    is why I'd like to see a return to the old tax rates from the 50s,60s and 70s before "Reganomics" took hold. When you've got as much cash as Apple why _not_ just buy every single possible competitor... I mean, wasn't Tidal another one of those services started _because_ of the crappy deals Apple gave artists?

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  3. Let me get this straight by BuypolarBear · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Let me get this straight: they like that it's owned by artists, so they're going to buy it from those artists? Amazing how they can't see the problem with this.

  4. Re:and nothing of any value by dysmal · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pretty sure Windows Phone has a larger user base than Tidal.

  5. Re:To be fair it was never 90% by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    it was a 90% _marginal_ rate. 90% taxes on income after $2 million, IIRC (and that was in 1960s money, something like $17 million in today's money). The 1% paid the same taxes as a coal miner up to that coal miner's salary.

    OK, I agree with you. We need to have a 90% marginal rate on income over $17million. We can agree that's a good starting point.

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